Pitta people are made up of fire and water. Typically this type of person has fair, soft, and warm skin, freckles, tall, thin, may have red hair, and high foreheads. When balanced, their skin is beautiful, slightly rosy and glowing. Imbalanced Pitta skin may have acne, rashes, inflammation, liver spots, rosacea, moles, or pigment disorders. Also they might have heartburn and acid reflux. Pitta's skin does not tolerate the sun very well due to their fire element. They are the most likely to have sun damage over vata and kapha skin. Anger, frustration or resentment can aggravate pitta skin. Pittas can eat raw salads or lightly cooked foods.
Recommendations:
Favor:
- Sweet foods - fresh, organic sweet juices, ripe fruits (peaches, pears, persimmons, ripe plums, raspberries, strawberries, apples, apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapes, guavas, mangos.)
- Bitter - bitter melon, burdock root, collards, eggplant
- Astringent - pomegranates, apples, cranberries, chickpeas, parsley, avocado, brussels sprouts, cabbage.
- Cooling drinks are fantastic for pitta people. Coconut water, rose water, aloe water, cucumber water, and watermelons. Cools pittas fire down.
- Add ginger, fennel, coriander, mint, turmeric and small amounts of black pepper when cooking food.
- Oils - olive oil, sunflower and coconut oil, ghee, unsalted butter.
- Drink cool or room temperature water. (Never add ice.) This will get rid of toxins in the body.
- Organic skin care products
Avoid:
- Salty foods - mineral salts, seaweed, food from the ocean, salty chips
- Sour foods - citrus fruits, lemons or limes
- Pungent - garlic and onions, chili peppers, spicy salsas, black pepper, ginger and cayenne pepper, and spicy foods. This will aggravate pittas fire.
- Greasy, oily foods.
- The sun.
- Synthetic chemicals from detergents which could irritate their skin. Pittas are more prone to skin disorders.
- Abrasive scrubs.
The hottest part of the year is considered pitta season. The weather is hot, firey, and dry. It starts from late spring to early fall. Stay cool and stay inside if possible. Eat cooling foods and drinks. Brew a cup of fennel tea. Add 5 - 10 drops of rose essential oil and put it in a spray bottle. Use it to mist your face. Very cooling for pittas.
Daily routine:
- Abhyanga or self massage with cooling oils - coconut oil and neem oil.
- Yoga - slow asanas are best to calm pitta.
- Meditation
- Going for a walk outside will help with pittas mental and spiritual well being.
- Oils for the face: organic jojoba oil, organic extra virgin olive oil, pomegranate seed oil, organic brahmi, organic safflower oil, organic rose otto, organic ylang ylang, organic lavender. Great for calming sensitive, red pitta skin without clogging the pores. They’re also antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory. May use alone or use in a combination for a self face massage as above.
