Now that I live in hot weather, I have my eye on the dynamic of Pitta and how to balance this fiery dosha. Having those decadent milk showers and getting near my hibiscus tea makes my life much easier and cooler.
There is no comparison in the care for pitta dosha; it is sophisticated, sweet and delicate.
But here, I want to talk about more than just Pitta but the five types that control unseen aspects of your brightness, metabolism and charisma.
I found it very important in the process of enlightening the 12 bodies of the structure of being to keep the sub-doshas of Pitta balanced. In a way, they regulate the correct perception, light and proper witnesses. As we know, these sub doshas in Vatta, Pitta and Kappha are playful attributes of prana and matter.
Pitta dosha itself is all about transformation, heat, and energy. Pitta represents all forms of metabolic activities that generate energy. It’s primarily composed of agni (fire) and jala (water) elements. So Pitta represents that ever-changing and evolutionary quality of our physiology which may seem static at times but is going through transformation each and every second.”
People often associate Pitta with digestive fire and digestion, but as you’ll see, it also governs other organ systems.
Sadhaka Pitta
Sadhaka Pitta governs the brain and heart and is associated with the digestion of emotions, life experiences, and stress.
Sadhaka Pitta helps us achieve the things we desire by energizing the mind, intellect, and ego.
It keeps the mind alert and awake and clears tamas, or darkness, around the heart. This delicate form of Pitta protects not only the heart but, in a way, it enriches the qualities of one’s inner consciousness.
The brain and heart are closely connected, and when Sadhaka Pitta is out of balance, it prevents the blossoming of happiness in one’s heart.
People with Sadhaka Pitta imbalance may tend to experience waves of emotions in different ways. As a result, it’s hard for them to release or deal with those emotions. In practice, we call this ’emotional ama,’ or emotional toxins.
Many things can bring Sadhaka Pitta back into balance – first and foremost, stress-reduction practices like pranayama, meditation and proper lifestyle can make miracles. Also, using herbs associated with the heart, like Arjuna, hawthorn, bhahmi, guggul and ashwaghanda, can effectively protect the heart and balance shadaka Pitta.
Alochaka Pitta
Alochaka Pitta governs the organ of sight, including the functioning of rod cells and cone cells within the retina. The Sanskrit word alochaka – derived from lochana, which means “eyes” – translates to “that which sees or analyzes.” While this subdosha largely influences the organs of vision and their overall functioning, it does have more subtle influences as well.
On a deeper meaning, Alochaka Pitta is also understood to have that distinguishing quality of seeing what’s right and what’s wrong. It gives clarity, understanding, and light. Those with trouble with this subdosha may need help to understand a person or situation. In Sanskrit, this is known as Pragyaparadha, the mistake of the intellect. However, mostly it signifies the organs of vision and their overall functioning.
Being governed by Pitta, the eyes are very agneya (fiery) in nature, which is why Ayurveda recommends avoiding any heat exposure to the eyes. When out of balance, problems like poor vision and recurrent eye infections can crop up.
Washing your eyes with Triphala water is one of the best rasayanas [tonics] for the eyes. Also eye treatment with medicated ghee also restores Alokacha Pitta. Simply taking Triphala tablets regularly also helps with better vision.
Bhrajaka Pitta
Bhrajaka Pitta governs the site of touch (known as sparsha in Sanskrit). This subdosha of Pitta rules the skin.
As we all know, the skin is the largest organ in the body, Bhrajaka Pitta governs this outermost covering of the whole body, which provides protection, helps with circulation, regulates temperature, and faces all external stimuli. As the outermost part of our body, it is the first responder to the environment, be it a blizzard, hot sun, or dry weather. It’s through the skin we get to experience all these things. In a thin layer of skin, many structures, such as capillaries, sebaceous glands, hair follicles, etc., help maintain moisture, provide lustre, regulate heat, and maintain colour.
As you might expect, when this subdosha is out of balance it can lead to various skin issues, depending upon a person’s dosha predominance (prakriti) or any current imbalance (vikriti). Skin problems can arise from dryness to hypersensitivity, non-cystic acne, and other concerns.
Daily skin care is very helpful for Bhrajaka Pitta imbalances,
Be mindful that your skin mirrors your inner physiology. Your skin can only be as healthy as your digestion. If one experiences sluggish bowels on a daily basis, no skincare product will help improve surface appearance.
Clean your skin deeply once a week with herbal soaps, oils and Triphala powder. Keep agni alive and drink aloe vera juice.
Ranjaka Pitta
Ranjaka Pitta is located in the internal organs responsible for forming plasma and blood cells and their circulation via the liver, spleen, stomach, and heart.
In Sanskrit, ranjaka means “colouring/dyeing agent.” This subdosha transforms rasa dhatu (plasma) into rakta dhatu or blood.
Although this subdosha is primarily understood to be the haem component of blood, which is responsible for its colour, Ranjaka pitta is also responsible for all the different pigments of the physiology – be it the coloration of bowel movements, urine, and eyes or the colour of one’s hair, or the complexion of the skin.
As with Bhrajaka Pitta, when Ranjaka pitta goes out of balance skin problems can arise, along with early greying of the hair. Herbs like turmeric, Kutki and monthly purgations balance Bhrajaka Pitta.
Pachaka Pitta
Pachaka Pitta governs the stomach but is also located in all those parts of the alimentary canal where digestion occurs. Since Ayurveda considers digestion the root cause of good health and imbalance, Pachaka Pitta is the most important subdoshas.
People tend to associate Pitta dosha largely with digestion, and that is because of Pachaka Pitta. Pachaka, means ‘that which digests,’ and it rules that aspect of digestive fire – jatar agni or pachaka agni – which is primarily responsible for the central part of the digestion of the food we eat. It also rules the processing of nutrients – from the ptyalin enzymes in our saliva to the final assimilation and excretion of nutrients in the small intestines. Due to the over – or under-performance of this subdosha, nutrients from our food can sometimes be processed improperly, taking the form of ama.
When Pachaka Pitta is out of balance, different digestive issues can arise, ranging from sluggish digestion and occasional hyperacidity and acid stomach to gas, bloating, and a lack of appetite, depending on one’s mind-body type and current state of balance.
Mere herbs will only be effective if one makes dietary and lifestyle choices about their digestive needs.
Ayurvedic herbs can benefit once educated about the best dietary choices and habits for their unique constitution. Choose digestive teas and churnas to balance the digestive fire.