End of Summer Rtucharya

Seasonal Rhythm (Ritucharya)

Summer— Initiates the Pitta time of year bringing heat and dryness to the wetness and heaviness of Spring. The Pitta principle of fire is strongest during this time of year as the sun’s rays are strongest and hottest. So as the Earth is absorbing maximum energy so are our bodies. During the end of the summer pitta is the highest in the body due to the accumulation of heat over the summer time. It is important to clear the accumulation pitta during the summer to fall transition, so it doesn’t get stored in the body.

Pitta imbalance (excess):

• Red or irritated skin

• Burning digestion and an overactive metabolism

• Heart burn

• Nausea or discomfort upon missing meals

• Loose stools

• An uncomfortable feeling of heat in the body

• Feelings of frustration, anger, and irritability

• Judgment, impatience, criticism, and intolerance

• Red, dry, or light-sensitive eyes

• Excessive perfectionist tendencies

Five ways to pacify pitta in the body:

1. Eating cooling foods

   • These foods include, coconut products like coconut milk and coconut water,

     cilantro, oats, cucumbers, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, celery,

     apples, pears, watermelon, avocados, lime and berries.

   • Reduce and avoid heating foods like spicy and sour foods. This includes hot

     peppers, chilies, onions, excess garlic and citrus fruits like oranges and lemons.

2. Work with the herb Rose

   • Rose’s sweet and astringent tastes help pacify pitta (heat) in the body and mind.

   • You can spray your face, hair and body with rose water to cool the mind and body.

   • You can add rose powder and dried rose petals to your teas to cool the mind and body.

   • Rose is a nervine, aphrodisiac, relieves heat, congestion of the blood and soothes inflammation & digestion. Rose is known as the flower of love and devotion. Rose is associated with the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Guadalupe miraculously offered roses to Juan Diego in Mexico.

   • When combined with hibiscus it can support the menstrual cycle.

3. Eat your bitters

   • The bitter taste is both cooling and drying. Pitta is hot and oily so the bitter taste supports the pacification of pitta. Bitter helps to clear and reduce excess heat stored in the body, especially the liver. The bitter taste also helps lower the body’s blood sugar and to cleanse and purify the blood and the liver. It benefits the skin and relieves common pitta imbalances such as burning, itching, or swelling.

   • It is best to have your bitters before or at the beginning of a meal, but not required.

   • Bitter foods include, bitter gourd, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, collard greens, dark chocolate and dandelion greens.

4. Giving yourself time to rest, restore and space for self care practices.

   • Skin care routines, yoga, meditation, going on a walk or hike in nature,swimming in fresh water, take a bath, or give yourself an oil massage.

5. Shitali Pranayama – Cooling Breath

   • Curl your tongue like a straw or purse your lips like you are sipping a straw. Inhale through the straw, seal your lips and exhale the nostrils.

   • Shitali Pranayama Tutorial - Instagram

   • Repeat 3-10x

   • This will help cool the physical body, as well as sooth the mind and emotions.