The effect of Ayurvedic fire Pitta Dosha on man in summer

According to the Ayurvedic healing system, during the summer months, with the intense sunshine and the temperature rising significantly, it is the season that prevails in nature and in our body, dosha pitta.

To understand this particular dosha we should first know the elements of water and fire which are the main ingredients that create pitta.

FIRE – AGNI
Fire represents combustion and light, so to speak, it is the internal generator of the body that produces energy, just as the sun plays the role of the generator for the planet to produce energy. Thus, fire represents every form of energy, such as solar, hydroelectric, atomic, electromagnetic, and from this we see the unique ability it has to release vital energy from itself.
With the discovery of fire, man began to cook his food, warm himself, create communities, and subsequently significantly improved the quality of his life. In this way fire creates a sense of safety, security, prosperity and longevity.
Fire is perceived through form and color and therefore eyes and fire are two inseparable factors. It is associated with the sense of sight, since the eyes are the means by which our mind processes light in order to have the experience of the material world.

The characteristics of fire are: warm, light, dry, sharp, bright, expansive, penetrating, transforming and its movement is upward and continuous.

WATER – JAL
Water is life itself, since our body consists of 65% - 70% water and we can only live without it for a few days. It is connected to survival, since from ancient times people chose to live in a place where there was a river or a lake. It protects the body from the heat of the fire and is the element that softens pains and inflammations.
According to Ayurveda the place of water in the body is in the lungs, in every cell, in the secretions of the organs, the moisture of the eyes and the oral cavity, and the reproductive fluids.
Water is the element that activates the tongue to recognize the six different tastes which are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy and astringent.
The characteristics of water are: wet, cold, heavy, stable, diffusive, soft, sluggish and cloudy.

How is Pitta Dosha created?
These two elements, fire and water, always work together and cooperate constantly interacting at every moment. Water is always next to the fire in order to moderate its intensity.
Thus the new energy (dosha) resulting from this interaction of the two elements is called pitta and its characteristics are: hot, moist, penetrating, greasy, light and expansive.
Its mission is to maintain a constant body temperature. It is located in our stomach and is responsible for the digestion and absorption of food, the metabolic function of the body, as well as mental acuity since it helps us process with clarity all the messages we receive from the outside world.

Summer and Pitta dosha
In summer, with the heat and intense sun, pitta tends to increase. In order to keep it within the desired limits, it would be useful to add refreshing foods to our diet such as: fruits, melon, watermelon, peaches, nectarines, grapes and to consume large amounts of vegetables such as: beans, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, greens, okra , eggplants, zucchini, corn and fresh coriander, mint in salads
The flavors we prefer to have on our plate often are the sweet like: cereals, figs, plums, avocado, coconut water, fennel, licorice, as well as the bitter like: lettuce, spinach, leafy vegetables and green tea.
Some of the foods that increase pitta are: onions, garlic, chocolate, hot peppers, pepper, tahini, carob, sour milk, which should be consumed in moderation during the summer season.