How to Cool Pitta and Reduce Body Heat with Ayurveda
Updated: Aug 22
As the temperatures rise and life gets more intense, Pitta dosha can flare up in our bodies and minds. Pitta comes on fast and it spreads like wildfire. When this happens, it becomes more difficult to keep our cool – both physically and mentally 🥵
Fortunately, Ayurveda offers effective strategies to reduce body heat and balance Pitta dosha, helping you avoid troublesome heat-related issues like excessive sweating, irritability, and digestive discomfort.
This summer, stay cool as a cucumber (one of our favorite cooling foods) with these 15 ways to reduce Pitta and body heat with Ayurveda.
Explore more on the Saumya Blog, selected top Ayurveda blogs and websites to watch.
Which Dosha is Responsible for Body Heat?
In Ayurveda, Pitta dosha is responsible for body heat. Pitta is described as hot, sharp, oily, and penetrating. When fiery Pitta flares up – we burn up and burn out. That's why reducing body heat with Ayurveda starts with reducing Pitta dosha.
Signs of Pitta Imbalance
Pitta heat manifests in many ways, including:
Inflammation
Skin conditions
Migraines
Acid reflux
Loose stools
Nausea
Constipation
Body odor
Excessive sweating
Unpleasant menstrual cycles
Burn-out and fatigue
Mental heat (think short-fuses and irritability)
Do these symptoms look familiar? Explore our Hot List of Common Pitta Imbalances for more insight. Then, try the following Ayurvedic tips to find relief (or book a call with Veena for personalized guidance!).
15 Ways to Reduce Pitta and Body Heat with Ayurveda
Believe it or not, it’s easy to get heat out of the body with Ayurveda. Here are 15 powerful, yet manageable, ways to reduce Pitta dosha and chill out:
1. Eat Cooling, Pitta-Reducing Foods
Your diet is one of the best ways to reduce body heat with Ayurveda. Focus on foods with cooling properties and high water content:
Water-Rich Foods: cucumber, asparagus, squash, zucchini, celery, etc.
Bitter Greens: dandelion greens, kale, spinach, chard, and beet greens (avoid mustard greens)
Cooling Vegetables: beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, okra, parsnip, peas, potatoes, and rutabaga
Berries: strawberries, raspberries, cherries, etc.
Melons: watermelon, muskmelon, cantaloupe
Whole Grains: rice, quinoa, oats, etc.
Dairy: milk, butter, ghee
Almonds (soaked and peeled)
Moong dal (sprouted whole green moong or yellow moong dal both make great cooling snacks)
Flax seed
Remember to eat your main meal around noon when your digestive fire is strongest. This helps prevent excess heat buildup in the body.
Learn More: Explore our full guide to Pitta-reducing foods
Click here to access the book.
Cooling Ayurvedic Recipes from the Saumya Kitchen
Looking for delicious ways to incorporate these cooling foods into your meals? Explore these original Pitta-balancing recipes from the Saumya Kitchen:
These nourishing dishes are crafted to cool your body, soothe your Pitta, and tantalize your taste buds while supporting your overall well-being.
2. Stay Hydrated with Cooling Ayurvedic Drinks
Proper hydration is essential for managing body heat. While it may be tempting, avoid ice-cold drinks as they can inhibit digestion and lead to more heat in the body over time. Try these cooling beverages instead:
Coconut water with a squeeze of lime
Rosewater lemonade
Mint-infused water
Room temperature herbal teas (hibiscus, rose, chamomile)
Aloe vera juice
Fennel and cumin seed water
Cooling Drinks from the Saumya Kitchen
There are many ways to quench your thirst and cool your Pitta with Ayurvedic beverages. Try these original recipes from Saumya Ayurveda:
These refreshing concoctions are designed to not only cool your body but also balance your doshas and support overall well-being.
Discover how personalized Ayurvedic treatment can change your life
Book a free consultation with Veena from Saumya Ayurveda
3. Do Light Exercise in the Morning or Evening
Exercise is great for your well-being, but it can also heat up your body and mind. Reduce Pitta by exercising early in the morning or in the evening when temperatures are lower.
Opt for less strenuous activities like:
Brisk walks near water or in nature
Gentle yoga or tai chi
Swimming or water aerobics
Leisurely bike rides
Remember to listen to your body and avoid overexertion, especially on hot summer days. Find a way to get exercise without leaving your body overheated and your mind overly intense.
Learn More: Keep your Cool – Top Yoga Tips for Pitta Dosha
3. Perform Ayurvedic Oil Massage (Abhyanga)
Abhyanga, or Ayurvedic self-massage, is an ideal way to relax and cool the body. Massaging cooling oils into your skin can bring you instant relief on a hot day. Use oils with natural anti-Pitta properties such as:
Coconut oil
Sunflower oil
Brahmi-infused oils
Saumya Ayurveda's Pitta-cooling oil (Clients love it! Curious? Book a free consult!)
Massage these oils into your skin, paying special attention to your feet, hands, and scalp. This practice not only cools the body and prevents Pitta from building up and boiling over, it also calms the mind and improves our overall well-being.
Getting Started: How to Do Ayurveda Self-Massage (Abhyanga) at Home
5. Dress in Pitta-Cooling Clothing
According to Ayurveda, one can reduce Pitta and heat by choosing fabrics and colors of clothes that balance Pitta. This concept aligns with Surya Chikitsa, the Ayurvedic practice of color therapy or treatment.
Surya Chikitsa teaches that colors have a profound impact on our physical and mental well-being. By extending this principle to our clothing and environment, we can create a cooling effect that helps balance Pitta dosha.
Here's how to apply this wisdom:
Favor cool, natural fabrics that breathe well, such as 100% cotton and linen.
Choose flowing fabrics that allow air to circulate around the body.
As Pitta quality is predominantly hot, cooling colors bring balance – look to the cool side of the color palette and favor blues, greens, cool purples, and white.
If you're feeling particularly warm, consider dousing your clothing with cool water or using cooling scarves and neck gaiters designed to keep you cooler.
The principles of Surya Chikitsa can be extended to your environment as well. Consider incorporating cooling colors in your home decor, such as the color of paint on the walls, furniture, or even something as simple as the color of flowers or pictures on your desk at work.
By mindfully choosing your clothing and surroundings based on these Ayurvedic principles, you can create a cooling oasis that helps keep Pitta in check throughout your day.
5. Reduce Mental and Emotional Intensity
Hot weather isn’t the only thing that heats up Pitta dosha. There’s Pitta season, of course, and Pitta-aggravating foods like alcohol, caffeine, and hot spices. But the most overlooked source of Pitta provocation is... intensity!
We live intense lives. Commuting, stressful, demanding jobs, work-life balance challenges, pandemics, and on it goes. There's a lot of intensity just navigating daily life, so where we can, we need to release the pressure and also learn how to keep it from building up.
Here are a few Pitta-friendly ways to manage stress and intensity in your life:
Practice mindfulness and meditation daily
Set boundaries to create work/life balance
Engage in calming activities like reading, painting, or gardening
Take regular breaks during work to prevent burnout
Practice gratitude to shift focus from stressors to positives
When we take steps to make our life less intense and overwhelming, Pitta cools down – and our bodies do, too. Read our blogs Ayurveda for Anxiety and Burnout and Natural Remedies to Manage Anxiety with Ayurveda to cool intensity and reclaim your calm.
7. Practice Pranayama Breathwork
The way we breathe changes how energy flows throughout our bodies. If you learn to breathe diaphragmatically, you will be calmer and healthier, and you'll strengthen your mind and body connection.
So, take a deep breath – let's relax.
Ready to get started? Incorporate these cooling, centering practices into your daily routine, and you will change how you feel. Empower yourself.
8. Find Balance With Nasya Oil
Nasya, the Ayurvedic practice of applying medicated oil to the nasal passages, can be a powerful tool in cooling Pitta and reducing body heat. This therapeutic treatment nourishes and cleanses the nasal passageways, considered the gateway to the brain in Ayurveda.
What is Nasya Oil? Nasya oil is infused with Ayurvedic herbs to balance the doshas, improve prana flow, and alleviate various health issues. For cooling Pitta, specific cooling herbs and oils are used in the preparation.
Benefits of Nasya for Cooling Pitta:
Soothes and cools the mind
Relieves tension and heat in the head area
Can help alleviate Pitta-related issues like headaches
How to Use Nasya Oil for Cooling: Use Nasya oils with cooling ingredients like Brahmi oil, coconut oil, or ghee. Apply a few drops in each nostril in the morning or before bed. This practice helps cool the head and mind, often providing relief from headaches and mental tension.
*Note: While Nasya can benefit many, it's important to remember that Ayurveda emphasizes personalized care. An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner can help identify the correct Nasya oil blend to effectively reduce body heat and cool Pitta for your individual needs.
9. Try Ayurvedic Moon Bathing
Wondering how to do an Ayurvedic moon bath? It's simple. Go outside. Sit or lay on the ground or, if you prefer a chair or lounge chair. Whichever you choose, keep the head, neck, and spine in alignment, yet relaxed.
Sit or lie outside under moonlight
Practice gentle diaphragmatic breathing
Listen to our free guided practices. Choose one 11-minute practice from Part Two and continue directly on to Part Three.
Enjoy your moon bathing experience for at least 30 minutes.
Learn More: Ayurvedic Moon Bathing to Cool and Calm
10. Use Cooling Mists
Soothe your skin with a cooling facial mist. Keep in the fridge and spritz if you feel a hot flash coming on. Book a free consultation to see why Saumya clients love our organic rosewater mist.
Relevant Read: Dosha-Specific Routines to Reduce Signs of Aging
11. Embrace Aromatherapy
Use cooling essential oils like sandalwood, jasmine, or spearmint to calm Pitta. Fragrant flowers can soothe Pitta, too. So, stop and smell the roses – and the lavender, geranium, and jasmine! – it's nature's aromatherapy.
12. Practice Emotional Release:
Holding in or onto emotions aggravates Pitta. Is something or someone creating stress in your life? Conduct a reflective assessment and let go of what and who is no longer supportive.
Journal, talk with a trusted friend, or seek professional support to let go of pent-up emotions. You should feel lifted and energized after interacting with your life, not spent and irritated.
13. Incorporate Ayurvedic Daily Routines:
Establish cooling morning and evening routines to maintain balance throughout the day. Explore these Saumya guides to determine which daily rituals are right for you:
14. Be Mindful of Sun Exposure
While sunlight is essential for health, excessive exposure can aggravate Pitta dosha and increase body heat. To balance your sun exposure:
Limit time in direct sunlight, especially during peak hours (10 am to 4 pm)
Seek shade when outdoors, particularly under trees which offer cooling energy
Use protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses
Apply natural, Pitta-pacifying sunscreens
Practice sun salutations early in the morning to harmonize with the sun's energy
Remember, moderation is key. Some sunlight is beneficial, but protect yourself from overexposure to maintain Pitta balance.
15. Balance Social Activities
Be aware of your social energy limits and take time to recharge when needed. Be smart about events and observe what your sweet spot is for social activities. If you're prone to overheating, take it easy, don't push yourself. Pitta types may tend to push themselves, and what is needed to balance that intensity is to back off and take it easy.
How Do I Know If I Have a Dosha Imbalance?
Peruse these comprehensive and convenient lists of signs and symptoms of dosha imbalances.
Peruse these comprehensive and convenient lists of signs and symptoms of dosha imbalances. As we are comprised of all Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, there can be an imbalance in any of the doshas, or a combination of dosha imbalances. Read all three lists and see if anything looks familiar.
Cool Pitta and Reduce Body Heat With Ayurveda
Saumya Ayurveda Can Show You How!
If you struggle with overheating during the summer months, find your body running hot throughout the year, have hot flashes, migraines, heated skin conditions, a short fuse....talk with Veena. One short conversation could be the start of a lifetime of relief.
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MEET VEENA: YOUR AYURVEDIC GUIDE
Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk.
She is President Emeritus and teaching faculty of the Meditation Center.
Veena fell in love with the traditional medicine used in her family’s home, learning herbal remedies at her grandmother's knee.
An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Veena’s deep, intuitive knowledge of Ayurveda empowers her clients to reclaim their fullest, most vibrant lives –mentally, physically, and spiritually.
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