top of page
Writer's pictureVeena Haasl-Blilie

Pitta Stool Analysis: What's a Pitta Poo and What To Do?

Updated: Oct 5

Are you in urgent need of a restroom due to loose stools or diarrhea? Experiencing heat sensations in your digestive system? Dealing with GERD, heartburn, IBS, UC, or alternating constipation and diarrhea? Discover the Pitta stool analysis, understand the differences between balanced and imbalanced Pitta stool, and explore Ayurvedic solutions. Get a complimentary eBook on Pitta cooling beverages!

Dog sitting on toilet reading the newspaper

Explore more on the Saumya Blog, selected top Ayurveda blog and websites.



Why are bowel movements important in Ayurveda?


If you've been reading up on Ayurveda, you might be wondering why the digestive system is at the heart of every health concern in Ayurveda.


"When appetite is balanced, and digestion, assimilation, and elimination are working well, food is taken in and let go the way nature intended. We feel good, we don't have symptoms (heartburn, constipation, lose stool, bloat, pain, and gas) and our digestive system is working optimally and therefore not forming ama."

--Veena, Saumya Ayurveda


What Is Āma?


"Āma denotes the abnormal or impaired process of digestion and metabolism that leads to build up of toxic by-products, which cannot be neutralized or eliminated by the body." (National Institute of Health) "Āma is the root of all disease, illnesses, conditions, and imbalances, according to Ayurveda. This is why the digestive system is at the heart of any health concern.


"Think of a car engine's oil. When it is clean, it smoothly flows through the parts and the engine works well and the car operates correctly. What happens if the oil is not changed regularly? The viscosity changes, it becomes an overly thick, gunky substance that compromises the car. That's car Āma. Eventually it will ruin the car's engine. Our number one job in Ayurveda, is to rid the body (and mind) of toxins (ama) so we enjoy good health."

--Veena, Saumya Ayurveda



Saumya Ayurveda's stool analysis chart


What does Ayurveda say about poop?

According to Ayurveda, the color, texture, frequency, and smell of your poop are all indicators of your overall health. For instance, if your poop is discolored, watery, or too hard, this points to internal issues within your digestive tract - and likely beyond.


When you understand how to analyze your elimination with Ayurveda, you can proactively address health issues early on — as opposed to waiting until your symptoms become conditions and diseases.


Ayurveda stool analysis is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that can see into the thirty feet of digestive tract.


In this article about poo, we’re going to explore what your poop says about your health — according to Ayurveda — and how to accurately analyze yours to assess what your body needs.


For information on what's regular vs. irregular bowel movements, how many times a day should you have a bowel movement, what the color of stool means, and a deep dive into Ayurveda stool analysis, visit our popular article Ayurveda Stool Analysis: What Your Poop Says About Your Health.


Ready to learn about Pitta poo and what to do? Let’s do this!


clay guy sitting on the toilet


How To Recognize Pitta Imbalances

Wondering if you have signs and symptoms of excess Pitta? Read the 35 signs of Pitta in body and mind.


"The first sign of dosha imbalance is in the digestive system. If they are not rebalanced there, the doshas spills out and overflows, going into circulation and moving around the body (and mind). This is why Ayurveda takes to heart, what's going on in your gut." --Veena, Saumya Ayurveda


35 Signs of Pitta Imbalances

Body:

1. Frequent and/or urgent stools that are soft, loose, liquid, or oily (soft serve ice cream and looser).

2. Red, burning, or irritated skin including eczema and dermatitis

2. Headaches with burning sensation and migraines 

3. Rashes, response to insect bites

6. Inflammation or any of the "itis” conditions

7. Acne 

8. Stomach heat increases, causing heartburn, acid reflux, GERD and ulcers

9. Hyperthyroidism

10. Overactive metabolism

11. Nausea or discomfort upon missing meal

12. Heat avoidant or intolerant

13. Heavy, clotty cycles

14. Interrupted sleep 

16. Inflammation in the body can lead to joint pain

17. Increased sweating and sour or foul body odor.

18. Increased hunger and thirst

20. Excessive thirst, unquenchable thirst

21. Autoimmune disorders

22. Fevers

23. Acute inflammation of the joints

24. Sun avoidant


 

Pitta Stool Analysis: What's a Pitta Poo and What To Do?


Discover how personalized Ayurvedic treatment can change your life

Book a free consultation with Veena from Saumya Ayurveda

 

Graphic of Saumya Ayurveda's free Pitta beverage eBook

Mind:

29. Workaholic tendencies

31. Jealousy

32. Impatience, criticism, and intolerant

33. Overly attached to goals

34. Ego inflamed

35. Controlling, fiery personality

Remember that idiom, spreads like wildfire? Pitta imbalances if not addressed in the digestive system in time, flow over and spread into other locations in the body and mind.


Saumya Ayurveda's stool analysis chart

Pitta Stool Analysis: What's a Pitta Poo and What To Do?



Pitta Dosha Poo Analysis 


Pitta dosha body types are governed by fire, which means they are more likely to experience an irritated or inflamed digestive tract. (E.g.: IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, GERD, heartburn, acid reflux, ulcers)


What is Pitta-Type Stool?

A healthy Pitta stool will be passed twice a day (usually in the morning within an hour of waking and not following coffee, and again after lunch), be brown-yellow in color, have a firm texture, and contain a mild odor.


Balanced Pitta Stool Summary:

Quantity: Moderate

Quality: Slightly oily, soft

Consistency: Ripe banana

Float or Sink: Floats for lack of ama

Color: Light brownish-yellow Odor: Mild, non-offensive

Frequency: 1-2 times a day, upon waking and before coffee

Passes: Easily


When Pitta is imbalanced, the stool will be looser (ranging from soft-serve consistency to watery, and more frequent (meaning it occurs more than twice a day), often urgent and causes bloating and gas, be yellow-brown in color due to increased bile, may burn or be painful to eliminate, and contain a pungent, potent odor.


Imbalanced Pitta Stool Summary:

Quantity: Moderate Quality: Oily, liquid, hot Consistency: Looser, falls apart in water, soft serve Float or Sink: May float or sink Color: Yellow-green or red Odor: Strong!

Frequency: Often 2-3 times a day Passed: Too quickly, urgent, hot


Complicated Imbalances

The doshas do not operate in isolation, there's a dynamic dance and it can get complicated. Long term dosha imbalances tend to involve more than one dosha and results in more involved issues. In this case, it is best to seek experienced guidance of a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner.


 

“I just completed a colonoscopy and my ulcerative proctitus was given a Mayo Clinic Score of 0, normal or inactive disease.  THANK YOU!     


I had trouble keeping weight on and had lost 10 pounds. No matter what I ate, I felt like something was missing.  My family doctor said I had colitis. Also, my energy level was very low, and I was using medication almost daily for a skin condition that my dermatologist recommended.  Add to this severe migraine headaches about every two weeks. Following Veena’s guidance, all of these conditions have been nearly eliminated!

 

I gained 10 pounds, and my energy level is now strong and stable. When I eat, I feel satisfied. My skin condition has stabilized, and the migraines have essentially disappeared.  I’m very grateful to Veena for the wonderful results and the healthier quality of life we have attained together. Without reservation, I highly recommend Veena at Saumya Ayurveda.”

--Chris Schirber, Yoga Teacher, Minnesota

toy toilet with colorful pastel piles of fake stool

Ayurveda Stool Analysis: Stool Colors and What They Mean


Brown


Any shade of brown is what you’re aiming for — this combined with the texture of your poop will indicate how healthy your digestive tract and body are.


Yellow


If your poop is yellow or yellow-brown this indicates you have too much fat in your intestines due to malabsorption, an intestinal condition or disease, high Pitta, or improper nutrition.


Red


Red poop means something you ate either had red food coloring in it, you have hemorrhoids, or perhaps bleeding in your digestive system.


Pale, White or Clay-colored


What causes pale stools? Pale-ish, clay-colored stools may be caused by a lack of bile making its way from the liver to the gallbladder, to the intestine. Bile is what colors the stool; a pale, clay-colored stool means no bile is present.

Very Green


If your poo comes out looking like a bright shade of green, this either means you have diarrhea (and it’s green because it’s coming out of your body too fast and has not fermented properly) or you ate a lot of greens or consumed green food dye.


Pale, Clay-Colored Stools

Palish, clay-colored stools may be caused by a lack of bile making its way from the liver, to the gallbladder to the intestine. Bile is what colors the stool. A pale, clay stool means no bile.


Greasy, Slippery Looking Stool


You know it when you see it. As with clay-colored stools, greasy stool is usually a result of low bile flow from the liver and then the holding tank of bile, the gallbladder. Remember bile is what colors the stool. It's a greenish-yellow fluid that has many functions including emulsifying fats and carrying away waste. If the fats are not broken down, the undigested fat slimes up the stool.


How to Balance Pitta Poo


  1. Avoid heating foods: Chile, raw onion, garlic, and cayenne irritate the Pitta type or those with Pitta conditions, as this dosha is already fiery to begin with. To cool Pitta, eat cooling foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables, rice, quinoa, and dark leafy greens.

  2. Avoid alcohol and coffee consumption: Stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol aggravate Pitta digestive system and mind, and are best avoided. Opt instead to drink Pitta cooling herbal teas and plenty of water.

  3. Pitta Dosha Guide: Will provide you insights into Pitta's role in both body and mind, and how that impacts the digestive system, Pitta time of day, Pitta season and much more.


Chalkboard with Success Stories

“It is with great pleasure that I write this review! Working with Veena has remarkably changed my life – even in the places I was unaware that it demanded to be changed! Throughout the course of four months, Veena’s gentle and succinct approach allowed me to easily refine my routines into a more structured foundation that left me feeling more in graceful governance with myself – emotionally and physically.


Not only had she brought forth awareness in how I prepare/ relate to the food I eat, but she also prescribed me wonderful herbs to help calm my anxiety, detox my liver, and heal the ugly night sweats I’ve been experiencing due to hormonal imbalances.


Lastly, her guided meditations are a great grounding force, and I have since continued to explore the euphoric benefits of Yoga Nidra.

Veena is a well of divine knowledge, and her humor and light will be eternally appreciated!”

--Rachel Monson, Wisconsin


 

“Veena has been a dream to work with! I came to her with a number of concerns around my digestion, skin, and menstrual cycle, and she has helped me find so much improvement in all areas and more!” – Meg McNeil, Boulder, Colorado


Psst! Our clients say it best – so read and watch more of our client's stories.

Saumya Ayurveda's 3 steps for transforming your daily life with image of a woman by a lake

There is a saying, "The mind is more in the body, than the body is in the mind." The Saumya 3 step meditation process shifts us from fight-flight-freeze mode, to rest-restore-relax mode. Give it a try for forty days and observe the changes. The more grounded and relaxed we are, the smoother life flows.


"The breath is the connection between the mind and body, so by training the breath, we become calm, focused, and grounded, we slow down the aging process by decreasing stress. These practices are so simple and easy to have as part of our daily life. We actually feel and look younger."

- Veena, Saumya Ayurveda


1. Learn Diaphragmatic Breathing and Change Your Life. When we re-learn to breath diaphragmatically, we move from the flight-fight-freeze mode, to rest, restore, relaxation mode from where we want and need to live.


2. Free Daily Guided Practices: 11 minutes in the morning and in the evening, as anchors of your daily Ayurveda routine.



"Choose a couple of practices from the routines that provide you with the greatest support. Perform them while applying our two minute meditation technique and your mundane tasks, just transformed into a mellifluous meditation. This is meditation applied to daily life." - Veena, Saumya Ayurveda


"Veena was able to help me regain my energy in just a few months and I’m feeling like my “young” self again! I love the food plan she designed for me, and all the supporting practices (am/pm routines, breathing techniques, herbs, and spice mixes) are so enjoyable to incorporate into my day. I highly recommend Saumya Ayurveda if you want to feel better and have more vitality.”

-Molly Rossini, Minnesota


person using a compass and a map

Discover the Saumya Ayurveda Way


We all want to be heard, understood, and cared for as whole beings, not a set of isolated symptoms. True health is more than the absence of disease, which is why Western medicine so often leaves us feeling hopeless and unseen.


Deep down, you already know what you’re searching for: a new framework for living – one that brings your entire being back into balance. With Saumya Ayurveda, you’ll receive individualized guidance to create the physically, mentally, and spiritually vibrant life you crave.


Saumya Ayurveda provides concierge, top-notch, award-winning Ayurveda care. We strive to keep it simple, so you can focus on you! Our practice model is client focused not on retailing herbs.


Our effective multi-appointment consultation packages provide you with experienced Ayurveda care, enthusiastic guidance, and inspiring support.


Explore our personalized services and book your FREE discovery call today.


BEFORE YOU LEAVE…

If you found value in this article, please help others by sharing it and reposting it on your social media platforms. Just click the three vertical dots at the top of this page.


Saumya Ayurveda is dedicated to offering you insightful Ayurveda content for free to assist you in embracing an Ayurveda lifestyle. Thank you for your support.


Veenat at Saumya Ayurveda

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.


Veena individualizes treatment plans to each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, so it fits your life and becomes woven in your lifestyle, naturally.


Related Posts

See All
bottom of page