Light – Their frame is usually light/medium and, because Pitta rules the eyes, they can also suffer from an intolerance to bright lights. Their skin is light and lustrous.
Liquid – The liquid attribute is demonstrated in the waste products, loose light oily stools, excess sweat and urine. Pittas usually have a greater thirst than other doshas.
Spreading – This can be seen in the form of skin rashes, acne, inflammation and heat that moves in the body. Pitta individuals like to be well known and want their name to be spread all over the world.
Oily – They have soft oily skin and hair. They may find it difficult to digest deep-fried foods.
Sour – Pitta can often experience stomach acid, increased reflux and excess salivation.
Pungent – Often Pittas will experience heartburn, or strong burning feelings both physically and mentally. Their bodies may omit a pungent smell either from the mouth, armpits, feet or faeces.
Bitter –They will often be left with a bitter taste in their mouths following heated exchanges. They tend to have an aversion to bitter flavour. They can be bitter and twisted if they don’t get their own way.
Red – They can have fiery red hair, flushed red skin, nose and cheeks, red rashes, red skin from sunburn. Red will aggravate Pitta.
Emotions and diet
Pitta females who have not learned to temper their fire can struggle with hot flushes and insomnia during perimenopause and menopause, and this is a time when they need to look closely at the way they are managing their emotions and perhaps question if they are being honest with themselves about how they feel. They may also need to alter their diets and remove heating foods and drinks like red wine, hard cheeses and meats to reduce the fire in the body.
Or they may just stuff any negative emotions down as they present a very competent persona to the outside world.
For Pitta dietary recommendations, see the back of the book, pages 242–3.
Routine and exercise
One of the biggest challenges for Pitta individuals is to slow down and to see life from another person’s perspective. Fire governs the eyes in the body so they can often be so focused on what they want and need, forgetting to ask what those around may need and instead assuming they know best.
Because Pitta energy governs the years from 18 to 50–55, it is easy for these types to burn out in their middle years of their life as they tend to push themselves beyond their means both physically and mentally.
Pittas need to avoid overheating so exercising in the middle of the day, especially in summer, is a big no-no. Hot yoga, surfing, sunbaking or any physical work in summer in Pitta hours between 10am and 2pm will not serve them well. Because Pittas like to look good, they can become obsessed with exercise and their body shape, and may become frustrated and moody if their exercise regime is disturbed in any way.
KAPHA
Kapha individuals tend to be heavy set and often experience problems with their weight when they are out of balance. They are calm, caring and compassionate and possess incredible stamina. Kaphas have a strong constitution and tend to live longer than the other doshas.
Elements
Time of day
6am–10am and 6pm–10pm. This is the time of day when Kapha will be more obvious in the body and mind.
Time of year
In spring Kapha can be more aggravated in the body. Spring is known as Kapha time (mucus) where we eat light foods, move our body more and shake out any excess weight we have accumulated in winter. This is the season when Kapha types will struggle with respiratory issues, especially a mucus build up; they may struggle losing the extra weight they gained in winter and could even find themselves slipping into depression.
Time of life
0–18 years is the time that Kapha will be more prominent in the body.
Kapha is responsible for compassion, loyalty, patience, forgiveness, body structure (bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments) and stability, lubrication and protection.
KAPHA OUT OF BALANCE
The site of Kapha in the body is the chest, lungs, throat, head, sinuses, nose, mouth and tongue, bones, plasma and mucus, and this is where Kapha will present more strongly when it is out of balance.
Signs that Kapha is out of balance in the body
Lethargy, laziness, difficulty getting out of bed after a good night’s sleep, feeling unmotivated, or beginning to isolate yourself and withdraw from friends are signs of imbalance. Kaphas may become greedy and attached or might find themselves overeating or eating for comfort, especially sweet or fatty foods. Weight gain, fluid retention, coughs and colds, slow bowel movements, diabetes, oily skin and hair, congestion in the chest and lungs, excess mucus, asthma, excessive sweet cravings and tender breasts before menstruation are other symptoms Kaphas may experience. Enlarged breasts, emotional eating, watery mucousy blood at period time, long heavy flow, depression and moodiness may also present as symptoms. They might also complain of oily stools that sink and feeling that they have not fully emptied their bowls after going to the toilet.
Kapha types are more likely to go out of balance in spring.
Spring/Kapha health issues: Fluid retention, excess mucus, coughs and colds, slow bowel movements, increased body weight, depression.
Habits and lifestyle factors that imbalance Kapha
Eating too many sweet foods (this includes fruit); eating cold, white, damp foods (especially ice-cream, milk and yoghurt); excess dairy in the diet; too much alcohol or sweet drinks; overeating (especially in the evening before bed); overexposure to cold damp environments, lack of exercise, sleeping during the day and going to bed with wet hair and drinking too much liquid be it water or hot drinks; and sitting around doing nothing for long periods at a time.
Out of balance Kapha individuals can be stubborn, possessive and greedy. Kaphas have a strong attachment to money and will often stay in jobs they are unhappy in if they are making good money.
Environmental effects
The amount of water and earth element in their constitution means they have an aversion to cold damp weather, and if exposed to these conditions for long periods of time, they can develop respiratory issues. Kaphas need to be aware of mould and rising damp in their homes and parents may need to place dehumidifiers