Before we go any further I should clear up a couple of questions from last week. Yes it is possible for two different doshas to resonate with you. Sometimes even all three. The way to find out your natural dominant dosha is to think back to your childhood or early adulthood. If you lived in northern Queensland and never felt the cold but have since moved to England and are cold all the time that’s hardly surprising – go with “doesn’t feel the cold easily” as your answer. So many things can change your dominant dosha over your life and ageing itself certainly changes us. As I have grown older and been diagnosed with fibromyalgia I have noticed Pitta (fiery) elements developing in my very Vata type. Go with your gut feeling and take the parts from each dosha that sit right with you. Or consult an ayurvedic doctor.
~~~~
So you’ve worked out what your dosha or type is, but what now? What does it mean?
Pittas are driven, competitive and ambitious and constantly chasing their next goal – in other words they are often Type As! You like to test your limits, run marathons, run businesses, get PhDs, write books, the kind of things the rest of us would love to do but actually prefer sleeping! 
A Pitta imbalance can cause stress and anger which in turn can lead to burnout – so Pittas, you’re not superhuman. Have a sit down and an elderflower infusion (see below)! Too much stress and Pitta overload can lead to inflammatory conditions such as rashes, ulcers, IBS and high blood pressure (fibromyalgia is a Pitta rooted condition but not a condition suffered by Pittas particularly – does that make sense?).
You need to eat regularly – if your blood sugar levels drop your Pitta can rise – but typically you are too busy to eat. Try to eat little and often because stuffing down a quick bite after leaving it too long can lead to weight gain. Enjoy lots of cooling foods like fresh fruits and veg, dairy, beans and grains.
Element: Fire
Symptoms of Excessive Pitta: Skin disorders and rashes, stomach acidity, hair loss, upset stomach.
Exercise: Regular moderate exercise is great, running, swimming, racquet sports, martial arts and yoga of course! Try not to let your Type A nature make you too competitive!
Colour: Blues, Greens and Violets
Aromatherapy and oils: Pitta people only require small amounts of massage oils but do benefit from regular gentle massages. Essential oils that are good for Pitta include honeysuckle, jasmine and sandalwood – but please consult a qualified aromatherapist for correct useage.
Asana and Pranayama: Most styles of yoga are good for Pittas but you should probably stay away from hot yoga – you’re fiery enough already! Go with your body though – don’t become compeititive with your asana as forcing postures can aggravate Pitta. Forward bends, moon salutations and twists are very good for Pitta dosha.
Try cooling pranayama such as shitali.
Food: There are very detailed diet sheets for each dosha but I’m just going to give a quick overview of your “superfoods”. Pittas should try to incorporate asparagus, blueberries, apples, cabbage, celery, grapes, pineapples and tofu into their diets and should try to eat more raw than cooked foods. Ayurveda recommends primarily vegetarian diets for everyone but especially Pittas. Try to avoid spicy food.
Pitta Recipe: Elderflower and Orange Infusion
Cut an orange into slices (peel on) and place in a jug. Add two fresh elderflower heads and a sprig of mint.
Fill the jug with filtered water and leave to stand for one hour before straining and sipping slowly.
Disclaimer: I am not an Ayurvedic doctor and these posts are merely an overview for anybody who is interested in reading more about Ayurveda. If you have a pre-existing medical condition please consult a trained Ayurvedic doctor.
