Seven Tips for Staying Cool this Summer

It's almost summer and most of us breathe a sigh of relief as those chilly spring days stretch out into warmer weather. As the sun shines down stronger outside, you might also begin to notice an increase in Pitta dosha—the fiery mind-body element that governs hormones, digestion, and other metabolic processes in your own body. A little extra Pitta isn’t necessarily a bad thing! But if it grows too strong, you could start to feel irritable and short-tempered, or experience other Pitta-related problems like skin rashes, acne, and excess stomach acidity. 

Fortunately, there are some simple, Ayurvedic measures you can take to pacify Pitta so you can enjoy summer more and keep your cool.

Enjoy cooling summer beverages

Cool liquids help to pacify Pitta. But don't reach for that ice-cold drink or carbonated beverage, because they can disrupt your digestion. Drink sweet fruit juices (sweet grape or sweet pineapple are refreshing choices); boiled and cooled milk with a pinch of cardamom or a little Organic Rose Petal Spread blended in it; or sweet lassi, made by blending one part fresh yogurt and three parts cool water, a heaped tablespoon or two of Organic Rose Petal Spread and a pinch of cooling cardamom (strain before drinking). Drink lots of cool, pure water through the day to replenish moisture lost to heat. Organic Pitta Tea is a refreshing summertime beverage for keeping body, mind and emotions cool.

Eat a Pitta-pacifying diet

To counter Pitta’s fiery, heating tendencies, it’s helpful to favor sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes, and reduce or avoid sour, salty and pungent tastes. Excellent choices include sweet juicy fruits like melons, pears and grapes; vegetables like broccoli, cucumber and zucchini; dairy products like milk and ghee; and grains like rice. Whenever possible, try to avoid sour or spicy foods like sour cream, ketchup and vinegar, and spicy dishes. Cook with cooling herbs and spices, cardamom, coriander, mint, fennel, and anise. Sprinkle Organic Pitta Churna on dishes at the table for a quick, delicious way to balance Pitta.

Drink cooling spice water. 

You've probably heard that drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day is important for flushing out toxins, and in summer it's even more important to keep replacing fluids that may be lost to perspiration. You can get extra cooling and purifying impact from your water by adding a few herbs and spices. Here's a summer recipe: Cooling Summer Water 

The herbs in this formula not only cool Pitta dosha, but if used over time they help stimulate digestion and cleanse the microchannels of the body, allowing the water to hydrate the deeper layers of the skin.

Do cooling exercise

Swimming and other water-based activities are wonderful for soothing Pitta dosha. Leisurely evening strolls after the heat of the day is gone are relaxing for both mind and body. An occasional moonlight walk is especially soothing for Pitta-ruffled emotions. Gentle yoga can also be helpful—but steer clear of hot-yoga classes, which will only increase the heat in your mind and body.

Chill out, and enjoy!

A Pitta-aggravating lifestyle that revolves around overworking, frequent time pressure,deadline-oriented activities, and long commutes will become twice as stressful in the heat of summer. Make sure to balance your work with leisure. Plan your vacation for the summer, enjoy fun activities on weekends and take time to enjoy life. When working, give yourself enough time to meet deadlines, and learn to say no if you feel your schedule is becoming stretched. Diffuse cooling aroma oils such as Pitta Aroma Oil to keep your environment balanced. Sleep with your windows open if you can.

Protect yourself from the sun

Outdoor activities are fun in the summer, but it’s also important to protect yourself from the sun. Try to avoid the sun’s hot rays during the hottest part of the day. If you must go out, protect yourself with a good sunscreen and a broad-brimmed hat—and eat some sweet juicy fruit before you leave, to keep your body cool from within. Remember to drink lots of water, and carry a bottle with you.

Use rose for its soothing properties

In Ayurveda, the rose is renowned for its powerful cooling effect on the mind, emotions, and body. Many Ayurvedic herbal compounds that contain a high percentage of heating herbs are balanced with dried rose petals. The rose increases soma — the cooling lunar energy element, to counter agni, the heating solar energy element, in the physiology. And it smells heavenly, too!

A spoonful of Organic Rose Petal Spread each day, either by itself, or blended into milk, is a delicious way to enjoy the cooling properties of this botanical. You can also try a rose aromatherapy skin care routine—use our Rose Herbal Soap for cleansing and Organic Rose Water as a pure toner. If your eyes burn from the heat of the day, or long hours at the computer, spritz some rose water on a pair of cotton pads, place them over your closed eyes, and lie down for 10 minutes as you feel the tensions flowing away. 

Get support with herbal formulas

Premium Amla Berry from Maharishi Ayurveda helps pacify Pitta and replenishes nutrients depleted by excess heat, stress and overwork. Aci-Balance helps put out the fire inside if you've thrown your digestion off with too many hot spicy foods. Feeling stressed? Our Blissful Joy herbal tablets help you withstand the effects of stress on the emotions.

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