Ayurvedic practices to beat the heat of summer

Photo Cred: Ian Wagg/Unsplash

By Brittany Vargas

Ayurvedic practices can help patients maintain balance during the high heat, long days, and increased activities of summer, according to Ram Tamang, BAMS, founder and Ayurvedic physician at Healing Gardens of Ayurveda in Tustin, California. 

Just like everyone has a predominant dosha — a combination of the elements earth, air, fire, water, and ether — seasons also exhibit specific characteristics, he said. Summer is characterized by pitta, a combination of fire and water.

During summer, everyone needs to be mindful of the pitta element, though pitta types will need to take extra care, said Sanja Oropeza, founder and Ayurvedic practitioner at Kevala Wellness in Long Beach, California. 

“A predominantly pitta type person will go out of balance before anyone else in the summer because they have a higher amount of fire energy in their body. But all of the doshas can go out of balance during summer if that fire element within them is not managed,” she explained.

The Ayurvedic approach to health emphasizes lifestyle practices that help people harmonize with the elements, according to a 2018 article in Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. By shifting lifestyles according to the season, people of all doshas can better maintain holistic well-being.

Understanding pitta dosha

According to Oropeza, everyone has some of each element within them. So people of all body types can maintain balance during summer by observing the qualities of pitta dosha.

Pitta qualities are oily, sharp, hot, light, moving, and liquid, she said. These might manifest in a person as beautiful glowing skin with a tendency towards redness, freckles, and moles; a sharp intellect or manner of speaking; a hot temper, high body temperature, and strong digestion; a tendency to be energetic and dynamic; and a larger amount of fluid in the body, such as sweat or even stomach acidity.

A pitta predominant person will be highly active, prone to working long hours and having a packed schedule filled with high-intensity activity. Psychologically, they’ll be fiery, magnetic, and charismatic.

“The pitta person is very outspoken, action-oriented, devoted, and hard-working. They’re natural leaders and public speakers, and they shine really bright like the sun. Other people are often drawn to them,” said Oropeza.

On the other hand, a pitta type’s ambition may lead them towards being harsh with themselves and others.

“They will judge situations more than others and with a higher intensity of emotion. They can be critical, whether they project it outwardly towards people, events, and circumstances or towards themselves by saying, ‘You’re not good enough, you could have done better,’” said Tamang.

According to Oropeza, they can easily become agitated when things don’t go as planned.

“Pitta people like to be in control. They like to plan. One of the best things they can do is to let things unfold naturally and try to be more spontaneous,” she said.

The nature of summer makes it easier for everyone to exhibit characteristics of pitta, whether balanced or unbalanced, according to Heidi Abreu, owner and Ayurvedic practitioner at Lotus Blooming Ayurveda in La Jolla, California.

“We’re all running a little hot during summer, and that heat in the body can show itself in many ways,” she said. “It can show up emotionally as irritability, stress, and anger.”

Other signs of imbalance include headaches, heartburn, ulcers, heat stroke, uncomfortably high body temperatures, skin rashes, eczema, loose bowel movements, and any kind of inflammation, according to Oropeza.

Managing pitta during summer

In Ayurveda, like increases like, said Tamang. To manage the fiery pitta element, keep in mind that adding more fire can throw you off balance.

For example, summer tends to be a time when activity increases, which is fiery in nature.

“There’s a lot more playfulness happening and a lot of outward expression. We’re out having fun, we’re with our families and our friends, we’re doing lots of things,” said Oropeza.

An overly packed schedule filled with commitments and no time for rest creates the perfect storm for imbalance, Tamang explained. So it’s critical to get enough sleep, take breaks, and engage in contemplative practices like meditation, yoga, or qigong, which emphasize being rather than doing.

He said that high-intensity workouts are to be avoided, especially during the heat of the day.

A gentle practice like Abyanga — Ayurvedic self-oil massage that’s typically done before taking a shower — is helpful, said Abreau. She advised using coconut oil for its cooling properties.

“We all get a little disassociated because of how we’re living, and this practice puts us back in our bodies. This also gives us time to look at our bodies and ask, ‘Is there redness? Are there moles? What’s happening in my body?’” she said.

In terms of diet, Oropeza advised eating sweet and bitter foods and recommended grains, milk products except for aged cheese, sweet fruit, cucumbers, and leafy greens.

It’s best to avoid or reduce fried foods, spicy or pungent foods like chilies and hot sauces, red meat, and excessive salt, alcohol, or caffeine, she said.

Coconut water, aloe juice, and teas with cooling herbs like fennel, coriander, peppermint, and rose are excellent during summer.

“Drinking rose tea, using rose toner for the skin, or just spritzing rose water on your face if you’re having an overheated moment can be helpful,” said Abreu.

She said that other beneficial activities include Sheetali Pranayama (a breathing practice known as “cooling breath”) and the guided meditation practice yoga nidra.

Oropeza’s favorite remedy is “moon bathing” — the practice of basking in the moon’s glow, either on a walk or by simply sitting outside in the moonlight.

“The moon is cooling, the moon is nurturing, the moon is calming. It’s a really fun practice to go out at night and just lay on the grass under the full moon,” she said.