If your dominant ayurvedic dosha is pitta and you find yourself irritable, impatient and experiencing digestion problems or other indications of not handling stress well, your dosha may be overactive. Pitta controls the metabolism processes of the mind and body including the digestion and metabolism of food as well as the discernment of right and wrong. Often the first signs of pitta imbalance are hot flashes, discomfort in hot weather, flares of anger and perfectionist tendencies. Pitta becomes overactive most often in summer, stimulated by hot weather.

To balance pitta, be sure to work only in moderation, avoiding excessive strain and work in the heat. Make time for contemplation and relaxation. Schedule your meals, making sure to eat regularly throughout the day so you don’t stress your digestive system or your blood sugar level. Lunchtime is especially important for you to observe in order to calm your overactive dosha, so schedule relaxing, nourishing lunch meals each day.

When you eat, avoid stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol. Avoid spicy foods and spices such as peppers or chilies, and avoid sour foods such as grapefruit, lemons and vinegar. Spice your foods with moderation and increase the amount of mild dairy products such as milk and butter, while avoiding yogurt and sour cream (as the sourness will aggravate pitta). Eat plenty of sweet fruits such as cherries, mangos, melons and grapes, and make sure the fruit is ripe and sweet, not sour or tart because of inadequate ripening. Fill your diet with vegetables, eating asparagus, potatoes, sweet potatoes and green leafy vegetables. Avoid tomatoes, garlic, onions and scallions.

Avoid sensory overload, especially bright lights, loud music and other experiences that feel jarring, sharp or painful to the senses. Practice daily meditation, yoga (consider moon salutations) and cool pranayama (controlled breathing exercises). Make sure you have a dark, cool, quiet sleeping environment. Immerse yourself in cool colors—greens, blues and purples—and wear and surround yourself with cooling images.

Practice silence or chanting and take long walks. It is advisable to chew fennel seeds or coriander seeds and to use aromatherapy scents—lavender or rose are good scents for balancing pitta. Do your best to avoid conflict and to reduce the amount of sarcasm, sniping and arguing in your life. All these choices should bring pitta into balance and result is a calm presence.