Treatment to reduce body heat or pitta

The best known substance that reduces body heat is Sabja seeds, also called as Tukmaria. Sabja seeds are soaked in water for sometime and added to milk with rose syrup. This drink is called Falooda and it cools down your system instantly.

1/2 cup of plain yogurt beaten with a cup of water is also a cooling drink. You could add a pinch of salt / sugar for taste.

Some common indications of aggravated body heat or pitta are :disturbed sleep, anger,acidity or heartburn,stomach ulcer, skin rashes,boils etc.The ideal way to reduce body heat or pitta are:

• Two teaspoons of clarified butter in a glass of warm milk is a good remedy to treat aggravated body heat. But clarified butter should be avoided by people who have problems related to cholesterol.
• Vegetarian foods must be consumed because consuming red meat can increase heat of the body.
• To reduce body heat one must reduce intake of salt, hot spices, oil, fried foods, cheese, sour cream,vinegar, fermented foods,coffee etc.
• To reduce body heat consume more of starchy foods, grains and beans. Salads, milk and ice-cream can also help reduce body heat.
• Eat food when cool or warm and avoid hot,steaming foods .
• Body heat can be reduced by intake of some pacifying tea concoctions such as :Herbal tea, mint tea, fennel, coriander etc.
• A daily self massage with herbal oil (olive oil is also fine) can also eliminate problems associated with body heat.

• Keep cool. Avoid hot temperatures and food.

• Favor cool, heavy, dry foods and sweet, bitter and astringent tastes.

• Reduce pungent, sour, salty tastes and warm, oily and light foods.

• Moderation, don't overwork.

• Allow for leisure time.

• Regular mealtimes, especially lunch at noon.

• Abhyanga (ayurvedic oil massage) with a cooling oil such as coconut.

• Dairy: Milk, butter and Clarified butter are good for pacifying Pitta. Reduce yogurt, cheese, sour cream and cultured buttermilk (their sour tastes aggravate Pitta).

• Sweeteners: All sweeteners are good except honey and molasses.

• Oils: Olive, sunflower and coconut oils are best. Reduce sesame, almond and corn oil, all of which increase Pitta.

• Fruits: Favor sweet fruits, such as grapes, cherries, melons, avocados, coconuts, pomegranates, mangos, and sweet, fully-ripened oranges, pineapples and plums. Reduce sour fruits such as grapefruits, olives, papayas, and unripe pineapples and plums.

• Vegetables: Favor asparagus, cucumbers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, pumpkins, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, okra, lettuce, green beans and zucchini. Reduce hot peppers, tomatoes, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, radishes and spinach.

• Spices: Cinnamon, coriander, cardamom and fennel are all right. But the following spices strongly increase Pitta and should be taken only in small amounts: ginger, cumin, black pepper, fenugreek, clove, celery seed, salt and mustard seed. Chili peppers and cayenne should be avoided.

• Take 2 teaspoon of indian gooseberry juice with honey and lime juice with water in an empty stomach every morning.

• Drink pomegranate juice with 2 - 3 drops of almond oil, every morning.

• Try avoiding jaggery, meat, fish, coffee and  papayas, as they are supposed to be hot foods.

• A mixture of milk, almonds wiith a pinch of turmeric powder is found to be effective (grind the almonds very finely to a paste with a pestle and mortar).