Pitta dosha, energy of transformation

In Ayurveda, there are three doshas (vital energies) : Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The Pitta dosha, which is largely composed of fire, represents solar energy. It is responsible for transformation, digestion and thermogenesis. It is the one who transforms and digests all the information.

What is the Pitta dosha ?

Pitta is composed of fire (Tejas) and water (apa). The proportion of fire is greater than that of water. The word Pitta means bile. Pitta is the energy of transformation, digestion and thermogenesis.

Ayurveda describes everything that exists by referring to different pairs of gunas, qualities. Thus, the Pitta dosha has qualities of its own. They allow us to see that we are in the presence of this dosha. Pitta has 7 main qualities. It is hot (Ushna), penetrating (Tikshna), light (Laghu), slightly oily (Sasneha), liquid (Drava), smelly (Visra) and laxative (Sara).

There is a principle in Ayurveda according to which “like increases like, opposite diminishes”. The gunas, qualities, are present everywhere. They are in our environment (seasons, weather), in our activities (sport, leisure), our diet.

Thus, qualities similar to Pitta increase it. This is particularly the case of the sun (hot), rice cakes (light) or even trash (smelly).

On the contrary, qualities opposed to Pitta diminish it. The opposite of hot is cold : snow diminishes Pitta. The opposite of light is heavy : meat (quality: heavy) reduces Pitta. The opposite of smelly is fragrant : rose (quality : perfume) reduces Pitta.

Where is Pitta found in the body ?

Pitta is produced in the small intestine where it accumulates as heat and acid.

Apart from its production site, Pitta is also found in other parts of the body more composed of the elements fire and water.

Thus, the area between the navel and the diaphragm, the skin, the eyes, sweat or lymph are sites where Pitta is located.

Rasa and Rakta, which are two notions specific to Ayurveda, are also Pitta sites. Rasa corresponds to the nourishing fluid of the body and Rakta to the blood.

Pitta is also present in the following organs : the liver, spleen, pancreas.

When Pitta is out of balance, it is in these areas that disease can appear.

What does the Pitta dosha do in the body ?

Pitta helps the body carry out some of its functions.

On a physical level, Pitta is responsible for digestion. This is digestion in the digestive system. Pitta transforms food into nutrients. It’s also about digesting information. Pitta transforms information into knowledge. Along with Vata, Pitta is responsible for our feelings of hunger and thirst. It is the dosha responsible for maintaining body temperature, skin color, vision and taste. Finally, it manages the understanding of stimuli and gives softness to the body.

On a psychological level, Pitta gives us courage. It also gives us logical intelligence, that is to say the capacity for discernment, deduction and decision.

We notice that Pitta is in action in the body when we sweat, when we have sensations of heat and burning. But also in case of fainting, necrosis or secretions. It is Pitta that can give yellow, red or green color in stools, eyes, on nails, or skin. Finally, Pitta manages early tissue maturity such as wrinkles and white hair.

As you understand, Pitta is the one that helps us transform what we ingest or the information we receive. Try in your daily life to identify when this dosha is in action in your body, do you find that it works correctly ? Is it fulfilling its missions as it should ?