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Agni, Pitta emotions and sadhaka pitta

STEPHANE CHOLLET MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

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(Thanks To Karla Alvarez Quintanar for pointing me toward the original article) Pitta is a
Sanskrit word means illumination often associated with the brilliance, which radiates from
fire. The elements fire and water combine to form Pitta dosha. It is the principle of
transformation energy. It governs heat, digestion, and metabolism.

What is Pitta, what it performs?

Pitta is composed of fire and water. Pitta energy is responsible for digestion, metabolizes food
through enzymes and intestinal secretions and converts into blood, bones, muscles, etc. Pitta
maintains body temperature and hormonal levels; trigger hunger and thirst; provides
complexion to the skin; sharpens the intellect and memory; enhance daring, courage and
will. Pitta energy in the mind is considering as mental fire necessary for will power, decisionmaking, courage, ambitions, optimism, intelligence and creativity.

The five types of Pitta include,

1. PachakaPitta governs digestion, stimulates digestive enzymes and separates
nutrients & waste products. In unbalances, its pathological manifestations are anorexia,
rise of body temperature, burning sensation, indigestion, hyperacidity, ulcers, nausea &

vomiting, low appetite, poor digestion, bloating, constipation, etc. The most effective
ways balancing this pitta is the use of mild purgatives consists of bitter and cooling
herbs such as Rhubarb and Amalaki.
2. RanjakaPitta is a Sanskrit word means giving color. It is present in the liver and
spleen involved in the production and maintenance of blood through the process called
erthyogenesis. The spleen acts as a filter and blood reservoir. If imbalance occurs, its
pathological manifestation is anemia, jaundice, hepatitis, and abnormal skin
pigmentation.
3. SadhakaPitta is responsible for intelligence and memory. Sadhaka Pitta is present in
both the brain and heart. It regulates aspects of the hypothalamus ultimately to
maintain balance and homeostasis of the whole body. It can look upon as
neurochemistry involving certain neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin
responsible for cognition and understanding. Consider Sadhaka pitta as the brilliance,
able to make sense from digested incoming information. This pitta accomplishes
dynamic transformation of thoughts into feelings and feelings into emotions. The
pathological manifestations are lack of concentration, dullness of mind, sleep
deprivation, etc.
4. AlochakaPitta governs optical perception required for vision. It gives luster to the
eyes, responsible for dilation and contraction of pupil associated with clarity and clear
perception. The pathological manifestations are pertaining to eye and vision;
conjunctivitis, blepharitis, styes, etc. Herb rose petals helps balance this pitta.
5. BharajakaPitta governs luster and body complexion, heat, and skin pigmentation. It
helps with the biochemical reactions within the skin and production of Vitamin D and
melatonin. The pathological manifestations are pertaining to skin problems such as skin
discoloration, eczema, psoriasis, acne, skin cancer and other skin diseases. Sweet and
bitter herbs such as Aloe Vera help balancing this pitta.

PittaoutofBalance
AlochakaPitta: Bloodshot eyes, poor vision.
BhrajakaPitta: Skin rashes, acne.
SadhakaPitta: Demanding, perfectionist, workaholic.
PachakaPitta: Acid stomach.
RanjakaPitta: Early graying, anger, toxins in blood.`

Sadhaka pitta
Our emotional health is affected by a sub-dosha of pitta called sadhakapitta, which is
located in the brain and heart and functions through the nervous system. It governs mental
energy, creativity, beliefs and emotions, our powers of analysis and discrimination, and is
responsible for motivation, self-confidence, and feelings of fulfilment. Whensadhakapitta is
out of balance we may be prone to mood swings, anger and irritability, we can be

domineering, critical, self critical, intolerant and do not suffer fools gladly. We can be easily
hurt and suffer from low self esteem, and feelings of hopelessness which can lead to despair
and depression. Pitta-type depression is not one to be taken lightly. It can be deep, long
lasting and is associated with a deep sense of failure. Sadhaka Pitta "cooks and digests" your
thoughts and feelings. If you compare it to a real cooker, it's easy to understand that a
medium flame ensures even "cooking" of your thoughts and emotions. A dim flame causes
the emotions to "cook" slower and hence affects your ability to process unpleasant incidents
or information in a calm manner. If the fire of Sadhaka Pitta is too bright, it can "burn" and
explode, causing you to act irrationally. When your behavior is adversely affected by too dim
or too bright a Sadhaka Pitta, relationships begin to crumble, too.A Sadhaka Pitta imbalance
sometimes manifests itself in physical symptoms.
People with a strong SadhakaAgni have a quick response time, but not in the ferocious,
reactive sense. The speedy response time comes from a clear and aligned heart-to-head
connection that makes it easier to distinguish truth and reality from the convoluted
information conveyed by the senses.There is an Ayurvedic saying, The seat of consciousness
is in the heart. Recent studies validate this ancient wisdom by showing that the heart sends
information to our brain on how to process an experience emotionally.
But just as junk foods can weaken our digestive fire, poor lifestyle choices and stressors can
also weaken our SadhakaAgni and disrupt the connection between heart and mind. People
with weak Sadhakaagni are also more prone to holding onto grudges and traumatic
experiences from the past. Since the experience and emotions were never processed
effectively, the anger still lives and breathes within. This causes great harm to the body
chemically releasing poison-like toxins into the physiology.On the other hand, a person with
an overactive SadhakaAgni will be more likely to react irrationally, recklessly and even
violently.The goal is balance.

Emotions and sadhaka Pitta

Sadhaka pitta connects the heart and mind together so that the two can communicate with
each other. Each dosha (vata, pitta, kapha) has five subdoshas, which involve different organs
and perform different functions in the body. Sadhaka pitta dwells in the heart and the brain,
and includes the nervous system and the senses.The sadhaka pitta has an inward movement,
which essentially sorts out our external experiences into an internal felt experience. It
distinguishes truth and reality from the information from the senses. This subdosha is
responsible for things such as desire, drive, decisiveness, discrimination, intelligence,
contentment, motivation, self-confidence, memory, emotional balance, and even spirituality.
The sadhaka pitta helps us fulfill both our material and spiritual goals in life.In anatomical
terms, the sadhaka pitta subdosha includes the neuro-transmitters responsible for dopamine
and serotonin. It is responsible for homeostasis (regulating body temperature) and
regulating the hypothalamus (which controls important hormones and the nervous system)
in the brain. An unbalanced sadhaka pitta essentially means umbalanced hormones.Inside
the heart,according to Ayurveda, there are two main energies Agni (sun energy) and soma
(lunar energy). These need to be kept in balance. If agni is too strong, through emotional and
mental stress, it will burn away soma, and lead to reduced Ojas, or vitality.Like our agni,
sadhaka pitta is an internal fire that mentally cooks our experiences for us. If its too low,
our experiences will take a long time for us to come to terms with. If the sadhaka pitta fire is
too high, it can explode and makes a person behave in crazy, irrational ways.When your
sadhaka pitta is in balance, you will feel blissful. You will have a balanced, even

temperament.When your sadhaka pitta is out of balance, due to emotional stress or excess
pitta, you will experience wild mood swings, from irritability to moodiness to anger, and to
sadness. You may also have pitta-style depression, which includes being domineering,
controlling, intolerant, critical (of self and others), intolerant and having the inability to
concentrate. It may affect your relationships. There may also be pitta insomnia (waking up
early in the morning with lots of energy), or inflammatory conditions, such as allergies,
dermatitis, heartburn or diarrhoea.The sadhaka pitta can be especially out of balance for
women during menopause resulting in the characteristics wild mood swings and hot
flushes. A long-standing pitta imbalance can lead to early menopause.

To help balance the sadhaka pitta:Herbs and oils

Rose. Rose is cooling and balancing for pitta. It enhances the coordination between the
heart (sadhaka pitta) and the mind (prana vata). Rose has traditionally been used to
help depression and anxiety. Rose petal conserve or rose water can be taken, or cooked
with. Use rose water spritzer for the face to cool down. Perhaps this is why the rose is a
symbol for the heart the two are intimately connected. Rose enhances positive
feelings, especially love. It is especially good in summer when pitta is high.
Amla
White sandalwood
Brahmi oil
(Bothformsofbrahmiareknowntorejuvenatethemind,enhancememory,improve
concentration,andtodirectlyinfluencethequalityofconsciousness.Bothareconsidered
satvicherbs(promotingsubtleawareness).Infact,bothareoftenusedtosupport
Stephane
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meditationastheyincreasetheclarityandsubtletyofmind.Bothbacopaandgotukola

workverydirectlytoimprovethequalityofsadhakapitta(whichiscloselyrelatedtothe
intellectandintelligence)and,astonicsforthemind,theyarebothindicatedinabroad
rangeofmentalimbalancesbothbehavioralanddevelopmental.1Further,because
Ayurvedailluminatesanintimateconnectionbetweentheheartandthemind,itis
significantthatbothformsofbrahmiareknownashearttonics.Whilebacopaisgenerally
preferredforvataaggravationsandmentaldebilityduetostressandexhaustion,gotukola
ispreferredinmentaloremotionalaggravationsinvolvingbothvataandpitta.)
Ashwagandha
Gotu kola
Coconut oil
Bringaraj
Arjuna
Shatavari

Sadhakapittapacifyingdiet
Eat sweet things to help balance out the emotions (especially sweet fruits, like pears)
Avoid spicy, pungent foods, salty foods, and sour foods
Avoid white sugar, red meat, alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine

Drink lukewarm herbal teas such as peppermint and chamomile

Drink coconut milk with rose water added
Dont skip meals, especially breakfast
Drink lots of water with lime or rose syrup

Sadhakapittapacifying lifestyle
Speak sweetly to others, do activities that are calming
Nourish the emotional heart
Listen to soothing music
Avoid overworking, allow time for rest and fun
Avoid the sun and being out in hot weather
Have a gentle stroll in the early morning or evening
Go to bed before 10pm.
Seek calm, quiet places, like the forest/bush, parks, gardens
Avoid emotional confrontations
Massage your body with cooling coconut oil before a shower
Meditate, do pranayama
Choose people who are calm and nurturing to be around
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Matthieu Marzo, Bernard Audoin and 12 others

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5 Comments

Suzy Mendes Very interesting

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1 July 11 at 7:48am

Nancy Connally Western Medicine has much to learn from the ancient system of Ayurveda...highly recommend three
excellent books written for westerners and have used both as reference texts for many years:
The Yoga of Herbs, An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine by Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad.
A Life of Balance, The complete guide to Ayurvedic Nutrition and body types with recipes by Maya Tiwari.
Monk's Cookbook, Jaffna style and Indian cooking from around the world by Kuai's Hindu Monastery, Satguru Sivaya
Subramuniyaswami Himalayan Academy. [warning for Pitta types...too many Indian hot spices will aggravate Pitta; and for
Kapha types, too much rice, breads, sweets and dairy will cause a voluptuousness you may not want
Like Reply

3 July 11 at 2:45pm Edited

Stephane Chollet Yes I have those books , they are a good reference indeed Nancy Connally
Like Reply

1 July 11 at 3:16pm

Write a reply...
Karla Alvarez Quintanar very interesting note,thanks stef!, yes it is very important to understand in a more deeply way,
pitta and agni, the element re in us, what are the main causes to the pitta imbalance?, and which factors make this pitta
increases?. The ayurveda says t... See More
Unlike Reply

1 July 13 at 5:56am

Stephane Chollet To resume Lets understand that the SADHAKA PITTA connects the hridaya [heart] and Manasa
(Mind) and forms a channel of connection through them energetic.
Some vaidyas say that Manovaha srotas are originating in heart but powered through the engine ... See More
Like Reply

2 August 7 at 7:21am Edited

Karla Alvarez Quintanar very interesting facts, also forget to mention in this, that the EMF due to computers, cell phones and
any electrical devices, are powerful toxins that imbalances sadhaka pitta strongly, blocking the channels or nadis in the body.
Like Reply August 7 at 9:41am
Stephane Chollet To relieve computer stress
keep an indoor plant next to your computer. the plant will provide some cooling, nourishing lunar energy, to
counteract the hot, active, solar energy of the computer. Stretch and looking away from the computer every halfhour... See More
Like Reply

1 August 7 at 10:21am

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