Free yourself from anger, inflammation and addiction

It is the middle of the year, just past the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Often, the middle of a cycle is a time of peak performance and productivity as the energetic intentions of the year build and manifest. This is an ideal time to conduct a mid-year review; ask yourself where you are expending your precious energy, if it is bringing your closer to the intentions you set for yourself early in the year, and what quality of energy you are experiencing in your mind and body (hot, cold or neutral)?

Ayurveda attributes all transformational processes to the energy of pitta, which is the dosha composed predominantly of the fire element, along with the water element. The heat of fire along with the flexibility of water provide the energetic qualities to convert food into nourishment, information into knowledge, and experiences into wisdom. The light of pitta helps us illuminate and navigate the world around us through our five senses, and our intellect. When pitta is balanced, we are able to digest and assimilate our food and life experiences easily, while maintaining a sense of peace and understanding.

But what happens when fire goes too far?

We become inflamed. Excess pitta in the body can begin with hair loss, redness or yellowing of the eyes and tongue, rashes, depigmentation, migraines, ulcers, acid reflux, cravings for spicy and oily food, and loose stools, and in the long run cause loss of physical function and range of motion as well as swelling, with diseases that often end with ‘itis’, such as osteoarthritis, conjunctivitis and dermatitis.

Our holistic nature means that we do not experience inflammation in a compartmentalised way. If the body is inflamed, so is the mind. Anger is both the fuel and fire of pitta - it burns through the mind, searing everything that crosses its path, within and without. Anger manifests as discontent, judgement, over ambition, blame and aggression towards ourselves and others. The stronger our emotions feel, the more clouded our perception is, as pitta justifies itself as being “right”. This is the basis of addiction; the craving for more physical and emotional highs, which are followed by deeper and more frustrating lows.

How do we keep a fire contained without putting out the flame? Moderation. The mid-year is a wonderful time to cherish our achievements, relinquish our losses and moderate our energy levels so we can tread consciously over the second half of the year with focus and enjoyment. Take a gentle approach to balance pitta by removing one of these pitta-aggravating substance from your life for the next 2-4 weeks, and notice the difference in your mind and body:

Alcohol

Fermented food and drink naturally increase heat in the body, as we can observe from a flushed face after a few glasses of red wine. Alcohol is a toxin which puts pressure on the kidney and liver. Over time, we feel sluggishness as toxins are built up in these organs, causing gallstones and high cholesterol. Alcohol is also a depressant and sleep disruptor, as it amplifies the mood swings of a turbulent mind and can make small issues seem catastrophic.

Caffeine

The heating, stimulating and drying effects of caffeine create the perfect atmosphere for an electrical fire. Stimulants increase the activity of the nervous system, making us feel more sensitive to every thought, conversation and emotion, as well as sensitivity to pain. Caffeine also dries out the digestive system, which can cause gas, bloating and constipation, resulting in anxiety and discomfort. The stronger your caffeine craving, or the larger your long black, the more fuel pitta has to go into excess.

Meat

While meat can be supportive of good health, its heavy and heating properties can aggravate pitta. This is particularly true of red meat and meat that is cured through drying, salting, brining or smoking such as chorizo, bacon, pancetta and salami. These meats heat us up from the inside, creating ground zero for cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. Eating smaller quantities of meat or taking weekly or monthly breaks from meat can reduce inflammation, support organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver, and mitigate our impact on global warming.

Anger

Take a gentle and light hearted approach to life by learning to laugh and accept life’s inevitable ups and downs. Find friends and activities that encourage playfulness, non-competition and feeling grounded in the present. Daily activities such as gardening, cooking, meditation and swimming can diffuse anger. Replace performance-based activities such as training for a marathon or mastering a language in 30 days with yin yoga, dancing or a laughter club.

Feeling snappy and irritable is neither enjoyable nor sustainable. It takes clarity, commitment and patience to achieve meaningful goals while still enjoying this short story we call life. Allow the energy of pitta to motivate and illuminate, rather than decimate your journey, so you can look back on a winding, colourful path rather than an empty, flat piece of tarmac. Perhaps the destination you have planned will also change; perhaps there is more than you know.

“Have faith that life has your back”

— Dhanya Nambiar