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Pitta Dosha

Similar to vata dosha, pitta dosha too is a shaaririk dosha. It is having the dominancy of fire and water elements. In this post, we will discuss about the Pitta dosha, its types, its functions, its location in our body, etc.

Pitta translates into energy or fire that digests, in general. Like all the activities requires energy (fire element) in outer world, similarly it represents the energy, the digestive activities in our body, our lustre, etc. Pitta dosha is very much essential in our body for all the work done.

Photo by Megumi Nachev on Unsplash

If we relate it to modern concepts, it represents the digestive enzymes, the lustre of our body, complexion, eye sight, aggression, thirst, hunger, etc. all are due to pitta dosha.


Locations of Pitta Dosha*

Sweda (Sweat)
Ras (Body Fluids)
Lassika (Lymph)
Rudhir (Blood)
Amashaya (Stomach)
These are the general sites of pitta dosha, but all the three doshas are present in whole body, as told before. Out of these sites, Amashaya (Stomach) is considered main or primary site of pitta dosha.


Functions of Pitta Dosha*

Darshanam (eye sight)
Pakti (digestion)
Ushma (energy and aggression)
Shrut (hunger)
Trishna (thirst)
Deh mardan (body strength and stability)
Prabha (lustre)
Prasad (complexion)
Medha (intelligence)
These are the general functions of pitta dosha, if not vitiated.


Types of Pitta Dosha**

It is divided into five types, the same as vata dosha, namely Ranjaka, Alochaka, Sadhaka, Bhrajaka, and Pachaka Pitta.

Ranjaka Pitta
It is located in liver and spleen. And it converts Ras into Rakta, or is responsible for coloration of blood.

Alochaka Pitta
It is located in the eye. And is responsible for eye sight or image grasping.

Sadhaka Pitta
It is located in brain region. And is responsible for happiness, desires, and delectations. It can be related with CSF.

Bhrajaka Pitta
It is located in skin. And is the reason behind the pigmentation of skin. It can be correlated with the hormone melanin, melanin stimulating hormone.

Pachaka Pitta
It is located in between pakwashaya and amashaya, or accordinng to modern concepts, it is present in intestines. It is responsible for all the digestive activities, all the energy production inn our body. it can be correlated digestive enzymes in our body.


Effects of Increased Pitta Dosha

An increase in pitta dosha from its balanced state causes yellow discoloration of faeces, urine, nails,  eyes, and skin, it causes excessive hunger, thirst, indigestion or acidity, and sleeplessness or insomnia.

*   References from Charak Sutrasthana
** References from Charak Chikitsasthana

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