Natural Herbal Remedies to Help Teens Harness Pitta
Date Posted:23 December 2011
The adolescent transition from childhood to adulthood can be intense, both physically and mentally, for any teenager. The swift changes can cause emotional unbalance, mental fatigue, stress, confusion and vulnerability. Ayurveda offers practical applications and natural herbal remedies to help ease this transitory period for teens.
According to Ayurveda, Pitta dosha dominates life from mid teens on through early adulthood. The characteristics of Pitta dosha are having a passion for many things, being strong-willed, determined, having initiative and energy, and having good digestion. It is also associated with a high metabolism, heat and biological transformations.
In order to make this transition smoother, teenagers can take advantage of the characteristics of each dosha to be a healthier and happier individual.
Since the teenage years are a period of rapid growth, young children and teens will go through periods of being ravenously hungry. All too often, they turn to empty carbohydrates, high-fat meals and junk foods. This inflames Pitta even more and throws all doshas out of balance, accumulates ama (toxic build-up), and causes mental fatigue and an emotional imbalance.
Cooling the Fires of Pitta
In order to balance and harness the transforming powers of Pitta, teens should eat nourishing and cooling foods. Pitta's fire is cooled by foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables; bitter, sweet and astringent flavours; cool or warm foods; and abundant amounts of grains and dairy. Herbal teas are excellent, as well as Pitta-pacifying teas like mint and liquorice root.
Teenagers should use butter or other added fats only when it is needed. Ghee and olive oil are acceptable alternatives and are healthy fats to include in the diet. Most teenagers can eat just about anything they want, due to their metabolism being in a hyperactive state, but digestive problems can result from eating too much salty, sour or spicy foods, or even just too much food in one sitting.
Teenagers, or anyone who is Pitta dominant, should avoid cheese, yoghurt, pickles, sour cream and fermented foods. They should also reduce their use of salt, pungent spices and vinegar, since they heat the body. Orange juice, coffee and doughnuts aggravate Pitta's fiery nature. Red meats also add fuel to the fire due to its high fat content. Also avoid hot, salty, oily, spicy, deep-fried, or processed food. Other foods that may aggravate Pitta include sugary foods, honey, hot drinks, hot spices, egg yolks and nuts.
Vegetables to include in a Pitta-pacifying diet are asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, cucumber, leafy green vegetables, potatoes, sweet potatoes and zucchini. Vegetables to avoid are garlic, onion, hot peppers, beets, tomatoes and radishes.
Include fruits such as raisins, pineapples, plums, pears, apples, cherries, coconut, mango and melons. Fruits to avoid include are papaya, bananas, berries, cranberries and grapefruit.
Grains to incorporate into the diet of a teenager are basmati rice, oats, barley and wheat, while avoiding rye, corn, millet and brown rice.
Helpful dairy products are milk, ice cream and ghee, clarified butter. Care should be taken to avoid sour cream, buttermilk and cheese.
Teens should eat at least four meals a day, as close to the same time as possible each day. Adolescents have a tendency to overeat, but this should be avoided as it creates more ama in the body, which can lead to mental fatigue, stress, anxiety, heartburn and lethargy. Their biggest meal should be lunch at noon.
Drinking a healthy abundance of water is a great habit to start early in life. Water helps to cool the fire of Pitta, unblocks channels clogged by ama, and helps to correct the imbalance of the doshas. Flavoured, sweetened and sugary water drinks do not count, along with sugary juice and carbonated soft drinks. Water should be pure and distilled.
Ayurveda also advises that teenagers participate in moderate exercise as often as three to five times a week. Team or individual sports and games can be a great way to get a teenager moving, so that they can get the exercise they need to build healthy tissue and cells. This also helps to fight off mental fatigue and emotional stress, and balance Pitta. Moderate exercise also facilitates circulation, clears ama, and builds immunity.
Natural Herbal Remedies
There are many natural herbal remedies that will help ease the transition into adulthood, fight mental fatigue, reduce the effects of emotional stress and balance Pitta's fire. Not all herbal remedies will work on all people. It may take trying a few different formulas before finding the one that is most effective for you.
Natural Herbal Remedies for Teenage Girls
Mind Plus helps to improve mental functioning when in stressful situations, reduces the body's propensity towards panic attacks, and supports self-esteem and patience. Each one of the fourteen Ayurvedic herbs in this mixture was specifically and carefully chosen to create a superior product.
Smooth Cycle supports a more comfortable and smoother menstrual cycle. Many teenage girls experience disheartening symptoms at the onset of their menstrual cycle. Smooth Cycle reduces menstrual cramps, aids in regularity, and balances irritable emotions.
Natural Herbal Remedies for Teenage Boys
Vital Man provides nutritional support in order to achieve superior performances. It increases endurance and stamina, strengthens the body's resilience to stress, supports mental function, and balances out emotions.
Intelligence Plus is a herbal formula designed to support the power of the mind. It helps to rejuvenate brain cells and mental processes while supporting self-confidence and positive feelings.
Adolescence is not only a time when a child begins to build their adult body; it is also a time when they begin to form their own identities. Using the practical tips of Ayurveda and natural herbal remedies will help a teenager transform into the optimal adult by providing all the necessary tools.
Related articles
- The Doshas: Vata, Pitta & Kapha (vedahealth.wordpress.com)
