It’s getting way too hot. Turn on the AC or give me something cold to drink. The summer hasn’t even really started yet, and some people are already making these demands. In North India, the heat has smashed all the old records. According to the latest data, the mercury in the capital Delhi could reach 44 degrees Celsius.
These people sweat a lot, feel very thirsty, and suffer a lot from the heat. They experience burning while peeing, and their urine looks dark yellow. They start going gray prematurely, and their hair begins to fall out.
They tend to get irritated quickly. Being irritable and getting angry over small things is common for them. Some people might think they’re overreacting. But the truth is, according to Ayurveda, their Pitta dosha is imbalanced.
Today, I’m going to share three amazing remedies from your kitchen that cost less than ₹50 and can help you get rid of the excess heat in your body. They’re so effective that you’ll start feeling the results within 5 to 10 minutes of using them.
One of these three remedies was the favorite summer cure used by the kings and maharajas of Rajasthan.
Understanding Pitta Dosha
Before getting into the remedies, you should know a little about Pitta dosha.
According to Ayurveda, there are three doshas in the body: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each has different roles in the body. Pitta dosha, in particular, is responsible for digesting our food, helping build our blood, and even for our eyesight. Basically, the brightness of our eyes comes from Pitta.
The glow and radiance on our skin are also because of this Pitta dosha.
In Ayurveda, Pitta dosha is divided into five parts:
- Pachak Pitta
- Ranjak Pitta
- Sadhak Pitta
- Alochak Pitta
- Bhrajaka Pitta
Pachak Pitta is in the stomach. Ranjak Pitta is in the liver, coloring the blood. Sadhak Pitta is in the heart and brain, managing our thoughts and emotions. Alochak Pitta is in the eyes, and Bhrajaka Pitta is in the skin, showing our complexion.
Overall, all of these have the same role—transformation.
What Happens When Pitta Increases?
Metabolism is all about balance. When bile is balanced, everything works fine. But if it increases, metabolism starts acting up. Inflammation in the body begins to rise. Oxidative damage kicks in rapidly. This means cells start facing more stress. They begin breaking down more, and the repair process slows down.
This is the hidden root cause behind a bunch of other symptoms popping up one by one, like:
- Pimples on the face
- Hair falling out
- Burning sensation while peeing
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
Why Does Pitta Increase?
The answer is pretty simple, and most people probably already know it.
Eating too much chili, spices, tamarind, overly sour foods, and salty foods can increase Pitta.
Along with that, eating a lot of fried and roasted food, packaged snacks, chips, salty treats, samosas, pizza, burgers, or drinking too much tea and coffee also contributes.
When you have tea five or six times a day, it’s like constantly fanning the fire inside your bile, making it increase every day.
Staying up late and scrolling on your phone until 2 or 3 AM is another reason. Ayurveda says you should sleep early. Staying awake late unnecessarily heats up your body. It especially affects your Sadhak Pitta, the part connected to your heart and mind.
Stress and anger can also disturb the balance of your Pitta dosha.
Remedy 1: Fennel Seed Cooling Drink
This is my personal favorite because you can prepare it once and use it for a long time. There’s no need to make it fresh every day.
Ingredients
- 50 grams fennel seeds
- 50 grams mishri (rock sugar)
- 25 grams dried mint leaf powder
- 10 grams rock salt
- 5 grams black pepper
- 5 grams poppy seeds
Put all these ingredients into a blender and mix well. Your fennel sherbet powder is ready.
Store it in a clean jar.
Whenever you want to drink it, take a glass of cold water and mix in about two teaspoons of this powder. Stir well and your authentic desi cooler is ready.
Benefits
- Fennel helps cool down stomach heat.
- Mishri acts as a natural sweetener and adds a cooling effect.
- Mint improves digestion and soothes stomach burning.
- Rock salt restores electrolyte balance and prevents dehydration.
- Black pepper helps balance digestive fire.
- Poppy seeds help calm the mind and improve sleep quality.
If someone has a serious acidity problem, they should also add about 15 grams of whole coriander seeds to this mixture. It tastes amazing.
Trust me, just try it once.
Remedy 2: Gond Katira
Gond Katira is the dried sap of a tree, scientifically called Tragacanth gum.
This tree grows in the dry hilly areas of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. A small cut is made on the bark of the tree, allowing the sap to ooze out. Once dried, it becomes Gond Katira.
The kings of Rajasthan and Gujarat used to include it in their daily summer diet. In places like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer, where temperatures can reach 48–50°C, palaces prepared Gond Katira sherbet every day.
Why Is It So Effective?
When soaked in water, Gond Katira swells up to 10–15 times its size. A tiny crystal becomes a jelly-like substance by morning.
According to a review published in Pharma Dynamics in 2025, the polysaccharides tragacanthin and bassorin found in Tragacanth gum help the body retain water and prevent dehydration.
They also have:
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Antioxidant properties
- Gut-friendly effects that support healthy bacteria
Remember, when Pitta increases, inflammation rises and oxidative damage becomes worse. Gond Katira helps reduce both.
In Ayurveda, Unani, and Persian traditions, Gond Katira is considered naturally cooling.
How to Prepare
Before going to bed:
- Soak one spoon of Gond Katira in a glass of water.
- Soak one spoon of sabja seeds separately in another glass of water.
By morning:
- The Gond Katira becomes jelly-like.
- The sabja seeds swell like tiny pearls.
Take a glass of cold water and add:
- Two teaspoons soaked Gond Katira
- One teaspoon soaked sabja seeds
- A little lemon juice
- A pinch of mishri
For even better results, add two teaspoons of the fennel sherbet powder from the first remedy.
Mix everything together and enjoy this cooling summer drink.
You can also use soaked Gond Katira with cold milk or cold water.
Another option is to mix soaked Gond Katira with rose petal jam in cold milk. Your royal thandai is ready.
It not only cools the body but also helps with irritability and lack of sleep.
Remedy 3: Coconut Oil and Water Massage
This remedy is simple but highly effective.
Take a little coconut oil and mix it with an equal amount of cold water. Rub the mixture well until it becomes frothy.
Massage this onto:
- The soles of your feet
- Your head
Spend just 5 to 10 minutes doing this during the summer.
According to Ayurveda, the head contains Alochak Pitta, which helps calm the mind and supports eyesight. Sadhak Pitta influences your thoughts and emotions.
Massaging the head helps keep both of these balanced.
Massaging the soles of your feet helps regulate Pitta throughout the body.
You’ll feel calm and relaxed. It is especially beneficial for your eyesight and your brain.
Coconut oil naturally has a cooling effect.
Try doing this every night before going to sleep. Within a few weeks, you may notice some amazing benefits in your body.
So, if there’s someone who’s always irritable and you just can’t understand why…