How Heat Affects the Doshas According to Ayurveda (and What to Do in Summer)
During the summer, the heat can affect your body and mind in different ways, depending on your dominant Dosha.
Want to know how to take better care of yourself? I’ll tell you.
Summer is the season of the Pitta Dosha, dominated by the elements of fire and water. It is a time of heat, intensity, expansion, and transformation. Just as the sun shines more brightly outside, our inner fire (Agni) can also flare up with excessive intensity.
If we don’t balance it, this excess heat can manifest as irritability, inflammation, exhaustion, or impaired digestion.
Understanding how summer impacts your nature—and therefore your physical body, emotions, and thoughts—is a wise way to care for yourself with greater awareness and harmony.
How heat affects the VATA Dosha (Air + Ether)
Vata is dry, light, cold, and mobile. In summer, although external heat may seem beneficial, excessive sun and activity can dehydrate and destabilize it.
– Effects: Heat can dry out your skin and worsen anxiety. You may feel more restless or have difficulty sleeping. You may even feel very tired and drained of energy.
– Simple tips: Hydrate well with water and cool, unsweetened beverages (coconut water, oat or almond milk, mild herbal teas). Avoid very dry or cold foods, ice, and stimulants (especially coffee and alcohol). Rest regularly in cool, shady places.
– 3 Recommended foods: avocado, basmati rice, melon.
– Ideal infusion: chamomile with rose petals.
How heat affects the Pitta Dosha (Fire + Water)
Pitta is intense, hot, and sharp by nature. In summer, that inner fire can easily become unbalanced.
– Effects: Heat can intensify irritability and feelings of overwhelm. It can also easily increase inflammation, breakouts, or skin redness, increase heartburn, and make your sweat feel more acidic.
– Simple tips: Avoid direct sunlight, especially at midday. Stay hydrated by avoiding ice. Choose light meals. Practice gentle yoga and deep breathing to calm your mind. If you exercise, do it first thing in the morning, preferably outdoors.
– 3 Recommended foods: cucumber, watermelon, and coconut.
– Ideal infusion: mint with fennel and rose petals.
How heat affects the KAPHA Dosha (Earth + Water)
Kapha is dense, cold, and stable. Heat can be your ally in boosting metabolism, but it can also increase heaviness and retention if left untouched.
– Effects: Heat can increase feelings of heaviness and fluid retention, but sometimes it also causes a feeling of fatigue. You may notice your face and ankles are more swollen, and you may feel even less inclined to move.
– Simple tips: Move regularly to boost circulation: dance, walk, swim, or do yoga first thing in the morning, before the heat gets too high. Eat light, spicy foods to boost your metabolism. Avoid fatty meals and long naps.
– 3 Recommended foods: radishes, green apple, red lentils.
– Ideal infusion: ginger with cinnamon and cardamom.
What about air conditioning and fans?
Although cold and dry air is necessary in summer, especially in cities, to maintain our activity level, Ayurveda understands that cold and dry air can particularly upset Vata, causing muscle stiffness, dry skin, and a more restless nervous system.
For Kaphas, excessive cold air can increase retention and lethargy if overused. It also fuels the tendency to develop allergies and causes mucus and throat irritation.
Ayurvedic recommendations:
- If you are Kapha, avoid direct cold air, especially while sleeping.
- If you are Vata, also avoid direct air from any fan. Bring some warm clothing with you when going to places with intense air conditioning that you can’t control.
- Introduce the use of oils on your skin (as I explain in this other article) to counteract dryness or stagnation.
Taking care of your dosha during the summer heat is also about listening to yourself.
Summer can be a wonderful opportunity to purify, lighten, and reconnect with your vital energy. But it can also unbalance you if you don’t adapt your diet, your rhythm, and your habits to your nature.
Small daily gestures can make a big difference:
– Hydrate with intention (have you taken the hydration test yet?).
– Choose foods according to your dosha.
– Find moments of pause, silence, and breathing.
– Listen to your body. That’s what Ayurveda is all about: returning to simplicity.
Do you want to experience Ayurveda in depth?
In October, I’ll be leading an intimate Yoga and Ayurveda retreat (only 11 people) in a beautiful space surrounded by nature, with a pool, Ayurvedic cuisine, and practices designed to balance body, mind, and emotions.
A space to reconnect, purify, and transform.