Because of the close relationship between pitta and the liver, general pitta-balancing measures support the liver by clearing excess heat from the physical and emotional fields.

Keep in mind that high or imbalanced pitta can compel many to disregard the needs of their bodies in favor of accomplishing their goals. If you recognize this pattern as one of your own, the antidote to this type of behavior is to listen to, and deeply honor, your body’s needs on a day-to-day basis.

The following lifestyle strategies will help keep pitta cool and calm throughout the system, thereby supporting the liver.

A Sense of Routine

Pitta thrives with a sense of daily routine, so sticking to a more predictable schedule can help keep your mind and body both cool and grounded.

In particular, try sticking to consistent mealtimes, rising with—or even before—the sun, and retiring relatively early (ideally by 10 p.m.).

Staying Cool

Pitta is fairly intolerant of prolonged sun exposure, so it is best to avoid being in the sun during the heat of the day and to favor being outdoors in the morning and evening rather than mid-day.

When you are outdoors, shield your body from undue sun exposure by wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible. The head and the eyes are particularly sensitive to light and heat, so be sure to wear a sun hat and sunglasses.

Pitta-Balancing Exercise

Exercise increases heat and when done incorrectly, it can easily provoke both pitta and the liver.
Pitta is very active in the atmosphere at mid-day, from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which also tends to be the hottest time of day. Mid-day is therefore not an optimal time of day to exercise.
Exercise in the early morning or evening, from about 6–10 a.m. or p.m. is far more supportive. To guard against accumulating heat, it is also important to engage in a pitta-balancing exercise regimen that is moderate rather than overly vigorous.

Tending to the Mind-Body Connection

Ayurveda views the mind, body, and spirit as integrated parts of an inseparable whole. Therefore, physical support for the liver is far more meaningful when we are simultaneously tending to the full spectrum of influences that can affect liver health—including our emotions and our overall state of mind.

Emotional Hygiene

The toxic residues of unresolved anger, resentment, and frustration can harm any number of tissues, but are particularly likely to impact the liver. Overactive or underdeveloped capacities for willpower, courage, confidence, enthusiasm, contentment, and surrender can also affect the liver.

Meditation, Pranayama, and Yoga

A regular practice to cool and quiet the mind can be instrumental in promoting health throughout the mind-body organism and can be especially supportive of an emotional hot-seat like the liver. Even a 10-to-15-minute daily practice can be transformative.

Ayurvedic Massage

The practice of abhyanga (self-massage with oil) is deeply detoxifying to both superficial and deep tissues. It settles the nervous system, calms and nourishes the skin, promotes healthy circulation, helps lubricate and rejuvenate all of the tissues, and supports cleansing and detoxification throughout the system, thereby supporting the liver.

On a more subtle level, this practice strengthens the emotional, energetic, and spiritual aspects of our consciousness; it creates an insulating and protective barrier around the body, helping shield us from any disruptive energies that we may encounter throughout the day.

Abhyanga also supports the liver by very effectively reducing stress and helping clear emotional disturbances.

Moon Bathing

Whenever there is overactive heat or excess pitta in the body, moon bathing is extremely cooling and soothing. Simply make a point of being outdoors and exposed to moonlight after the sun has set.

This practice is particularly powerful on a full moon, when the sunset and moonrise are the most closely aligned.

Herbal Support

Many herbs in the Ayurvedic pharmacopeia are very effective at balancing pitta, clearing accumulated heat, cleansing the blood, encouraging the flow of bile, and detoxifying the liver.

In India, the number of people suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)--a condition when the kidney fails to filter waste as it typically does in a healthy body— is on increase due to unhealthy lifestyles. Rising cases of diabetes and hypertension have added to the woes. Currently, available conventional treatments for CKD like dialysis have their own limitations such as lack of accessibility and high cost, thus impacting the quality of life as well as finances. Ayurveda experts tell The HEALTH PIONEER that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for such patients if they walk through the Ayurveda path encompassing simple diet, lifestyle modification, and interventions based on time-tested herbal formulations.