embrace the chill: exploring the ayurvedic guna of cold

Picture this: a serene landscape blanketed with glistening snow, a cool breeze brushing against your skin, and a refreshing sensation spreading through your body. If you are in the northern hemisphere, all of those things likely sound amazing right now as we embrace the heat of summer.

Cold, often associated with winter, has a unique place in Āyurveda. In Āyurveda, cold is more than just a weather condition—it is considered a distinct quality known as a guna.

What is a guna? Āyurveda tells us that all organic and inorganic substances, as well as thoughts and actions, have definite attributes or gunas. The classic texts define 20 gunas that have been categorized into ten pairs of opposites; we call these the Gurvadi Gunas.

In this blog series, we’re going to explore the Āyurvedic gunas, one at a time, discussing their effects, and how to utilize them medicinally through diet and lifestyle. Let’s dive in!

understanding the guna of cold

As mentioned, gunas are inherent qualities that define substances and their effects on our mind, body, and overall well-being. Cold, known as shīta in Sanskrit, is comprised of air and water elements. It works in opposition to the guna of hot, or ushna. Unlike the conventional perception of cold as unpleasant or discomforting, Āyurveda views it as an essential force that brings balance and harmony.

The guna of cold possesses qualities like contraction, stability, heaviness, and slowness. Just like a serene winter landscape, it can help us find calmness, groundedness, and stability. It has a pacifying effect on excess heat or inflammation in the body, making it an invaluable tool in Āyurvedic healing.

āyurvedic practices for when things heat up

There are many ways to harness the benefits of the cold guna. In fact, Āyurveda offers a plethora of practices that can be incorporated into our daily routines to proactively keep cool as well as help when things get out of hand. Here are a few of my favorite ways to embrace the cool:

Cooling Pranayama: techniques like Shītali and Shītkari involve inhaling through the mouth or curling the tongue, creating a cooling effect in the body. These practices help regulate body temperature, calm the mind, and enhance overall vitality.

Cold Water Therapy: Start your day with a refreshing splash of cold water on your face. This practice stimulates the senses, awakens the mind, and invigorates the body. Additionally, taking cool showers or foot baths can help reduce excess heat and soothe inflammation.

Cooling Aromatherapy: Essential oils and attars such as sandalwood, khus, rose, jasmine, eucalyptus, peppermint, and spearmint have cooling properties. Diffusing these oils or applying them topically (diluted with a carrier oil) can provide a refreshing and soothing experience physically and emotionally. If you are looking for an on-the-go option, Pitta be Calm is a wonderful cooling and calming blend we carry in the apothecary.

Consuming Cooling Tastes: In Āyurveda, we use the six tastes to create balancing, nourishing meals. Three tastes pacify and three tastes aggravate each dosha. The tastes also have either a cooling or heating effect on the body. The tastes that possess a cooling quality (and thus pacify Pitta dosha) include sweet, bitter, and astringent. Incorporating foods with these tastes in your diet can help alleviate excess heat. We’ll discuss more specific food options for keeping cool in the next section.

an āyurvedic approach to cooling foods

When it comes to choosing foods with a cooling nature, there are many delicious options. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Sweet and Juicy Fruits: It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy refreshing fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, coconut, and pomegranate. Their high water content and natural sweetness help hydrate and cool the body. Just be mindful of Āyurvedic food combining and eat fruits alone, and ideally on an empty stomach.

Dark Leafy Greens: Nourish your body with cooling (bitter) greens such as kale, dandelion greens, collards, spinach, and bok choy. These nutrient-rich powerhouses not only provide a cooling digestive effect but also help cleanse the blood and support rakta dhatu (the red blood tissue).

Culinary Spices and Herbs: Incorporate cooling herbs and spices like cilantro, parsley, mint, fennel, coriander, cardamom, and our Pitta Churna into your meals. They not only add a burst of flavor but also aid in digestion and reduce inflammation.

Cooling Beverages: Quench your thirst with refreshing drinks like coconut water (when it's really hot outside and you need extra hydration), herbal teas (such as peppermint, chamomile, or my favorite, our Pitta Cool Refresh blend), and by adding fresh lime to your water. These beverages not only hydrate but also offer a delightful cooling effect.

Grains: Eating sweet or astringent grains like amaranth, barley, wheat, oats, rice, quinoa, and farro offers a cooling and calming effect on the body. They provide nourishment and are a light, yet satiating choice when it’s hot outside or there is excess internal heat.

in summary

By understanding the qualities and effects of cold, we can use it as a powerful tool for balance and well-being. From practicing cooling pranayama to enjoying a refreshing bowl of juicy fruits, there are so many ways to incorporate the cool guna into our daily routines.

So, next time you feel the need to beat the heat, bring the cool guna on board and notice how quickly your body and mind respond. Āyurveda is an incredible tool — may it fill your tool box with ways to find balance and well-being.

Stay cool, my friends!

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