One common question I get about Pitta is whether Pitta body types can eat ginger, so here’s my take on it.

Pitta dosha is a combination of fire and water. If you think about how that is going to express when fire and water combine in the body, you’re looking at acid indigestion, loose stool, and burning sensations. 

Notice the wet nature of these symptoms. Now, the body can move Pitta from the digestive tract and try to excrete it elsewhere – and that’s how we end up with migraines, acne and other skin eruptions, and hot emotions. So far, everything is still expressing a wet-type pitta.

WET-TYPE PITA

When there is wet-type Pitta, that is Pitta mixed with a lot of liquid quality, dry ginger is fine to take – even in summer! That’s because dry ginger has already been dehydrated, so it’s not adding more liquid to a liquid-aggravated condition. Dry ginger is light, and absorbs water. It can even make the stool slightly harder or more formed.

This is particularly useful in the ama phase (for those of you who have had consultations with me, you know the first phase of treatment is always to reduce any ama that might be sticking around in your gut and body). Dry ginger has a super strong affinity to the digestive tract, and can digest the ama there. So it is going to help with those Pitta digestive symptoms you read earlier: loose motions and acid reflux.

Clients are sometimes confused that people with a lot of Pitta must have a good appetite – but that’s not necessarily true! People with Pitta aggravation can suffer from no appetite, and they can also struggle with a false feeling of constant hunger. Dry Ginger is going to digest the ama contributing to false hunger and correct the appetite.

Meanwhile, dry ginger has a sweet post-digestive quality, which contributes to why it is exempt from aggravating high-Pitta conditions.

Meanwhile, dry ginger has a sweet post-digestive quality, which contributes to why it is exempt from aggravating high-Pitta conditions

The next question that should come to your mind may be, I drink ginger tea, will that do the same thing? Unfortunately, no. Fresh ginger doesn’t digest the ama. It will similarly bring up the appetite, but it doesn’t share the same sweet post-digestive effect to make it safe if you have too much heat, or if it’s the end of summer season. 

That’s right – fresh ginger is not to be eaten in the summertime! Wait until after the last phase of Indian summer has moved on, so in northern Europe, that’s around the second or third week of September. Then you can continue to enjoy fresh ginger through autumn, winter and springtime.

That’s the beauty of Ayurveda’s ability to get really specific for your needs. I’m happy to help you navigate these nuances. Reach out and book an appointment anytime.

I lead programs that help people actually do the Ayurveda non-negotiables that lead to thriving health & vitality. I help women do what they know they should do to get their lives back from fatigue and hormone imbalance, so they feel energized and vibrant.



I’m a trained Ayurvedic practitioner with over a decade of clinical and teaching experience. My specialties are women’s hormones, menopause, low energy and burnout.