6 Ways To Manage Anger With Ayurveda

Anger is a healthy human emotion, in response to any kind of misjudgement, criticism or disappointment. But if it gets out of control can be of a big hurdle in personal and professional relationships and destroys the quality of life.

In ayurveda, it is explained that emotional imbalance due to anger arises from poor communication between the head and the heart. A study confirms this ancient wisdom showing that the heart sends information to the brain on how to process an experience emotionally⁽¹⁾

Ayurveda explains anger as an emotion associated with the Pitta Dosha. When balanced, Pitta has good points, but when it gets imbalanced, anger and hostility creeps in. Anger has qualities of fire, sharpness, light and hot nature. It varies in individuals depending upon the intensity and duration.

All of us have pitta in us and Ayurveda throws light on how to balance this potential volatile fire. The treatment plan aims at bringing the Pitta dosha back to normal.

• Cooling properties of coconut oil help in cooling down the Pitta and calming anger. Rubbing of coconut oil on feet before bed is very effective.
• Bringaraj oil can also be used and both the oils are effective by rubbing on the scalp as well to release heat.

• Pranayama or cool breathing exercises help in reducing anger and stress. There are three ways it can be practiced.
• Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing: The art of deep breathing is a way of letting out the anger. With each inhalation feel the anger and with exhalation feel this emotion leaving the body.
• Sheetali Pranayama (cooling breath): This breathing technique fights the stress response. It cools the body and mind and also helps with pitta disorders such as acid reflux, heartburn, and ulcers.
• Breathe in the cool air with the tongue, keeping the chin upward and breathe it out via nose keeping the chin down.
• Sitkari Pranayama: Take your tongue back behind the teeth and breathe in through the space between the upper and bottom teeth, slowly lifting the chin up while doing it. Then, bringing the chin down exhale through the nose.
• This helps us in learning to control the breathing which brings more awareness to the mind, senses, and body and reduces anxiety.

The cooling effect of ghee calms the mind and dissipates anger and stress. Apply ghee on the feet and rub it in the nostrils.

• Spicy, sour and salty food aggravates the Pitta dosha and makes you more prone to anger, therefore should be avoided.
• Adopting a simpler diet regimen calms the Pitta and also reduces anxiety. Fermented foods, chilies, sour citrus food should be removed from the diet. Caffeine and alcohol also increase Pitta, should, therefore, be replaced with cooling drinks like coconut water, water or some herbal cooling tea.

• Meditation is the most vital tool which helps in calming the mind and releasing anger. While meditating, you get a peek into the subconscious mind. This gives you the freedom to choose the energy you can emote to the world.
• Meditation makes you emotionally balanced, you can more easily deal with any situation and thus the stress and anxiety are reduced and so the anger.
• Repeat the ‘So Hum’ mantra silently and continuously. While inhaling breathe into, “sooo” and exhale with, “hum”. This can be repeated for 10-30 minutes.

Ayurveda says positively impact the pitta with the lifestyle changes such as:

• Avoid overworking and practice moderation, kindness, and compassion.
• Be around supportive, nurturing and loving people.
• Avoid pitta aggravating food such as salty, pungent, and sour food. Avoid meat and alcohol as well.
• Spend a good amount of time with nature.
• Be gentle with yourself. It’s your body so cool it.

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