Labor Day Special! Not really, it just happens to be Labor Day as I type this and I wanted to get your attention. And “this” is not one of my more usual articles around hormone health but I think it will be beneficial to you none the less.
The idea of this article came from a friend who is suffering with chronic yeast and bacteria infections, and I noticed he seems to be clammy and sweats a lot. Produces excess saliva and seems to have, as the words came to my mind this morning, a “wet body”. Or as Ayurvedic medicine would put it – a wet constitution or “dosha”. This thought caused me to pull out some of my eastern medicine references and consult what they had to say about “how to fix a wet body”. Which of course would be the same as asking “how to dry a body”.
Even though much of my practice is more western based – science and natural – I have and still do refer to alternative medicine approaches as I feel so inclined to help my clients, family and friends. I have actually had several guests on my podcasts discussing such topics including Dr Shivani Gupta for Ayurveda medicine and Kim Tang for some Traditional Chinese medicine. Anyhow, I believe everything can be helpful in some way, and we should always be trying to stack conditions in our favor, regardless of the practices with choose/use. So I decided to put this quick article together to not only help my friend, but also hopefully help some of you who are starting a new health and body journey this fall season. Again, every little helps.
Back to my friend, who Ayurvedic medicine would call a “Kapha” body type or dosha – someone of having a wet body. There are other descriptions of a Kapha body type but for this article, I’m only focusing on the constitution, rather than the physical expressions a Kapha body type might have (solid build, thick hair, gains weight easily). In Ayurveda, a wet body type though would often be described as a Kapha imbalance – heavy, moist, cool skin, slow qualities (potentially indicating low thyroid function). When Kapha is in excess, people may experience:
- Excess mucus or saliva
- Sweating or clamminess
- Proneness to yeast/bacterial overgrowth
- Feeling sluggish or heavy – slow to move or get moving
✨ General “Drying” / Balancing Approaches (Ayurveda-inspired, not medical advice):
1. Food Choices
- Favor: light, warming, drying foods → cooked veggies, bitter greens, astringent fruits, quinoa, buckwheat, spices (ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper).
- Reduce: heavy, moist, cold foods → dairy, excessive oils (especially vegetable oils), refined sugar, cold drinks, excess bread/pastries.
2. Herbs & Spices
- Drying/warming: ginger, cloves, cardamom, fenugreek, turmeric, cinnamon.
- Bitter herbs (also help with yeast): neem, oregano, dandelion, burdock, caprylic acid, pau d’arco (used more in integrative medicine).
3. Lifestyle Practices
- Regular movement/exercise → helps “burn off” excess dampness.
- Dry heat therapies (sauna, dry brushing, sun exposure).
- Avoid daytime naps, which can increase Kapha heaviness.
4. Western physiology overlap
Often what Ayurveda calls “wetness” overlaps with:
- High insulin or blood sugar swings (yeast thrives on this).
- Low thyroid (sweating + infection-proneness combo).
- High estrogen/low progesterone (more mucus, yeast-prone).
- Damp gut environment (candida, dysbiosis).
So, both the Ayurvedic balancing tools and looking at hormones/metabolism/diet can make a big difference to someone who has a “wet body”.
It would be remiss of me not to mention the other two body types in Ayurvedic medicine – you can also have a mishmash of types but that’s for another days conversation.
In Ayurveda, the three main body constitutions (doshas) are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha – and each one can go into “excess” or overdrive. We already learned about about Kapha, so here’s a quick breakdown of how to understand and “balance” the other two types when it’s out of alignment:
🌬 Vata “Dry Body”
The description of a “dry body” comes from Ayurveda but also partly from Traditional Chinese Medicine. A Vata dry body type, in Ayurveda, is a constitution dominated by the air and space elements, characterized by generally a naturally slender build (think of “TOFI” – thin on the outside and fat on the inside), dry skin, brittle nails, thin hair, and a tendency for cold extremities and joints (all symptoms of hypothyroid). Vata types are often restless, creative, and quick-thinking but can be prone to anxiety, irregular digestion, and a difficulty with cold weather. When Vata is in excess, people may experience:
- Dry skin or hair
- Constipation or irregular digestion
- Feeling cold easily, cold hands/feet
- Restlessness, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping
✨ General “Moistening & Grounding” / Balancing Approaches:
- Food Choices
- Favor: warm, moist, grounding foods → soups, stews, cooked grains, root vegetables, healthy fats (ghee, olive oil, avocado).
- Reduce: cold, dry, raw foods → salads, crackers, popcorn, cold drinks.
- Herbs & Spices
- Moistening/warming: ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, ashwagandha, licorice (yes some of these are the same as our drying spices).
- Soothing herbs: chamomile, milk thistle, tulsi, fennel.
- Lifestyle Practices
- Consistent daily routine → helps stabilize energy and digestion.
- Gentle oil massage (abhyanga) → nourishes skin and calms nervous system.
- Warm baths, regular sleep, relaxing walks, gentle yoga or stretching.
- Western physiology overlap
Often what Ayurveda calls “dryness” overlaps with:
- Low thyroid or slow metabolism (dry skin, brittle hair/nails)
- Dehydration or low water intake (and low electrolytes)
- Nervous system overstimulation (anxiety, insomnia)
- Low-fat or restrictive diets that reduce skin/mucosal moisture
So, both the Ayurvedic balancing tools and looking at hydration, diet, and nervous system support can make a big difference here.
🔥 Pitta “Hot Body”
The description of a “hot body” in Ayurveda, would often be described as a Pitta imbalance – hot, sharp, intense, oily, acidic qualities. Because of their increased body temperature (potentially due to thyroid imbalance), Pitta types perspire easily and a lot. And it is not unusual, that even their hands and feet sweat. Their sweat often has a strong odor. Their teeth are moderate in size and tend to be yellowish in color, while their gums easily bleed. When Pitta is in excess, people may experience:
- Overheating or excessive sweating
- Acid reflux or heartburn
- Skin rashes, redness, or inflammation
- Irritability, impatience, or intensity
✨ General “Cooling & Calming” / Balancing Approaches:
- Food Choices
- Favor: cooling, hydrating foods → cucumbers, melons, leafy greens, coconut, dairy (if tolerated).
- Reduce: hot, spicy, oily foods → chili, garlic, fried foods, alcohol, coffee.
- Herbs & Spices
- Cooling herbs: coriander, mint, fennel, chamomile, licorice
- Bitter/cooling: neem, bitter melon, berberine, turmeric (in moderation), aloe, coconut water
- Lifestyle Practices
- Avoid overworking or overheating; prioritize rest and relaxation
- Spend time in nature or cooler environments
- Gentle exercise (walking, swimming) rather than high-intensity training
- Meditation or calming practices to reduce mental intensity
- Western physiology overlap
Often what Ayurveda calls “heat” overlaps with:
- High inflammation or oxidative stress
- Hormonal imbalances (high androgens, excess cortisol)
- Thyroid imbalance
- Gastrointestinal acidity (GERD, ulcers, inflamed stomach lining)
- Skin sensitivity or inflammatory skin conditions (due to the gut inflammation)
So, both the Ayurvedic balancing tools and looking at diet, lifestyle, and inflammation can make a big difference.
But, f this seems too complicated for you or you feel you are a mix of two or all of the body types, I think leading a healthy clean lifestyle will help you regardless of the body type you are;
- Get plenty of sleep
- Hydrate with lots of minerals included
- Walk regularly – especially in nature
- Exercise in a way that feels comfortable to you
- Support detoxification pathways daily
- Avoid fast, junk and processed foods as much as possible
- Limit “refined” sugar consumption
- Limit or avoid alcohol
- And support a healthy thyroid and metabolism.
Oh and most importantly of all – take it one day at a time.
Was this helpful? I hope so! Let me know if you have used any of the Ayurvedic recommendations above or try to live a lifestyle according to your body type. And in case you missed it, there are hyperlinks to my conversations with Dr Gupta and Kim Tang under their mentions above – in case you would like to check them out.
Much love!
