In this stressful lifestyle where everyone is running after deadlines, we often forget to take care of our mind and body, the engine that drives the train.While drug store medicines can only help us deal with the cause, Ayurveda believes in the overall healing and well-being of the body contrary to the western concept of medicine where mental, physical, and spiritual health is considered as separate entities.
This 3000-year-old form of medicine focuses on curing the disease of its root rather than providing symptomatic relief.
In recent times, Ayurvedic Detox has regained popularity among the masses. Many followers not only stick to specific traditional diets but also follow natural detox rituals and procedures that are considered to have the potential for removing the harmful toxins, chemicals that enter our body, thereby enhancing the quality of life and overall health of the individual.
Contrary to popular belief, Ayurvedic Detox does not require investing of too much time, money in far-off retreat centers. Natural Detox can be included as a part of your daily routine.
Know your Doshas
Based on the ancient concept of Ayurvedic medicine, it describes the five elements which make up the world: Vayu (air), Prithvi (earth), Teja (fire), Aakash (space), and Jala (water).
Ayurveda, there are three doshas: Vata, Kapha, and pitta
Three humors also called doshas in ancient times, are believed to be formed as a result of these different combinations of each element. In
Ayurvedic medicine believes that an imbalance between the doshas, as well as five elements, leads to deterioration of health or a diseased state of the body.
To take an example, even imbalance of waste products also called, mutra (urine), purisha (feces), and Sweda (sweat) can lead to grave health conditions like skin ailments, urinary tract infection, arthritis., constipation and diarrhea.
One needs daily ayurvedic detoxification in order to maintain the balance of life.
It is important to maintain your health by using Ayurvedic detoxes regularly.
Doshas vary from person to person based on genetics, personality, and experience, and each has its own balance, which is linked to various health outcomes. It is possible to determine your dosha and the treatment options that are available to you with an Ayurvedic practitioner.
To make sure your body is free of toxins, or Ama, that may have gathered over the previous season from food, stress, and other factors, it is recommended to detoxify at the beginning of each season.
Everybody is unique and therefore their natural detox routines will also vary depending on the type of dosha they have. While some routines may last for a short duration, others may take as long as 45 days.
Purvakarma
Purvakarma helps in the excretion of toxins from your gut and skin.
Typically, these treatments include oil massage, steam, and Shirodhara – an oil massage that promotes mental clarity by placing warm oil on the forehead.
Panchakarma
The next part is a bit more intense and acts as an adjunct to the detox. This therapy consists of five modes of treatment that aim at rejuvenating your body. One may receive single or combination therapy based on their dosha.
- Virechan: powders, pastes, or heated plants that have medicinal value are employed in this process.
- Vaman: Involves vomiting or purging through herbal medicine
- Using warm oils for massage and enemas
- Rakta motksha: A process of cleansing the blood, also known as bloodletting
- Nasya: Nasal relief with herbal solutions, oils, and fumes
Oil pulling:
Before you start your day, take a tablespoon of ayurvedic essentials such as sesame or coconut oil and swish it around your mouth for about 20- 30 min. Afterward, you can scrape your tongue and brush your teeth
- Dry skin brushing:
Before shower brush your skin with a loofah or a body brush, which helps in exfoliation and better elimination of toxins by opening clogged pores.
● Herbal Supplements
Depending upon your health status and bodily requirement, people on Ayurvedic detox journeys are also prescribed herbal remedies in the form of ayurvedic essentials like teas and supplements such as herbal cleanses, enemas, bowel stimulants, enemas, and so on.
You may also be given supplements for specific health conditions like immunity, constipation, insomnia, and congestion. Eg. Triphala
- Dietary restrictions
In Ayurveda, it is believed that every person needs a tailor-made diet that addresses the particular dosha they have but all diets have a few restrictions in common that are mainly to prevent the buildup of further toxins in your body.
There are several types of these ingredients, including alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, red meat, and processed foods.
Follow the Ayurvedic Detox diet prescribed according to your dosha during the course of your detox.
- Water:
Water is the primary focus of the Ayurvedic Detox journey since a major percentage of our body consists of water.
- Tea:
Ginger tea is known to have stomach-soothing properties and it is often advised to have calming teas as a part of your bedtime schedule.
- Mono diet:
This type of dietary plan requires you to have a boiled mixture of rice, dal, beans, and spices commonly known as khichari for all your meals till your doshas are balanced. It also advises you to eat only till you’re not hungry which is also found in the Japanese culture.
- Detoxifying massage
Massages are an important part of the Ayurvedic Detox journey in Ayurveda and the most effective form of massage used for detoxification is Abhyanga. It uses warm, herbal oil massage once daily either at home by a professional or self . This form of massage is known to have an effect on aging, draining of our lymphatics, and improve hair and skin health.
- Meditation
There are various techniques of meditation but the common goal is to free the mind of distractions, reduce anxiety and stress that is highly common in modern days owing to the highly competitive lifestyle. Meditation helps you cut off from mental clatter and be more self-aware.
- Mindfulness
Caught in our busy lives we are always in so much hurry that we miss out on the minute moments that matter. Mindfulness helps in being in the moment and enjoying and acknowledging the beauty of the present state. It helps you become more focused and grateful Although the effect of Ayurvedic Detox is not clinically tested and in certain cases it may have a deleterious effect on health, the basic idea of this ancient detox regime consists of practices that do have a scientifically proven beneficial effect on health such as dietary modification, exfoliation, mediation and exercise that improve heart and digestive health along with increasing focus and building up core strength.
