"The body is a boat which carries the soul in the ocean of the world. If it is not strong or it has a hole, then it can't cross the ocean. So the first duty is to fix the boat." Baba Hari Dass
WHY DO AN AYURVEDIC CLEANSE?
Detoxification is a natural and essential process that our bodies and minds must undergo continuously, every single day. Now, more than ever, we must take advantage and maximize our detoxification pathways because of the increasing toxicity of the world we live in.
According to Ayurveda dis-ease (“not at ease”) often starts with poor diet, unhealthy life style, negative emotions. These factors affect the body’s biological fire, which governs digestion and assimilation. When the body’s biological fire becomes weakened or disturbed, food, thoughts and emotions are not properly digested. The body stores fat and fat-soluble chemicals, pollutants and molecules of emotions (anger, fear, sadness, jealousy). These undigested and unabsorbed particles accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract and turn into toxins.
The presence of toxins can be felt as fatigue, feeling of heaviness, digestive problems, stiffness in the body, or mental confusion. Ayurveda believes that if the toxins accumulated in the GI tract are not regularly purged and removed they might overflow to other bodily systems or organs, causing disease in the mind and/or the body.
Spring and fall are optimum times to go on a detoxifying dietary cleanse. Although the benefits would be received throughout the year, is easier in spring and fall to change our habits, inject new life into our tired routines and boost immunity.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
This cleanse will renew your health by resetting your body’s natural ability to be a better fat burner. It will help remove fat-soluble toxins accumulated in the body; it will detox and nourish the lymphatic system, which in turn is responsible for waste draining and regulating the immune system. This, in turn will boost energy, improve mood and sleep.
Overall, a fall cleanse is a great opportunity to analyze and change our eating and lifestyle habits which, if maintained on a regular basis will help lose weight, reduce cravings and correct digestive issues.
HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE FIRST MEETING?
Upon enrolment and before the first meeting you will be sent a cleansing supply checklist. It will contain common herbs and spices, a few required Ayurvedic herbal formulas, a list of food ingredients for the cleansing week and some other optional items. These items need to be secured in advance of our first meeting.
At the same time you will also receive and Mind-Body Ayurvedic questionnaire to be filled out and returned prior to the meeting.
At the meeting, we will discuss the cleansing protocol, review the daily schedule and go over required and optional daily routines. We will take to time to practice a few pranayama and meditation techniques, which are part of the daily-recommended routines.
WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE CLEANSING WEEK?
The first three days you will drink small quantity of melted ghee and eat a simple diet to stimulate fat metabolism and start burning off fat cells (no worries, there are a few great tricks to get in down!). Ayurveda believes the ghee creates a thin film in the body’s channels allowing the toxins accumulated in the deep connective tissues to move back to the gastrointestinal tract for elimination.
The next three days the focus shifts from internal oleation to external oleation and kitchari mono diet. The external oleation consists of oil massage and sweating (hot bath or shower) to soften the superficial and deep tissues and further loosen toxins and increase their movement towards the GI tract. Eating a kitchari mono diet will provide nourishment for the body and it will benefit digestion with its simplicity and spice combination. Without being asked to digest any complex items, the body is able to burn through accumulated fat and toxins.
At the end of the 6th day, there is a system flush when a light laxative is taken at night to remove any remaining toxins that the ghee and external oleation have loosened in the body.
Digestive and cleansing herbs and formulas will be taken throughout the week. Optional daily detoxing and stress-relief practices will be presented and strongly recommended.
WATCH-OUTS?
PRE-CLEANSING WEEK: as soon as possible start to clean up your diet, try to eat three regular meals a day and reduce or avoid snaking in between. Reduce alcohol, try to reduce or eliminate stress factors, try to get enough sleep.
DURING CLEANSING WEEK: try to reduce or eliminate stress factors, eliminate alcohol, avoid over stimulation (ex: internet, social media, etc.), ensure enough time to rest and sleep. The three days of mono diet are scheduled during the last part of the week, right before or during the weekend with the system flush falling on a Saturday night. With most people usually off work at that time, this ensures more time to rest and recover.
POST-CLEANSING WEEK: from mono diet we first transition to simple diet and then slowly and gradually to a more regular, healthy on-going diet. Try to maintain and grow daily detoxing and stress-relief practices.
SHOULD YOU TAKE GHEE? The use of ghee for internal oleation is recommended for most people. Only if you do not have a gallbladder, trouble with your gallbladder or chronically high cholesterol (within normal range, there is no problem) then flaxseed oil or coconut oil could be used instead. However, you will be strongly encouraged to discuss the options to adjust your protocol with your MD if you present these challenges.
CLEANSING SUPPLY CHECKLIST
These items need to be secured in advance of the first meeting.
BASIC CLEANSE SUPPLIES:
- Organic ghee (16oz jar, might use a little more)
- Kitchari ingredients: organic split yellow mung dal beans and organic white basmati rice
- Triphala formula
- Sesame oil for daily self-massage, 16oz+ (Banyan Botanicals is great)
- Detox tea (Pukka is great; Dr. Schultze’s Detox Tea is excellent)
- Banyan Botanicals Liver formula or Manjistha formula (www.banyanbotanicals.com)
- Psyllium 1/2 Lb
Ayurvedic herbs & spices:
- Fenugreek seeds – 3oz
- Cumin powder - 3oz
- Cumin seeds – 3oz
- Fennel - 3oz
- Coriander - 3oz
- Ginger (dry & raw) - 3oz
- Turmeric – 3oz
- Hing (Asafoetida) – 1oz
- Mustard seeds – 2oz
- Bay leaves
- Epson Salts
- Laxative ingredients: Epsom Salt, olive oil and 1 lemon or prune juice
- Gloves for dry skin brushing, or a natural bristle skin brush
- Tongue scraper
- Neti pot
OPTIONAL CLEANSE SUPPLIES:
- Triphala Guggulu (highly recommended however we’ll not use a full bottle for one
cleanse)
- Some good quality olive oil
- Vitamin C
- Probiotic formula (post cleanse)
- Castor Oil (only if we have to use a stronger laxative; in this case it will replace Epson Salts).
© Oana Stefanescu- Lansman – please do not re-distribute without consent
