How Cleansing Can Make You Healthier
Ayurveda is a 5,000 year-old science of holistic health. The term cleanse was not explicitly used in the ancient Vedic texts where Ayurvedic principles and protocols were recorded. In fact, cleansing and dieting didn’t really begin until the 1930’s. They emerged out of societal pressure to reach an ideal body type.
The Ayurvedic approach to cleansing differs drastically from what we generally think of when we think of ‘going on a cleanse’ or ‘cleaning up our diet.’ Thoughts and images of ‘juice cleanses,’ ‘cabbage cleanses,’ ‘ketogenic,’ ‘raw diets,’ etc. come to mind.
Have you ever found yourself in cycles of cleansing? Many of these cleanses do make us feel better initially. They can alleviate toxins from the gastrointestinal tract and can alleviate some stress on the digestive system. However, ‘one-size-fits-all’ cleanse approaches are not designed to heal the root causes of disease or imbalance and are over-depleting to the body.
The Ayurvedic approach to cleansing consists of addressing individualized needs and healing root causes. Ayurvedic cleanses aim to eliminate accumulated toxins and toxic conditions from the body and mind, to restore constitutional balance, strengthen the immune system and reverse negative effects of stress on the body and mind.
Before this sounds like a lot of ‘too good to be true’ marketing claims – I encourage you to keep reading. I found myself in cycles of the latest cleanses thinking I was supporting my body and mind. In truth, I was becoming more and more depleted and diminishing my digestive fire, which only made it more difficult to digest other foods after each cleanse.
Ayurvedic Cleansing as a Process: Three Phases
Cleansing with Ayurveda does not merely focus on the removal of toxins located in the gastrointestinal tract. The cleansing period is separated into three distinct and crucial phases: the pre-cleanse phase, the cleansing phase and the reintegration phase. The body, mind and spirit is dependent upon all three phases in order to experience a NOURISHING cleanse.
The Pre-Cleanse Phase
The pre-cleanse phase emphasizes INTENTION. This is so important because, whenever something is removed, an empty space is left in its place. In cleansing, this space provides an opportunity to be filled with what we need. This can look like goals, desires, physical strength, mental stability, etc.
If we are not intentional about how we want to fill this empty space, we are left vulnerable to imbalances coming in to fill the space instead. The pre-cleanse phase follows specific intention-setting practices to avoid perpetuating imbalances. This can look like cleansing your space from chemicals and old patterns before the cleanse, completing laborious tasks, seeking support where needed, and daily meditation and visualization practices that are focused on how you want to feel and experience life on the other side of the cleanse. You may wish to try our recent meditation on Filling the Space (by Chloe Chaput).
The pre-cleanse phase also focuses on dislodging accumulated toxins from deep in the tissue layers of the body. The objective at this stage is to bring those toxins into the digestive tract so they can be eliminated in the cleansing phase. This occurs by oiling the body internally and externally through self oil body massage and titrating medicated ghee intake. Heat or steam therapies along with dry brushing also encourage the toxins to shift. A nourishing mono-diet that sustains and nourishes the body while also giving the digestive system a rest is implemented.
The mono-diet consists of a special Ayurvedic healing dish called Kitchari. Kitchari translates to mixture and it is made from combining legumes and grains. Most traditionally it is made with mung beans and white basmati rice as they are very easy to digest. The beans are pre-soaked, the rice is rinsed and they are cooked together with digestive spices into a soupy porridge like consistency. When combined, mung beans and basmati rice make a complete protein so you can stay nourished while cleansing.
In Ayurveda, six tastes are recognized and necessary for a balanced diet; sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. Most modern cleanses focus on 2-3 tastes that are only extractive or cleansing, and augmentative or building tastes are removed all together. Kitchari contains all six tastes and it both cleanses and nourishes. You don’t have to be on a full three phase cleanse to enjoy this meal. You can enjoy it weekly to alleviate some strain on your digestive system and enable the body to restore. Download our Kitchari recipe here.
The Cleansing Phase
Phase two is the cleansing phase. This only occurs once the right indications are present after the first phase; skin is oily, appetite is reduced, stools float. This means toxins have dislodged and are now residing in the digestive tract. The Sanskrit term for this phase is Pancha Karma Pancha means five and Karma means action, therefore Pancha Karma translates to 5 actions. These actions refer to techniques of toxin elimination. The actions taken at this stage are individualized based on one’s’ constitution, current imbalances, digestive fire and immunity levels.
During my first at-home Pancha Karma cleanse I was pleasantly surprised at how gentle each of the elimination techniques were. My body was so well-prepared after the pre-cleanse that it felt like the process took over and all I needed to do was rest and remember my intentions.
The Reintegration Phase
The third stage is reintegration and rebuilding. This is the most important stage. The digestive fire is rebuilt in such a way that will support one’s health and harmony. This phase requires listening to your body. Gradually, more difficult to digest foods are introduced as the fire is stoked and rebuilt gently and appropriately. Body movement practices are also reintroduced in the same way. This is the phase where you create the foundation to achieve all of your goals.
Ayurvedic cleansing can be a great way to align you to your goals and to your natural circadian rhythms. This alignment is necessary for maintaining balanced health. The holidays are often a time of over-indulgence and routines are often thrown out the window. With this new year it could be the best time ever to take an Ayurvedic approach to cleansing so that you are left nourished and supported with mental clarity and strength, a strong sense of self, strong immunity, and a balanced constitution (**this includes weight-balancing to a healthy level) to be the best version of you-this year and every year.
As with all of your holistic healing needs, we encourage you to seek support. An at-home cleanse requires proper guidance by a trained practitioner; we do not recommend trying to go it alone, especially when it comes to cleansing. Sign up today for a consultation with Path Wellbeing so we can design a cleanse plan that is right for your constitution.
By Chloe Chaput, who is dedicated to her role as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist (CAS) to work with women’s health, male and female fertility challenges, parents/caregivers, and children to address a variety of clinical health concerns at the root of their cause. Contact Path Wellbeing today to set up your appointment with Chloe Chaput, CAS.
The information contained within this article is for educational purposes only and should not replace the direct advice of a qualified healthcare professional. Always consult a medical or other professional healthcare provider when considering a new health regime.
