Preparing for a spring detoxification with Ayurveda

If you're interested in ayurvedic detoxification practices, read our ayurvedic expert Dr. Ágnes Csizmadia's article on spring detoxification with Ayurveda!

Traditional ayurvedic cleansing methods

The traditional remedies of Ayurveda have been around for over 5000 years and their beneficial effects are now being experienced by Western societies. More and more Ayurvedic centres are opening in Europe. These centres focus on Pancha Karma and the procedures that precede and guide it.

Ayurvedic cleansing treatments:

1. Pancha karma - Five purification procedures that thoroughly cleanse the body of accumulated ama (ama = slag).
2. Poorva karma - The name given to the preparatory procedures used to prepare the patient for the cleansings.
3. Pastchat karma - The name given to the draining procedures used as aftercare to gently restore the previous rhythm and diet.

Spring is a particularly good time for cleansing, either as a preventative measure or to maintain your health! This Ayurvedic form of detoxification is carried out in specially designed centres (called Pancha Karma centres) under the guidance of specially trained professionals. Even if you do not have access to a Pancha Karma treatment, by using the right Ayurvedic herbs in your home, you can cleanse your body year after year!

Detoxification at authentic Ayurveda centres

In an authentic Ayurveda centre, cleansing treatments begin with preparation. The preliminary procedures are designed to make the main cleansing phase as perfect as possible.

The phases of Poorva Karma:

1. Pachana - Digestive stimulation, where herbal remedies are used to help the body digest Ama (waste products) in the body.
2. Snehan – External and internal oiling, in which copious amounts of ghee, oil pressed from seeds, animal fat are given internally to the patient, which helps to open the blocked channels, or srotas. At the same time, massages with enzyme-rich green plant oils or ghee are performed.
3. Swedan - The heating phase during which the body is heated so that the srotas can be further opened and cleared. During the heating Agni grows, which loosens the fat cells. Along with the fat, the accumulated Ama is mobilised. This process or heating of the body is done by various methods such as steaming, hot water baths, exercise, compresses. Once the preparation is complete, the 5 purification procedures, or Pancha Karma, can be performed.

Ayurvedic cleansing at home

As mentioned above, you can do an Ayurvedic cleansing at home in the following ways:

1. Plan your meals for two weeks. Warm soups, slightly spicy, creamy soups, alternated with a few grain-based meals are ideal for a cleansing cure! Drink lots of warm herbal teas! Eat 1-2 tablespoons or more of ghee (clarified butter) a day. Ghee put in soup is also excellent!
2. Cleansing with herbs: Use detoxifying herbal preparations such as bitter herbal teas, diuretic herbal teas, detoxifying ayurvedic supplements.
3. Take a sauna session every day or a 20-30 minute hot bath in the evening.
4. Get a massage! If you can, have a massage as often as possible during these two weeks. Ideally, you should have an intensive oiling massage at home every day (or at least 2 days a week).
5. If necessary, help detoxification with magnesium, vitamins B and Brahmi supplements! Lack of sleep inhibits the detoxification process!
6. Spend an hour a day in the open air! Jog, walk, run, cycle! Two weeks of preparation will mobilise the waste products in your body.

Ágnes Csizmadia (Doctor of Ayurvedic Sciences)

Expert of the Hungarian Ayurveda Medical Foundation, Garuda Trade Ltd. and Aryan Natural Medicine Training and Health Education Centre