Q- Cleanses are a popular topic of late, what is the Ayurvedic perspective on cleansing?
Cleansing plays an essential role in the system of Ayurveda. It’s helpful to think of cleansing as way of purifying the channels of the body. Our body is magnificent system of hundreds of channels, some visible and some not, and those channels will become clogged, or blocked or weakened throughout our life. This can come from the effects of poor nutrition, lack of movement, unprocessed emotions, chemicals or environmental toxins. When this happens, the flow of prana (vital life energy) throughout the body becomes affected. We may also see systems and organs of the body become strained, their functioning impaired. The idea of cleansing, or purifying our channels is a way of restoring balance to the body, clearing the pathways for prana to flow, so that we may be reacquainted with vitality.
Q- Is there an ideal time to cleanse?
If our bodies are functioning well, we are naturally cleansing all of the time. But for most of us living in this modern world, our bodies could benefit from a gentle (or sometimes deep) cleanse. Intrinsic to Ayurveda is our connection to the rhythms of the earth, circadian, lunar and seasonal. From an Ayurvedic perspective, we should pattern our day to follow the movement of the sun and moon, and our life to adapt with the seasons. The end of one season and the beginning of the next signifies a powerful transition of energies, and also makes for an ideal time for cleansing. Each season is dominated by certain elements; Late Fall- Early Winter is dominated by Vata (air & space), Late Winter- Spring is dominated by Kapha (earth & water) and Summer to Early Fall is dominated by Pitta (fire & water). As we move through the season we accumulate more of the energies of that particular season. For example, at the end of the summer our bodies have accumulated excess heat (or Pitta energies) and we may begin to see the effects in our digestion, mood or skin. As the season transitions, this is an ideal time to cleanse and remove the excess heat so that we do not carry that over into the next season and create a deeper imbalance.
Q- How do we prepare for a cleanse?
1. Start thinking about your food plans at least a week in advance. In Ayurveda, a mono-diet featuring kitchari is usually the staple meal for cleansing, but it may not be your choice. If it’s kitchari you will want to make sure you have your spices and ingredients ready in advance. If not kitchari, then you will want to think about simple, clean, warm freshly cooked foods that you can make with ease for the days of your cleanse. Freshly prepared simple vegetable soups,
fresh vegetables steamed or sauteed in ghee with some basmati rice, or simple cooked fruits can be options if kitchari is not possible. The goal with nutrition is not to starve yourself, but to eat freshly prepared, warm, easy to digest meals that nourish your body and allow it to not expend large amounts of energy in processing and breaking down heavy foods. You want to give your body a rest, so that it can focus its energy on digesting and removing toxins.
2. You will want to think about your schedule to decide how many days you want to cleanse. Are you able to set aside 2-5 days where you can create a simple routine for waking, eating meals and sleeping? If there is a way to minimize excess work or travel or stress for those few days, your body will respond even better to the cleansing.
3. In addition to simplifying your meals, looking at what beverages you intake is also necessary. Minimize (or remove if possible) any caffeine, alcohol or sugary drinks and instead aim to drink plenty of water, focusing on warm or room temperature water throughout your cleanse. You can also incorporate teas that will help support your body’s ability to digest and remove toxins. CCF tea, or cumin, coriander and fennel tea is great to drink in between meals and throughout the cleanse. Soothing or calming nighttime teas like chamomile or lavender are perfect to promote a sound restful sleep.
Q- Is there anything we should avoid or limit during a cleanse?
Since we want to look at this as a gentle pause, or a time of slowing down and releasing, it is important to really approach a cleanse from a mindful perspective. What I mean is that we should consider more than just the food we put in. We can take this as an opportunity to cleanse our mind, our environment, our routine, our entertainment, and our emotions. For the days of the cleanse, it could be beneficial to reduce time on your cell phone, pay attention to what you watch or listen to for entertainment, the conversations you have with family and friends, and the first things you do in the morning when you awake and what you do just before bed. For example, if you tend to reach for your phone in the morning, maybe swap that habit for gentle yoga, a walk, or some mindful breathing. If you tend to reach for your phone or TV before bed, maybe swap that habit for an oil massage, an evening walk, reading, journaling, or even a short meditation. I love to guide my patients in taking this time to cleanse the mind along with the body; they are intrinsically related.
