Ayurvedic Detoxification Dr Shirish Bhate.

Ayurvedic Detoxification  Dr Shirish Bhate.

The occurrence of cough, cold, flu, low fever coincides with starting
of March to June period, but due to global warming, seasons are
changing without much notice to mankind. Sudden increase of
temperature, need to open windows and increase fan or A/C settings
signals change of season. Vaidyas have alert senses to detect change
in seasons and warn people to change the lifestyle. The reason is,
Vaidyas do not see Christian calendar, they observe nature.

In every spring, earth sheds her winter coat of ice in northern
lattitudes. This molten ice water meets sea. Since we are a part of
this environmental plan, we too should think about "spring cleaning"
the toxins from our body. Ayurveda recommends rutucharya, described
on site ayurveda-foryou.com. Detoxifying in spring is an important
part of this ayurvedic rutucharya. Spring is the Kapha season,
because the wet and cool weather reflects the moist, cool, heavy
qualities of Kapha dosha predominate during this time of the year
(March-June). The accumulated excess Kapha leaves the body during
these months.

Biologically too, nature supports cleansing of the body in spring. In
winter the digestive agni is high, and people eat more sweet and
heavy food. Most of the time they aren't able to assimilate these
hard-to-digest foods, causing accumulation of ama, the sticky, toxic
product of indigestion.

Warm weather of March to June melts the snow in spring, it has a
similar effect on the body. In spring the ama melts and due to its
large volume, the microcirculatory channels of the body, become
clogged. Now people staying in tropics or near equator do not see
snow, but its effect they experience. When there is a snow fall in
Kashmir, we get a cold wave in Mumbai, a harbour city.

Symptoms of Excess Ama

If ama does not move out of the body, one can experience either of
following:
1. flu (Are Pharam taking advantage of creating avian flue)
2. colds and cough,
3. allergies, low fever.
4. fatigued, sluggish or drowsy after lunch,
5. loss of appetite, flatulance,
6. Sharp headaches, dizziness,
7. Mild tremors in the limbs,
8. Unexplained muscle aches, arms,thighs, calf, etc, not
responding to pain killers.
9. Coating on tongue, sore throat.
10. less radiant, heavier, more oily skin.
11. Prone to sunburn, dry patches on skin.
12. exacerbation of eczema, psoriasis, blemishes
13. Swellings become more, no action of allopathy medicines


Spring is the best season for detoxification, because nature is
already trying to clear out the toxins. The way trees shed old
yellowish leaves in preparation of new leaves, it's the time to help
the body to efficiently detoxify the channels and the dhatus. Most
Panchkarma procedures purify the colon and the digestive tract, but
that is not enough. Cleansing the liver and blood, purifying the
sweat glands and the organs of elimination, preventing buildup of ama
in the fat and muscle tissues, and paving the way for more energy,
health and vitality.

A Kapha pacifying diet and lifestyle is best. If eating heavy, cold,
hard-to-digest foods is avoided, the sweet, sour, and salty tastes
are reduced, digestive system will be more efficient in burning away
the accumulated Ama. On this ground soy items are to be avoided.

Sweet juicy fruits can help cleanse the body, but they should be
eaten before sunset, as they have a Kapha-increasing effect after the
sunset. Citrus fruits, apple (boiled in water for few minutes if
digesting raw is difficult) are also available plenty. Spices that
can be added to food -- such as coriander, cumin, turmeric, and
fennel -- help stimulate the digestion and detoxify the skin. Hot
water will help melt the Ama that has accumulated (if your a Pitta
body type or have a Pitta imbalance then drink warm). Daily exercise,
and avoiding day sleep will also help. You can take steam bath, if
available nearby. To show the importance of these purification
procedures, let us read a paragraph from Messagge 4931 by Todd, where
Parkinson disease cure was tried:

"In the above studies the patients that receieved maximal benefit
were those that had undergone pancha karma prior to treatment - this
demonstrates that the traditional methodologies of Ayurveda are
important to consider"

Since Panch Karma procedures are always undertaken under the
supervision of an ayurvedist, we have very little sharing of
knowledge despite MD (panchkarma ) on our list (message 4431). Author
requests him to share a little of his experience.

Panchakarma includes a full program of ayurvedic massage, steam baths
and intestinal cleansing treatments, to rid your body of ama
accumulated during the previous season. Panchakarma also strengthens
agni, or digestive fire, so more ama won't be accumulated.

What follows next is the result of most of the patients asking "can't
we do it at home, or with some herbals mixtures/decoctions? Already
some enema packs are available, wherein you just insert a
cream/wick/suppository and next morning you have clean bowels". This
happens because of allopathic mind set, an enama is given whenever
hard constipation exists. Enema for colon cleanse as a notion, will
take at least a decade to sink in mind. If one can't visit ayurvedist
for internal cleansing, he can still follow an ayurvedic regimen at
home to cleanse the body of ama during the transition between the
seasons. Speed of ama elimination will be slower without
intestinal/lever/Gall Bladder cleanses, but this will be better
option for weak/elderly patients:

1. Eat warm, light, nourishing foods such as
soups, or light meals of mildly spiced vegetables with grains. Eating
a lighter diet for a few weeks while the weather is changing will
help burn away ama rather than accumulate it. Also be careful to get
proper rest, drink plenty of warm fluids, and take daily walks or do
other exercise that is suitable for your body type. Most ideal
exercise for general health is walking. It gives all round movement
to all muscles. and safe exercise too, even for heart patients.

2. Less hungry feeling at mealtimes and feeling of heavy
and dullness in two hours immediately after a meal, are
indications that your digestive fire is burning low.
Food cooked with immune-enhancing spices such as cumin, fennel,
coriander, turmeric, ginger and black pepper is also an important way
to enhance agni and reduce ama. Spices, if available fresh and in
green form are to be given preference. Finally, it's important to
always avoid the factors that cause ama to accumulate, in any season.
Stay away from leftovers, processed foods, ice-cold foods and drinks,
and heavy foods such as fried foods. Vegetables from the nightshade
family (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and sweet peppers) should also
be avoided, as these create ama. As an exception, if potato has to be
used, use it with skin, and in juice form for alkalizing.

3. For those who can carry out the detoxification procedure under
supervision of an ayurvedist or naturopath, author has stored it in
folder `articles' under the file name `Eight Day Detox Programme'.
Any doubts can be asked on/off-list. But if you can not take the
Basti and Basti+enema+probiotics at an ayurvedic clinic, just follow
all the food recommendations, and just take about 5 gm. Trifla powder
with water before bedtime, instead of Milk+Ginger+Castor oil
decoction on all seven days. YOu may notice that all 'fats' are
avoided, since preferred fat, i.e. 'cow ghee of Indian cow' is not
available plenty in India itself! all such ghee goes inmaking brain
and endocrine system medicines.

The procedure stored in group file is a general. For every
individual, the dosages can be made specific and fruit choices can be
altered, if taking it under supervision.

Detoxification is a must, if embarking on a 'weight-loss' program. Ideal time
for starting weight-loss program of about a 8 month duration is NOW! We have a
group member who lost 12 kg in a fortnight by being on soups only. Author
requests this member to share the experience and post-loss feelings with group.
Knowledge and experiences of others is a 'light' for all.

Dr Bhate