As the cold and wet winter transitions to the lighter, warmer, and drier spring we experience a time of rebirth and growth as nature comes back to life. This season can also inspire us to think about physical detoxification, ridding ourselves of the excess heaviness and sluggishness that might have accumulated since the holidays.
The words detoxification, cleansing, and purification have similar meanings. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines them as, “The removal or extraction of contaminants or impurities, ridding dependencies or addiction, purifying morally or spiritually, and promoting health.”
In today’s fast-paced world, many unhealthy physical, mental, and emotional toxins, impurities, and energies can build up in and around us. Toxins are any substance that can be poisonous or cause negative health effects. Toxins can include food, drugs, alcohol, metals, chemicals, pollutants, food ingredients, and pesticides, or even emotional trauma.
Toxicity may depend on the dosage, frequency, or potency of a substance. Some of the immediate symptoms of toxicity can include constipation, weight gain, sluggishness, sneezing, swelling, or itchy eyes. Buildup of toxicity can contribute to and even be a cause of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, and arthritis. There is no practical way to protect yourself from all the toxins in the environment, but you can counteract many with self-education, awareness, and the practice of being present, along with positive lifestyle choices.
On an ongoing basis, the body naturally detoxifies itself physically through the excretory system (skin, liver, lungs, large intestine, and kidneys). We also detoxify ourselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually with practices that support the mind and spirit (such as meditation or other techniques).
According to Ayurveda (the Indian holistic medical system), one of the places where toxins are stored is in the fatty tissues of body, so the goal of any effective detoxification is to convince the body and cells to burn stored fat and release impurities naturally.
During the initial stages of purification it is not uncommon to experience some withdrawal symptoms, especially from alcohol, drugs, caffeine or sugar. It is therefore important to prepare yourself for possible side effects as you start reducing and eliminating toxins from your daily life. For most people, these symptoms are minimal, but it is recommended to consult or work with a healthcare provider, doctor, or qualified practitioner to achieve your goals with balance and harmony.
When you start looking around to see the many cleanses available, it can seem both overwhelming and confusing. We may be influenced by the suggestions of our friends and family, what we read in the media, what we hear from celebrity endorsements, or the idea of a quick and easy avenue to achieve our goals. It is important to understand and to take into account our individual natures to recognize how the process of detoxification itself can affect both our short- and long-term health.
Many short-term cleanses can deplete the body, mind, and spirit—especially with practices like starvation, laxatives, enemas, colonics, diuretics, and over-exercising. This can over-purify the body, reducing your intake and absorption of essential nutrients. Depletion can even lead to spikes in blood sugar levels, which can leave you feeling lightheaded, tired, anxious, short-tempered, angry, and possibly depressed.
It is important to choose a cleanse program that is supportive; allowing the release of toxins without overly depleting the body. In addition, you want to choose a program that includes a transition to a healthy routine, because without a realistic long-term plan in place, you might fall back into old habits and tendencies.
Ayurveda believes that the ultimate goal in life is balance and harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. The system of Ayurveda is based in an understanding of the flow of the five elements (ether, air, fire, water, and earth), which are found in the universe. We each have a unique, inherent combination of these elements, defined by the three doshas: vata (air and ether/space), pitta (fire and water), and kapha (water and earth). These three doshas are found in our bodies and make up our inherent and individual constitutions (known as our prakruti). Ayurveda understands there are many factors that can cause imbalance, including the change of seasons and weather, the environment where we live, specific locations, what we ingest, and our mental, emotional, and spiritual input.
From an Ayurvedic point of view, the ingestion of food and positive information builds our ojas (defined as our “life sap” or a component of our vitality). But as we encounter and accumulate toxins, the body can create ama (toxins, metabolic wastes, and emotional heaviness), which stores in our cells and ultimately can create disease.
We keep our bodily processes healthy when we have proper agni (digestive fires), which includes the digestive processes in the small intestine, liver, and gallbladder, along with the perception and digestion of mental, emotional, and spiritual information. Ayurveda believes that healthy agni in all areas is one of the most important aspects of maintaining overall balance.
One of the techniques that Ayurveda uses for detoxification and rejuvenation is panchakarma (meaning five actions). Panchakarma has been practiced for thousands of years and incorporates purification (reducing) therapies as well as tonification (rebuilding) practices. This combination can safely detoxify the body, strengthen the immune system, remove build-up, and then restore balance and well-being. This practice is a cornerstone of the Ayurvedic lifestyle and is recommended on a seasonal basis, as well as when an individual feels out of balance or is experiencing illness.
The full panchakarma process begins with a preparatory diet, designed to reduce the ingestion of heavy and toxic substances. This is followed by internal oileation using ghee or other specialty oils, which directs the body into a mode of increased fat metabolism pulling toxins from deep within the tissues. During this stage you eat a mono diet based around kitchari (a mung bean and rice dish—like Indian risotto). Kitchari is a complete protein that balances blood sugar levels and ensures proper digestion as the body goes through its purification. Each day you receive body treatments specially designed for your specific concerns and constitution—including oil-based massages, medicated muds, dry rubs and powders, warm rice and milk poultices, shirodhara (warm oil streamed over the third eye or ajna chakra, quieting the mind), nasal treatment, and steam therapy, all of which assist in drawing toxins from the body and moving them toward the colon for the elimination process. Finally you receive basti (medicated oil enemas), which rehydrate, rejuvenate, and nourish the tissues.
My experiences with cleansing before finding Ayurveda were varied, inconsistent, and not very successful because of imbalances from drastic measures that I could not sustain. The first time I did a full Ayurvedic cleanse was at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico and it was truly a life-changing experience.
Since that time I have included detoxification into my own yearly practice, and I offer full panchakarma services as well as a seven-day home guide cleanse that is designed to be done while following a regular work and family schedule.
If you are unsure how to proceed you can speak with your medical doctor, holistic practitioner, professionals at your local health food store, or homeopathic pharmacy. Also, many Ayurvedic, Chinese, Homeopathic and Nutritional holistic schools have practitioners they will refer to you. If I can be of any assistance with your planning process please feel free to contact me and I will happily direct you to appropriate channels.
Jeff Perlman is a Clinical Ayurvedic & Pancha Karma Specialist, Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor, Certified Massage and Marma Therapist, a professional member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and a Cordon Bleu Chef. He is available for private consultations. He leads annual trips to India. You can contact him at jeff@tsayurveda.com or visit his website: threeseasonsayurveda.com