What Is Ayurvedic Detox and Why You Need It

What Is Ayurvedic Detox and Why You Need It : Ancient India is a cradle of wisdom. Many spiritual and physical practices developed centuries ago still apply today, and one of the most popular of them is Ayurveda.

What Is Ayurveda?

If you’re new to this, you may try ayurvedic detox as a one-time practice, and with an online Ayurveda consultation, you will surely benefit from it.

As you know, Ayurveda is a system of maintaining good health. It operates an advanced philosophical system that views human health as an interaction of various factors. The central concept of Ayurveda is “dosha” – a force within that can cause problems. There are three main doshas:

Vāta (ether and air), which represents the movement. The main quality of Vāta is pain, as in the energy it generates.
Pitta (fire and water), which represents the metabolism. The energy Pitta is responsible for is heat.
Kapha (water and earth) means “phlegm,” so it regulates inner organs.

The five elements that doshas represent also need to be in good balance. Disbalance is the cause of any illness, and the principle of treatment is to restore the balance.

Of course, this explanation is less than basic. We didn’t mention that each of these doshas has five subcategories, because that’s not what you’re here for, let alone more details. You may learn more about the basics of Ayurveda as you start practicing it.

It is usually said that Ayurveda is a “holistic” system. This means that it views human health as a whole, neither focusing on separate organs or systems nor separating physical and mental aspects. More than that: any human being is viewed as a part of the universe (and indeed it is). That’s why Ayurvedic practices include mental elements as well as physical or nutritional.

Ayurveda Detox: What and How

One practice that Ayurveda suggests for its followers is periodical detox. This three-week (usually) procedure is required to maintain the dosha balance and avoid illnesses rather than cure them afterward. During the detox, you consume only certain foods that shift the balance to normal.

There are no generic recommendations because, before practicing your detox diet, you need to detect your dosha constitution and then push yourself towards its normal version. To detect it, you need a specialist that has to see you, hear you, talk to you, and get in touch nonverbally. Still, here are some examples of detox menus to see whether you are ready for it.

The diet usually implies that you give up processed foods, meat, sugar, soda, coffee, and, of course, alcohol and tobacco. Instead, you will treat your digestive system with cereals, vegetables, and fruit. Dairy products may be included too. In addition, there are special supplements that you consume as instructed.

As for your meals, how you eat matters as much as what you eat. Here are the basic recommendations for your everyday meals:

Try to eat at the same time every day. Reshape your schedule to be sure about it if necessary.
Let nothing distract you while you’re eating.
Don’t eat alone. Your company doesn’t have to be on Ayurvedic detox too, but you need to maintain a good positive mood.
Don’t eat until you’re full. Leave the table with a slight sense of hunger. At first it may be problematic, so you may limit your portions beforehand.
Practice ayurvedic massage after your meals to help the substances spread through your body. You can even do it yourself.
There are practices that may seem too exotic, like treating your third eye with warm oil or total bowel evacuation. You won’t necessarily need them, though: it all depends on your dosha balance and how to restore it.

Is Ayurveda Relevant for Westerners?

Ayurveda is mostly popular in India, where it was created, and in neighboring Nepal as well. But it doesn’t mean that people with the Western background cannot benefit from it. It just takes a little more time to start and get familiar with the basic concepts one operates with.

So, an Ayurvedic detox session for someone new to it requires a specialist who is constantly in touch with you. At any moment, if you have any doubt, you feel something strange and unexpected, or you just don’t know what to do, you can ask them. Anyway, to even start Ayurvedic practices, you need to detect your dosha balance and act according to it.

Detox, Just Do It!

There is one thing you need to know about Ayurvedic detox before you start: you can do it, and it’s okay to need help with it. Not simply because you are unfamiliar with procedures and recipes. Some things require more than just expertise: you can’t do them to yourself physically.

So, the first step to ayurvedic detox is to find the right specialists who can help you to start. You will need support throughout the procedure, and that’s okay. But it’s your decision, and the first step is yours. If you have any questions, or you have already tried this detox and want to share your experience, you can do it in our comments!