Spring Ayurveda Cleanse, Out with the Old in with Fresh
Spring cleaning is not just what we do around the house or just for spring, it's what we do for ourSelves throughout the various seasons of the year.
Ama, known as "toxins" accumulate throughout the year due to improper digestion and high levels of stress along with chemicals we breathe, the water we drink, and the foods we eat. According to Maharishi Ayurveda, the toxic build-up can lead to health disorders. As we age, the mechanisms for eliminating impurities are not as efficient as they once were, which is why, as each season approaches, we need to prepare for a seasonal cleanse. We will start with a Spring Cleansing, as tradition has it, spring is the start of purification.
March is the perfect tie to begin a cleanse because, according to MAPI.com, "Biologically, nature supports cleansing of the body in spring." In the early and late winter, the digestive fire is high, and more sweets and heavy foods tend to be consumed. Because they aren't able to assimilate these hard-to-digest foods, ama (the sticky, toxic product of incomplete digestion) starts accumulating.
When spring temperatures return, they "melt the snow", allowing impurities within your body to start liquefying, therefore, flooding the microcirculatory channels (aka srotas) that carry nutrients to the cells. The waste from the cells may get clogged, leaving you feeling tired, heavy, and toxic. A spring detox provides you with the clarity you need so you can feel fresh and energetic again.
Let’s Begin with a 3 step Plan to Get you started once you know what your doshas are. Take the Quiz above to get your dominant Dosha and let’s start from there. Use this excerpt created by MAPI.com
STEP ONE: Detox Your Lifestyle aka “Lighten Your Load”
Duration: 2 Weeks
Eat a Detoxifying Diet
Winter months bring heavier foods. We tend to eat more fat to fortify against the cold. Unfortunately, heavy food leads to a build-up of digestive impurities (ama). The first step is to loosen the toxins by eating a lighter, detoxifying diet. This will help your digestive system clear away the toxins that are weighing you down.
Eat warm, light, cooked foods such as soup.
Favor easy-to-digest fruits, vegetables, and grains. Suggested fruits include cooked prunes, figs, apples, pears, pineapples, and papayas. Detoxifying cooked vegetables include leafy greens, Brussels sprouts, and crucifers such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. For grains, eat fresh flatbreads such as chapati, quinoa, barley, amaranth, rice, and kanji (rice water made by cooking eight parts water with one part rice).
Season your food with detoxifying spices such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, fennel, black pepper, and fresh ginger.
Eat fresh, organic foods.
Avoid canned, frozen, packaged, or processed foods, as these are difficult to digest and contribute to toxic buildup.
Stay away from heavy foods like red meat, leftovers, fried foods, oily foods, yeasted bread, sugary desserts, crackers, and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. These are hard to digest.
If you are hungry between meals, drink boiled milk with a pinch of cardamom. After each meal drink a digestive lassi (a yogurt drink made with 3 parts water and 1 part yogurt blended with cumin and salt) to aid digestion.
Avoid cold foods and cold drinks, as these interfere with digestion and create more toxins.
Drink plenty of water. Boil one quart of water with ½ teaspoon whole cumin and ½ teaspoon whole coriander. Strain and sip through the day. Cumin will help burn impurities, and coriander will cleanse deep tissues.
If you feel less hungry at mealtimes than usual, or if you feel heavy and dull in the two hours immediately after a meal, these are indications that your digestive fire is burning low. To help enhance your agni, make a delicious Pomegranate Chutney accompany your meal.
Cooking your food with immune-supporting spices such as cumin, fennel, coriander, turmeric, ginger, and black pepper is also an important way to enhance agni and reduce ama.
MAINTAIN A MORE RESTFUL LIFESTYLE
As your body is releasing toxins, it's also important to help the purification process by getting more rest. Sleep at least eight hours a day, go to bed before 10:00 p.m., and rise before 6:00 a.m. to keep your microcirculatory channels clear of toxins. But avoid sleeping during the day, as that will clog your channels and prevent toxins from flowing out. Give yourself a daily Massage of Abhyanga, using warm oil to loosen impurities, avoid vigorous exercise, and 30mins daily of gentle workout/ walking, etc.
Avoid vigorous exertion or team sports, but keep your body moving and your digestion toned with gentle exercises such as yoga and walking for half an hour a day.
Give yourself a daily mini-massage (abhyanga), using warm oil to loosen impurities. Take a warm bath after your massage to help the toxins flow into the digestive system, where they can be eliminated easily.
Eat your biggest meal at noon, as this is when digestion is strongest. Make breakfast a light meal, such as a stewed apple, and eat soup or other light foods for supper.
Schedule your meals at the same time each day, as your digestive system functions more efficiently when on a regular routine.
GUIDELINES FOR HEALTHY FOOD PREPARATION
Use fresh, organic food of the best quality available.
Eat food that is freshly cooked and warm.
Make your food delicious and pleasing to the eye.
Prepare your food in a happy, settled atmosphere for the best influence on digestion.
FOOD COMBINATIONS THAT CREATE TOXINS
Maharishi Ayurveda identifies certain food combinations, called "incompatible foods," that are known to cause toxins. Avoid combining the following foods.
MILK
Avoid combining with alcohol, fermented foods (such as apple cider, soy sauce, vinegar), citrus fruits, pickled foods, eggs, baked goods containing eggs, green leafy vegetables, meat, fish, salt, salty foods, or yogurt.
It's best to drink milk alone, or with sweet foods such as honey or sugar, sweet fruits such as mango or date, or with spices such as cardamom, saffron, or turmeric.
YOGURT
Avoid combining with milk, sour fruits, melons, fish, starches, cheese, or bananas.
MELON
Avoid combining with other foods in general, especially grains, starches, fried foods, and cheese.
EGGS
Avoid combining with milk, yogurt, melon, fruit, potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant.
CORN
Avoid combining with dates, raisins, and bananas.
VEGETABLES OF THE NIGHTSHADE FAMILY (POTATO, EGGPLANT, PEPPERS)
Avoid combining with yogurt, milk, melon, and cucumber.
STEP TWO: Herbal Cleanse Protocol
Duration: 2 - 4 Weeks
Start an Herbal Detox Plan
After you have followed the Detoxifying Diet and Lifestyle plan according to your Dosha for two weeks, continue the diet and lifestyle and start the following Herbal Detox Plan. You can continue with this step for two to six weeks. Be sure to continue with the Detoxifying Diet and Lifestyle from MAPI throughout the cleanse to support the body as it releases toxins.
* MAPI.COM, Banyan Botanicals, and Mountain Rose
Take 2-5 tablets of Organic Digest Tone or 2-4 capsules of Herbal Cleanse before going to bed each night to cleanse the bowel.
Take 2 tablets of Elim-Tox morning and evening to cleanse the liver, blood, sweat glands, and the elimination system. Take Elim-Tox-O instead if you have any symptoms of reactive toxins such as skin breakouts or if you have a Pitta imbalance.
Take 2 tablets of Organic Genitrac morning and evening. This will purify the urinary tract and assist in the removal of toxins.
**Use this link to save 25% off MAPI.COM Herbs for your cleanse
STEP Three: Ending the Cleanse Safely
Returning Back to Balance
Duration: 1 Week
Maharishi Ayurveda recommends that you continue following the same detoxifying diet and lifestyle for one week after the herbal cleanse is completed. Take your time to gently ease your body into your regular diet and lifestyle after your cleanse enjoy an improved diet and lifestyle. Offer your body a chance to adjust slowly. This is the most important part of the entire cleanse avoid overloading your digestion with heavy foods after the cleanse.
By the end of your spring cleanse you should be feeling lighter, healthier, and more energetic. You may notice that your joints are freer and you may even have shed a few pounds.
In order to prevent toxic build-up after the cleanse is over, you'll want to make sure your digestion is running smoothly on a regular basis. Follow the ayurvedic guidelines for healthy food preparation and avoid food combinations that create toxins (see below from the MAPI.COM website).
Gradually, consider adding the traditional Ayurvedic herbs that support respiratory health. Protection Plus Respiratory System contains 26 herbs that act synergistically to protect the lungs from respiratory problems. This formula separates ama from the Shleshaka Kapha, the sub dosha related to joint lubrication and body fluids, making it easier to cleanse the lungs. It also cleanses the channels of ama and nurtures, lubricates, and restores balance to the lungs as the impurities are dissolved, supporting the body's natural immunity.
You can also drink a warm, immune-supporting tea such as Sniffle Free Tea twice a day, with your meal or after it. The herbs in this thermogenic tea will help balance Kapha immediately. If your head is feeling heavy or congested, you can also use Sniffle Free Aroma oil to help create balance and clear the sinuses.
Discounts on Herbs and Spices:
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