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Cleansing the body in India. Panchakarma. Personal experience. Nutrition during cleansing

In the last few years, trips to India for spiritual and physical cleansing have become very popular among Belarusians. Is it worth it and can you change in a short trip? The head of the Tea Studio, Alena Velichko, who underwent panchakarma at an Ayurvedic clinic, told us about this.

— Do you have a car, Alena? - Dr. Anand asked me.

“Yes,” I answered, not understanding where he was going with this.

— Do you do maintenance on it every year? - he continued asking questions.

- Are you saying that panchakarma is the same for a person as doing maintenance every year for a car? - I began to understand.

“Very similar,” Anand beamed.

I came across this small Ayurvedic clinic in Bangalore quite by accident. She turned out to be literally a couple of kilometers from the institute where I studied. I was sorry that I discovered it so late. But everything has its time. Dr. Anand told me this, and this is what I said when someone, for some reason, could not go to the clinic. Everyone encounters Ayurveda at one time or another, just like any other topic. And it was thanks to Dr. Anand, who first prescribed Ayurvedic throat pills for me, and then told me about Ayurveda and Panchakarma, that our trip a year later to the unforgettable Kerala took place. And where, by the way, are we planning to go again!

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Gathering a group is a special matter. Our group gathered very carefully and turned out to be harmonious, inquisitive and easy-going. A light atmosphere was maintained in the group throughout the entire stay in the clinic, despite the fact that we had to spend quite a lot of time together. Many people prefer to go to Panchakarma alone, but when we decided to go with Svetlana Zere (the head of the site), many people appeared who wanted to join us.

Very often I was later asked the question: “What are the advantages of traveling as a group, why didn’t you go together?” In fact, there are many advantages. And, of course, it all depends on what kind of person you are. But perhaps the most important thing is that the group removes a lot of fears associated with being in a new country, as well as when getting to know new system. It often happened that you were worried about what was happening to you, even if the doctors nodded their heads and said that everything was fine. But when other members of the group share with you, telling you how it is for them, it becomes a little easier. Some went through treatment faster, others slower, and I often heard: “You’ll have this for a couple more days, and then you should let go. I’ve already had this happen.” Plus, a group is always an exchange of experience: who saw what, who knows what, who does what. The people are interesting! And it’s easier with translation - there’s always someone to explain to you if you suddenly don’t know the language (at the clinic the staff speaks English). Well, an absolute plus is that the price for staying in the clinic is more reasonable for a group than for one or two people.

Each of us went with our own expectations, the main one of which was, of course, to improve our health. Because panchakarma is a special approach to cleansing the body, which each doctor can carry out according to his own methodology, based on general basics and principles. During the process, 5 tissues are treated, which includes different kinds massage, taking herbal teas, procedures such as nasyam (essentially nasal drops), virechanam (cleansing), vasthi (enema therapy), etc. The procedures improve mental and physical state, tone the body, mind, breathing, nerves and cleanse the blood. The course takes from 14 to 28 days.

Those who think that the purification process itself is very difficult and only heroes can cope with it are deeply mistaken. I would say the most difficult thing is to be patient and wait for the results. Because our Western mind is accustomed to the fact that everything should be here and now. Today I did it - tomorrow the result will be bigger. But the speed of panchakarma is much slower, given that science is about 5 thousand years old, and also given the fact that when we encounter this system, we carry the accumulation of many years poor nutrition, stress, diseases that are not removed in one course of Panchakarma.

But certain changes in the body start from the first day, invisible, but noticeable by the fact that the body begins to ask for rest. The doctor told us that the main results are visible after 4 months from the start of treatment, since it is during this period that the blood is cleansed, according to Ayurveda. And he also talked about how many, without patience, begin to panic, not seeing significant changes at the end of the course, and then write words of gratitude a few months later, because they begin to see tangible results. Provided, of course, that the basic principles of Ayurvedic nutrition are followed - I will talk about them a little later.

Another feature of Panchakarma is that it does not treat a specific disease, although all personal diagnoses are carefully collected. They treat the root cause of all our diseases and at the same time the foundation wellness- digestive system. After all, how much food is digested depends on how many toxins - which will then accumulate in all 7 liquids and lead to various diseases- will remain in the body.

Treatment also involves gradually changing your thinking and attitude towards life, making it more conscious.

I would boil down the basic rules that many of us learned during the days spent in the clinic to the following:

  • Get to know your hunger. In fact, we rarely notice when we are very hungry. Often we eat because we need something to fill ourselves with in the morning, or we are attracted by the smell of food, or we confuse real hunger with the sensations in the stomach from undigested food. Try not to eat until you feel really hungry. Only the food that we consume when we are truly hungry is well absorbed by the body.
  • The surest sign that you have eaten properly is when you feel full of energy after eating. We eat in order to get energy, and not in order to waste more of it than necessary. If you feel drowsy after eating, it’s a sure sign that we ate the wrong thing or ate too much.
  • In the morning you need to drink a glass of warm water to start digestion. And the first meal should be taken about two hours after you wake up (if you are hungry by then).
  • The peak of work digestive system- noon. This is the time when the body can digest the most complex food. Therefore, if you want to eat meat, do it at lunch. By the way, Ayurveda does not reject meat-eating. She says - eat what your stomach can digest efficiently. Can your stomach digest quality meat - that is the question. You already know how to find the answer - eat meat and see if you have more energy or, on the contrary, want to sleep.
  • Get up at dawn and go to bed at sunset. The rule is complicated, but there must be a daily routine. This rule is the hardest for me.
  • Don't overeat at night. Just eat up. You can eat something easy to digest in the evening, but in small quantities and preferably 2 hours before bedtime.
  • Move a lot. “Movement is life,” our doctor liked to repeat, who, with all his workload, managed to play golf in the morning.
  • Live according to your doshas ( life force, human energy). Doshas and how they are manifested in us, in what balance they are - this is the cornerstone on which all Ayurvedic treatment is built. And you can determine your doshas by first taking a test that can be found on the Internet.
  • Good moodbest medicine from all diseases. Don't let despondency enter your heart. Enjoy life!

The clinic staff simply glowed with cordiality. We were especially struck by the first meeting. All the clinic workers in white saris lined up in front of the clinic entrance to meet us - with snow-white flowers in their hands and smiles on their kind faces. Then, when we left, we already knew them by name and promised to return.

Our evenings were spent talking or listening to an interesting program that was prepared for us. Either Indian dances, or children's performances, or local martial arts shows, or yoga master classes.

But what everyone especially remembers is a trip on a large boat along a river with picturesque banks, when you feel like you’re in a movie and expect a crocodile to appear from the water any moment. But I would like to immediately reassure you: there are no crocodiles there, but we did see dolphins. Because not far from the clinic, literally a 10-minute walk, the ocean waves majestically roll. We have never seen such a warm ocean. Early in the morning we went to him to do yoga and swim, meet local fishermen and the sunrise. And all this had to be done before the morning procedures, which began at 8 am.

How did we manage to wake up so early, you ask? One local attraction helped - a small temple near the clinic, where at around five o'clock in the morning prayer chants were played very loudly so that local residents began to pray. For us, it was like an alarm clock, after which it was very difficult to fall asleep. But the sea compensated for the early rise and gently awakened us with warm waves. These morning hours are still one of the brightest and most tender memories of my stay in the clinic.

There are actually a lot of memories. You take them out like jewelry from a box and look at them, remember and smile. How we drank porridge in the morning - herbal medicine - and then laughed at the expressions on each other’s faces, because the medicines were oh so bitter or sour. I remember massages every day with four hands, sometimes with herbs, sometimes with rice bags, sometimes with oil - and how the body began to gratefully respond with ease. There were also not entirely pleasant procedures when the stomach or intestines were cleansed, but they were also fun to discuss and gratefully accept as an experience that happened in life.

Mama India is always very reasonable and everyone takes away exactly as much as he or she needs to take away. Some have new energy for work because stress has been relieved, some have lost kilograms of weight, some have improved health - blood pressure has normalized, skin problems have disappeared, sleep has improved. But it will be something different for everyone.

After some time, the group and I discussed who had changed what. Someone changed their diet and daily routine, someone stopped calling an ambulance because high blood pressure and gave up medications, for example, I forgot about colds and migraines, someone’s sleep returned to normal and energy was low for a long time high level. And how much more has happened inside the body that we don’t even know about. India continues to live inside and again calls to itself.

We are going there again in November. If you would like to join our group, we will be glad to see you (details and). If you decide that panchakarma is for you intimate process, we recommend that you choose a clinic for yourself and be sure to go. Believe me, even if nothing bothers you - prevention best treatment, and if there are already some stagnant painful processes, then perhaps panchakarma is your chance. I am for our country to have as many healthy people and I believe in positive effect Ayurveda!

You remember that my vacation was spent in a quiet village in the south of India - in a small Ayurvedic clinic, where I cleansed the body. Only those closest to me knew about which India I was going to. And after the vacation, not everyone understood where I was after all and what they did to me there...




I was in no hurry to write this review. The “wrong” blogger Tanya prefers to make such posts not from the wheels, when a lot of things are embellished with euphoria, and after a while, when everything superfluous has precipitated, and only what really deserves attention remains in the head and body. If there is any left, of course.

Somehow I can’t even call it relaxation to call a stay in an Ayurvedic hospital a vacation. Because this “rest” is very unique. Not to mention the fact that it is not at all budgetary (details, appearances and contacts at the end of the post).

This type of vacation is definitely not suitable for those who love parties, noisy beaches, colorful cocktails, and discos until the morning. Or endless hiking, peeking into the most secluded corners of attractions and immersing yourself in local culture.

But an Ayurvedic vacation is definitely needed for those who are tired (or VERY TIRED) physically and emotionally, tired of the hustle and bustle and constant running around, exhausted, felt the need for a deeper study of themselves, wanted to more accurately understand their purpose and their true desires. And for those who realized that they were living someone else’s life, they followed the imposed rules. He got caught in the wheel and runs, runs, runs. Ayurveda is literally a salvation for those who have forgotten what a break from endless stress is. Who is constantly stressed. Those who sleep poorly and feel unwell. Who is de-energized and exhausted. Who has lost sources for restoration and replenishment. Who just realized that they haven’t taken care of themselves for a long time. About the health, beauty and purity of your body, head and emotions.


Let's briefly understand what Ayurveda is. A year and a half ago, I thought it was something religious and sectarian. I am sure that this very belief lives in the minds of many people. But in essence, Ayurveda is an ancient Indian philosophy on how to stay healthy, beautiful and harmonious. To be happy, not to be stressed, not to get sick, to enjoy life and enjoy every day. In our latitudes, all this may sound like hello from a parallel universe. But no. This is real and it works - now I speak from my own experience. Balance in the body, mind and soul is achieved by special practices (yoga, meditation), cleansing procedures (panchakarma), diets, treatment, daily routine and - most importantly - way of thinking. No religion. All approaches are incredibly simple, easy to implement and very effective. Ayurveda teaches a person to live in harmony with nature and himself. Follow natural rhythms and not intrude where everything is perfectly tuned without us. Namely, do not interfere much with the functioning of the body. Learn to hear it and recognize its cues.


For your understanding: when I brought my body to the hospital, the person in me could only be guessed - it all looked more like a human shadow: an absent-minded and dull look, fatigue running down my hair, a gray and haggard face, dark circles under the eyes and puffiness. I won’t even describe the emotional part - I don’t remember it well. The thing is that my fatigue had reached its climax by that time. A month and a half of extreme workload, not a single day off, a lot of responsibility, little sleep. And if it weren’t for my awareness, this saving India would not have happened. I would continue to think that it is #sorequired. But, having finally made that same decision in my heart, I bought tickets and circled the cherished departure date on the calendar.

As I remember now: after the next flight - somewhere in Sharjah, halfway to India - I realized that I had escaped from an endless funnel. I stopped in the middle of the airport and burst into tears of happiness. And even the fact that the journey in one direction took almost a day did not upset me at all. Vice versa. I absorbed everything that happened. And I was looking forward to it.

Choosing a clinic

By the time I chose the hospital, I already knew enough about Ayurveda. I had several consultations with the only Ayurvedic doctor in Minsk - Dr. Mukesh, who explained to me the basic principles of ancient Indian medicine and philosophy: prakriti and vikriti, doshas - vata, pitta and kapha, approach to the body, thoughts and soul, lifestyle, health and self care, physical activity, nutrition. At least I knew my dosha constitution - pitta-vata. Indian doctors confirmed it.

The Kerala region is considered the Ayurvedic center of India - this is where the main Ayurvedic universities, specialists, hospitals and hotels are concentrated.

Kerala is the southwestern part of the country. And, as the Indians themselves say, the most beautiful, greenest, most prosperous and cleanest part of India. The best of India, in short.

In Kerala, you can go to one of three types of clinics: real harsh Ayurveda for the prepared, Ayurveda for beginners, or something similar to Ayurveda.

The first type is really very harsh. As a rule, these are tiny clinics somewhere far from civilization. With spartan living and staying conditions. Where everything is subject to iron rules that you accept. And you spend from three weeks to several months patching holes in your health. This clinic is for the conscious and truly prepared. For those who are deeply immersed in Ayurveda and share its principles at the most subtle level. The difficulty of such a “rest” is that it is never a rest. The first few days you drink ghee in the morning (clarified butter, devoid of protein fractions - the most main product in Ayurvedic cuisine and medicine) and lie in the room. There are no special activities, because you cannot overload the body. I will not and cannot yet describe all the trials of such a clinic - I have never been there before. But I heard a lot of feedback from those who have similar experience. All reviews are good, but with an amendment: this is level 80 :)

The second type is more comfortable. This is a symbiosis of the first (treatment) and the third (rest). Despite the fact that these clinics have good rooms, excellent infrastructure (yoga place, dining room, garden with hammocks, access to the ocean, swimming pool), such clinics provide treatment at a very serious level. Exactly therapeutic part stands at the forefront. And if a person comes for this, he will receive everything that he received in clinics of the first type, only in more comfortable conditions. Otherwise the principle is the same: closed area, everything is on schedule. But if a person has also come to spend a vacation, then swimming in the pool and lying in the sun will not be prohibited. Although they will strongly warn that this is bad for Ayurvedic treatment. But all adults decide for themselves. This is exactly the type of clinic I chose.

The third type is ordinary tourist hotels. And they are called Ayurvedic to attract people. From Ayurveda there are only massages. For the rest - a regular resort with a buffet and other vacation paraphernalia. I didn't even look at him. And for a tourist who is going to Ayurveda, it is important not to “get in”: he wanted treatment, but got a regular vacation. The difficulty is that many resorts and hotels position themselves as Ayurvedic, but are not at all.

At first, I thought about organizing the trip and communicating with the clinic on my own. But then, faced with a bunch of difficulties and problems, I decided to look for a simpler and reliable way. So my search led me to the only agency in Belarus that organizes Ayurvedic tours - “Travel Gallery”. The director of this company, Vladimir Klyuykov, traveled almost all of India, trying different Ayurveda. I asked you to recommend a clinic that would provide excellent treatment, but without strict conditions (otherwise I simply wouldn’t survive - that’s what I have serious condition and sense of self).

Vladimir immediately said: you...

Health

Slags and toxins, accumulating in the body, provoke disruptions in the functioning of our body, resulting in an increased risk of developing all kinds of diseases. In Ayurveda, slagging of the body has its own name - “ama”.


The main signs of ama:

  • Morning coated tongue, indicating that the food eaten the day before was poorly digested.
  • Abnormal bowel movements (usually constipation).
  • Foul smell feces and the presence of undigested food residues in them.
  • Cloudy urine.
  • Increased gas formation.
  • Unpleasant smell from mouth.
  • Laziness, constant drowsiness and weakness.
  • Irritability.
  • Unreasonable increase in body temperature to 37 - 37.2C.
  • Aching in the limbs.
  • Violation taste perception familiar products.
  • Heaviness in the stomach after eating.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Increased sweating.
  • Skin problems.

So, let's look at the cleansing techniques offered by Ayurveda.

Honey water on an empty stomach


For soft, but at the same time effective cleansing intestines at home, Ayurveda suggests drinking honey water for 10 days during the changing seasons of the year (especially at the beginning of summer and autumn) to activate and improve digestion.

  • Add a teaspoon of honey to a glass of warm purified water.
  • The thoroughly mixed drink is left to infuse overnight.
  • Drinking honey water in one gulp and always on an empty stomach, without getting out of bed.

Honey water has a pronounced irritant effect, promotes expansion bile ducts, which prevents bile stagnation.

In addition, Ayurveda suggests using a step-by-step cleansing technique called “panchakarma”, with which you can not only cleanse the body short term, and restore normal circulation energy, thereby increasing vitality.

Cleansing according to Ayurveda


"Panchakarma" is translated from Indian as "five actions" (or "five procedures"). It includes:

  1. Cleansing enemas based on herbs or natural oils.
  2. Taking emetics.
  3. Taking laxatives.
  4. Inhalations.
  5. Bloodletting (including hirudotherapy).

The simultaneous implementation of all five types of procedures is extremely in rare cases with severe slagging of the body. In such cases, cleansing is carried out in specialized Ayurvedic centers under the close supervision of a specialist.

Many people ask about How many times a year should I cleanse?

We answer: thin people It is enough to cleanse the body once or twice a year, while those with extra pounds This will have to be done once every three months. In this case, cleansing procedures should begin on the first day of the waning moon.

Important! For maximum effectiveness, it is recommended to carry out a series of procedures before starting cleansing to help remove toxins and waste. It's about about oil therapy and steam therapy (visiting baths and saunas helps remove toxins through the pores of the skin).

Before moving on to home cleansing of the body, I would like to say a few words about each type of Ayurvedic cleansing procedure.

  • Read also: Ayurveda: what is it? Doshas Pitta, Vata, Kapha: signs, daily routine, recommendations

Cleansing enema (basti)


Ayurvedic enema therapy, which eliminates constipation, flatulence, and heaviness in the stomach, differs from the traditional one in its composition.

Classical medicine suggests using enemas with purified water to remove toxins and waste.

Eastern healers claim that you can effectively cleanse the intestines without disturbing the natural microflora and without drying out the mucous membrane by replacing the water in the enema with oils or herbal decoctions.

Therapeutic vomiting (vaman)


This procedure helps remove mucus that has accumulated in the lungs and causes frequent bronchitis, colds, asthmatic attacks and other respiratory diseases.

Important! Therapeutic vomiting has a fairly large list of contraindications, and improper preparation and carrying out can cause harm to the body. Therefore, it is not recommended to resort to this method of cleansing at home without first consulting an Ayurvedic specialist!

Laxatives (virechan)


Cope with constipation, heartburn, congestion gallbladder and poisoning, normalize weight, cleanse the blood and reduce the content bad cholesterol Plants that have a choleretic and laxative effect, which naturally cleanse the intestines, will help.

To prepare a mild Ayurvedic laxative for detoxification that can be used at home, you will need:

  • flax seeds – 300 g;
  • wheat bran– 500 g;
  • carnation, nutmeg, caraway seeds, tansy inflorescences – 25 g each;
  • cumin – 100 g;
  • hop cones, poppy seeds, licorice root, senna - 50 g each;
  • pumpkin seeds– 100 g;
  • sunflower seeds – 200 g;
  • seaweed– 100 g.

All ingredients are mixed and crushed in a blender. Honey is added to the resulting powder until a pasty mass is obtained.

Take a laxative 1 tsp. half an hour before meals three times a day, washed down with grapefruit juice.

The minimum course of cleansing is 2 months, the maximum is six months.

To enhance the effect of using laxatives, it is recommended to massage the abdomen in a circular motion using essential oils.

There is also the so-called “hard” virechan, which is carried out exclusively under the supervision of a specialist and lasts on average 10–15 days.

Cleansing the nose (nasya)


Inhalations and irrigation of the nasal passages medicinal solutions- another way to cleanse the body of toxins according to Ayurveda.

Removing mucus accumulated in the sinuses helps get rid of headaches, dry nose, seasonal rhinitis or sinusitis, infectious and inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract.

for pita dosha- mint, yarrow, coriander, rose and lavender;

for kapha dosha- rosemary, orange, eucalyptus and basil.

Sandalwood is considered a universal oil for irrigating the nasal passages and inhalations.

Selection of oil, base ratio and essential oil carried out by an Ayurveda specialist, as well as the procedure itself.

Bloodletting (rakta moksha)


Toxins, entering the bloodstream, spread throughout the body, poisoning all its systems and organs. Renewing the blood helps activate the defenses and stimulates the production of particles that help eliminate toxins.

This procedure is carried out exclusively in a specialized Ayurvedic institution in compliance with all aseptic rules.

Panchakarma at home


A simplified Ayurvedic cleansing program at home includes several stages and lasts from 10 to 14 days.

The first stage is preparatory, including internal and external oiling of the body.

  • Read also: This remedy will cleanse your intestines in one night - a magical cocktail made from Chia seeds!

Internal oiling

Duration this stage– three days, during which it is recommended to consume 50 g of warmed baked milk on an empty stomach butter(ghee), rich fatty acids, which are not deposited on the walls of blood vessels in the form of bad cholesterol.

The oil must be washed down hot water. You can eat food half an hour after taking ghee.

If you cannot take all 50 g of oil in one go, you can take it three times a day, 2 tbsp. fifteen minutes before meals.

Important! People with increased content triglycerides, cholesterol or blood sugar, ghee should be replaced with flaxseed oil.

External oiling



External oiling softens the skin, opens and effectively cleanses pores, thereby normalizing work sebaceous glands. The procedure also has a beneficial effect on the condition of the capillaries and lymph nodes.

You can start oiling the body at the same time as internal oiling.

The duration of the course of external oiling is 7 – 8 days.

Rules for oiling:

  • The procedure is carried out in a warm room 2 hours after the last meal.
  • Plant based(preferably unrefined) mixed with essential oil essence. Ideally, the proportions and type of oil should be selected by a specialist, taking into account the constitution and existing health problems. In general, 25-80 drops of essential oil are taken per 100 ml of base.
  • The resulting composition is rubbed into the skin for 15 - 20 minutes with massage movements.
  • Apply oil from head to toes.
  • After the oil is absorbed into the skin, you should take hot shower or a bath, but without using cosmetics(soap, shower gel, lotion). If after water procedures A little oil will remain on the skin; there is no need to wipe it off - let it be absorbed into the skin.

I would like to say a few words about the choice of oil for external oiling.

For pitta dosha It’s better to use sunflower or olive oil with the addition of turmeric, mint, sandalwood or lavender ether.

For kapha type The most suitable base is corn or mustard oil, while lemon, orange, and ginger are recommended as essential components.

Cleansing enemas



On the 6th day of cleansing, Ayurvedic medicine recommends adding three-day cleansing enemas to external oiling.

The procedure is carried out after oiling and taking a bath.

Ayurvedic collection for enemas is prepared as follows:

  • 1 tbsp. 500 ml of boiling water is poured into a vegetable mixture called “dashamula” and boiled for 5 minutes.
  • The resulting broth is cooled to 36C, after which it is filtered and injected into the rectum.

Although this procedure can be carried out independently at home, before this kind of cleansing, which has many contraindications, it is necessary to consult with an Ayurveda specialist, who will correctly select the composition of the enema and explain the cleansing technique.

Our expert: Ayurveda Doctor Unnikrishnan Thacharakkal, Ayurveda Clinic Atreya Ayurveda

What is panchakarma?

Translated from Sanskrit, panchakarma means “five actions”, or five stages of cleansing the body of accumulated toxins and pathogens. This Ayurvedic program can not only remove cellulite, tone the skin, improve digestion, but even cure chronic diseases. The most important thing is that panchakarma does not provide a cosmetic effect, but affects the health of the entire body: metabolism returns to normal, and thanks to this, the condition of the skin improves and excess weight goes away.

How does cleansing work?

Typically the program begins with internal oiling- this means that for several days you will drink ghee in the morning with herbs and spices, the composition of which is selected individually by the doctor. The amount of oil increases every day - of course, under the supervision of a doctor. In addition, at the first stage you need to comply strict rules food: only rice, buckwheat and stewed vegetables are allowed, but you can drink warm water and tea. There is no need to be afraid of restrictions. Firstly, the oil itself is quite high in calories, and you are unlikely to experience strong feeling hunger. Secondly, after a couple of days the body begins to rebuild, and following a diet becomes not difficult.

It is important to know that in the first days of internal oiling, many complain of malaise or loss of strength. It is worth planning to start the program on those days when you have the opportunity to take a day off from work. But already at the first stage, the first results are noticeable. You will start losing weight - that's it. The skin will cleanse, become smoother and more elastic - that's two.

The second stage is warming up, one of the most pleasant. If during internal oiling many people complain of weakness and fatigue (an Ayurvedic doctor will certainly tell you that this is completely normal, because the body gets rid of toxins), then during warming up you will physically feel how the joy of life returns to your body, and every cell opens up, renewed and imbued with fresh energy. At this stage, you will need to come to the clinic for several days in a row for an Ayurvedic massage with aromatic oil and warming up in a wooden capsule. At this time, dietary restrictions become less stringent - as a rule, the doctor recommends sticking to a vegetarian diet, but for now exclude from the diet raw vegetables and fruits, which are more difficult to digest by the body than thermally processed ones.

The third stage is external oiling. The doctor prescribes daily massages and cleansing procedures, which must be performed at strictly defined times of the day. Usually it is at this stage that the effect of the procedures becomes very noticeable - there is more energy, it is easier to wake up in the morning, and your own reflection in the mirror makes you more and more happy.

The fourth stage is nasya, cleansing the nose. This is a way of influencing the nasal passages and the entire body as a whole with the help of herbal decoctions, vegetable oils, melted butter, smoking herbs. During panchakarma procedures, drops are placed into the nose herbal infusions or oils or inhale herbal powders through the nose. Calamus, myrtle, sage, basil, and brahmi are often used. These procedures provide excellent relief from headaches, nasal congestion, and allergies.

After the cleansing is completed, the doctor selects individual program nutrition that will help consolidate the results. It is recommended to undergo panchakarma in whole or in part once a year, and the most successful moments for cleansing are considered to be the transitions of the seasons - the beginning of winter, spring, summer or autumn.

According to Ayurveda, food is what keeps us alive, medicine is what makes food easier to digest, and poison is anything that interferes with digestion.

We can notice that if the food we eat is not digested, it becomes poison. We think of it as food, but in reality it is poison. Quite a lot modern medicines complicate digestion and, therefore, are also poisonous. As stated in Ayurveda, the main source of disease is toxins that are produced in the body during poor digestion. If food is poorly digested, toxins called ama accumulate in the body. It is ama that is the basic element from which all diseases begin. That is, in fact, all diseases begin with improper digestion. First, a person has poor digestion of food, as a result of this, toxins accumulate, then these toxins are distributed throughout the body, and depending on the constitution, they go to one or another weak organ, accumulate there, and the person develops cancer tumor or arthritis. Below we list some signs of the presence of ama.

22 rules to follow while eating

Signs of toxins:

    If a person eats something and the next morning his tongue is coated- this means that the food he ate was poorly digested, resulting in the formation of ama, or toxins. This is the first sign by which you can find out whether you ate yesterday or took poison.

    Another sign is that if a person's bowel movements are very bad smell , then this too a clear sign that ama is being formed. If there are any remnants of undigested food, this also indicates that ama is being formed in the body.

    Besides, if a person constantly passes gas- this also indicates ama in the body.

Thus, judging by these signs, we can say that, in fact, no one now has good digestion I. We must urgently take some measures, otherwise this will lead to very serious consequences in the future.

Listed below twenty-two rules to follow when eating. The first thing I would like to warn you about is don’t be a fanatic, that is, approach these rules wisely.

22 rules for harmonious digestion

First rule:

Never eat unless you feel hungry, because if you don’t feel hungry, then you don’t have the fire of digestion, and if you don’t have the fire of digestion, then everything you eat won’t be digested and will eventually turn into poison. By at least There must be at least some kind of hunger.

Second rule:

Never eat if you are irritated, depressed, or if you are very tired after hard work, because all these negative emotions and fatigue suppress the fire of digestion and the food that a person eats in this state will simply rot in the stomach.

Third rule:

To make it easier for a person to digest food, strictly speaking, he needs to perform ablution before eating, but since this is not very practical, then you need to at least wash your face, hands and feet thoroughly. Those who have been to India have seen that Hindus wash their feet before eating because water accumulates on their feet. bad energy. When a person washes his feet, he immediately feels fresh. If a person is tired, if he has been walking for a long time, then the first thing he should do is wash his feet, and then he will feel relief.

Fourth rule:

You need to eat while facing east. But anyway avoid eating facing south, because those who eat while sitting in this direction, instead of gaining energy from food, lose it.

Fifth rule:

In Ayurveda It is recommended to chew a little ginger before eating. I need to take some ginger lemon juice and a pinch of salt, mix them and chew before eating. This refreshes the tongue very well and gives it the opportunity to sense taste more clearly, and also signals the stomach to secrete gastric juice, which in turn promotes digestion. The ginger taste also cleanses the tongue very well. It excites Pitta very well and is recommended to be used (in moderation) even by people with a Pitta constitution.

Sixth rule:

You can’t talk while eating, watch TV, read, or generally do anything that interferes with the nutrition process. You need to eat very concentrated. Food must be chewed properly.

Seventh rule:

Food should appeal to all five senses. It should look beautiful, have a good aroma and be pleasant to the taste and touch.

Eighth, very important rule:

After meals you need to drink one glass of whipped yogurt or buttermilk. In other words, it is yogurt that is diluted 1/1 with water. It is said that for those who have weak digestion, yogurt should be diluted one to three: three parts water and one part yogurt. For those who have normal digestion - one to one, and those who have strong digestion - three to one, that is, three parts of yogurt to one part of water. But in any case, it is recommended to make it a habit. There is an entire book that describes the wonderful benefits of buttermilk. It is said that those who drink buttermilk regularly never get sick. In fact, one such buttermilk is enough to normalize all digestive disorders. For people with Vata constitution, it is a good idea to add a little more lemon juice, salt and a little to this drink. fresh ginger or coriander. For people with a Pitta constitution, you can add a little sugar, as well as coriander or cardamom, and for people with a Kapha constitution, you can add a little old (over 1 year old) honey and black pepper or grated ginger.

Ninth rule:

Under no circumstances should you sleep within two hours after eating.. People with weak digestion usually feel sleepy and heavy after eating. But nevertheless, one should not give in to this, because if a person falls asleep, this means that all the energy from the stomach will rise up to the head and the food will rot, which is why the person will get poisoned.

In this case, you can take a short walk or if the person feels very severe weakness, he can lie on his left side for fifteen minutes without falling asleep. If he lies like this for a while, his right nostril will work and he will feel a surge of strength. In any case, you should not sleep for at least two hours, because during the first two hours, in people with normal digestion, primary digestion of food occurs, after which the food leaves the stomach into the intestines. Digestion then proceeds more or less automatically. This is the most energy-intensive process.

Tenth rule:

You should never eat at night sour foods and all foods that somehow increase Kapha, such as melon, yogurt, sesame, cheese, cottage cheese and ice cream.

Eleventh rule:

It is not recommended to eat before sunrise or after sunset. Or if you somehow couldn’t eat during the day and you have to eat after sunset, then at least you shouldn’t eat at dusk, when the sun is just setting. This greatly excites Vata and is very harmful to the body. If you need to eat in the evening, then eat something light and in no case sour. But you are allowed to drink water.

Twelfth Rule:

Don't snack before meals. First of all, this rule applies to Kapha, because they can easily go without eating anything for a long time. There should be a six-hour gap between each meal because the digestion process ends after about six hours. People with a Kapha constitution should eat no earlier than six hours later. Pittas should also eat after six hours, but if they feel very hungry, they are allowed to have something to eat three to four hours after eating. It is generally difficult for Vata to tolerate hunger, so she can eat a little after about two hours.

Thirteenth rule:

It says that we need to have more respect for the food we eat. We should always treat whatever is prepared with respect and respect. You can't eat while standing. This is a purely Western habit.

Fourteenth rule:

A person should not have a bowel movement immediately after eating. It is said that this can be done at least three hours after eating. In other words, a person should not eat if his intestines are not cleansed. He needs to cleanse his intestines first, and only then eat.

Fifteenth rule:

It is very important to psychologically set up a person correctly before he starts eating.. The atmosphere should be calm, pleasant, music should be playing, there should be flowers. If a person is irritable, then perhaps it is better for him to eat separately. In fact, it is said that it is good to eat in the company of other people because it creates a festive atmosphere and the opportunity to share a meal with others. Of course, it’s good if the atmosphere is good, but if it’s turbulent, if someone is swearing or shouting, then it’s not very good.

Sixteenth rule:

Food should be juicy, oily, healthy and pleasing to the heart, it should not be too bitter, too salty, spicy, spicy, and also should not be too dry and scalding hot. A person should not eat food that is tasteless, putrefied or spoiled.. It is not recommended to eat food consisting of leftovers and unusable products.

Seventeenth rule:

The Srimad-Bhavatam advises that you need to eat about half the amount of food you would like to eat. In other words, after eating you should still have the feeling that you would have eaten as much more. Ayurveda says that it is ideal when the stomach is 1/2 filled with food, 1/4 with liquid and 1/4 with empty space. This ensures good digestion.

Eighteenth rule:

Food should be prepared with love. This is one of the very important principles . The cook influences food not only physically, but also mentally. Any food should be prepared with love, and when a person eats this food, he receives this love, and then the food is easier to digest.

Nineteenth Rule:

It is said that a person is considered no better than a crow if, after receiving some food, he will not share it among guests, old people and children, but will simply eat it himself.

Rule 20:

You should not swim immediately after eating, this is very harmful.

Twenty-first rule:

You need to eat when your right nostril is working, this will provide an influx of energy. If your left nostril is breathing, then you need to lie down on your left side for a while or close your left nostril for a while, or perform Gomukhaasana (with your hands crossed behind your back, if left hand will be at the top, and then you will feel that after a while your right nostril will start working.

Twenty-second rule:

Ayurveda states that if you want to lose weight, then you need to drink before meals, if you want to maintain your weight, then you need to drink during meals, and if you want to gain weight, then you need to drink after meals. A cold drink stops digestion. Especially if it is very cold. For people with a Pitta constitution, this may not be so bad because they have a strong digestive fire, but Vata and Kapha will suffer greatly from this. Therefore, it is better if the drink is at least warm. published

Based on lectures by Bhakti Vijnana Goswami