Try These 5 Ayurvedic Practices in your Daily Routine to Help Detoxification
We are constantly exposed to toxins from the things we consume and our environment. When our body cannot properly digest and eliminate toxins, they accumulate in the body. The accumulation of these toxins leads to inflammation and disease.
Here are 5 simple practices you can incorporate into a daily routine to help your body with its natural detoxification process to help live your best life and thrive.
1. Tongue Scraping (Jiva Prankshalasana)
Toxins that haven’t been properly digested or eliminated from the body accumulate and build up on the tongue (especially the back of the tongue) overnight. Ayurveda believes different parts of the tongue directly relate to different internal organs, so when we clean the tongue using a tongue scraper we are eliminating toxins from the tongue, as well as stimulating and helping to cleanse the organs while massaging the tongue.
How To:
- Take tongue scraper and place as far back on tongue as comfortable
- Apply gentle pressure and pull the scraper forward on the tongue
- Repeat 3-5 times, as needed, rinse between each use
- Rinse mouth with water, then begin oil pulling
Benefits:
- Remove toxins, bacteria, and dead cells from tongue
- Promote digestive health and overall health
- Stimulates internal organs
2. Oil Pulling (Kavala)
Oil pulling is done immediately following tongue scraping, and is best done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
How does it work? The lipid molecules from the oil pull out the bad bacteria from the oral tissues. When we spit the oil out we are actively getting rid of any toxins that the oil has pulled from the mouth, bringing a healthier mouth, better immune system, and stronger overall health.
How To:
- Take 1 tbsp oil in mouth and swish around, push into cheeks, and pull through teeth
- Start with 2 minutes, work up to 10 minutes
- Do not swallow the oil (can cause health problems and lung infections), but simply spit out the oil in the trash, toilet, or another bottle (I use an old kombucha bottle so it doesn’t clog the drains)
- Can be done 2x daily, morning and night before brushing teeth
Benefits:
- Whitens teeth and promotes healthy gums
- Assists with detoxification process of the body
- Increases the circulation of the oral tissues and stimulates the lymphatic system
3. Dry Massage / Dry Brushing (Garshana)
Dry brushing is a powerful way to support lymphatic drainage and promote the natural cleansing and detoxification of the body. It creates movement and stimulation throughout the body.
This is best practiced before bathing, and without any oil or lotion on the body.
How To:
- Before showering, use a dry bristled brush feet and hands, working your way up legs and arms, moving to the torse, keeping everything moving toward the direction of the heart
- Apply gentle pressure and use long, sweeping upward strokes on legs and arms, and smaller, circular strokes on rest of body
Benefits:
- Stimulates circulation and lymphatic drainage
- Reduces appearance of cellulite and improves skin texture
- Promotes healthy blood flow
- Encourages movement and drainage of mucus
*Avoid this practice if have very sensitive or irritated skin, a skin condition, or on an open wound
4. Self Massage (Abhyanga)
Abhyanga translates to self massage with oil. Think of it as a practice of self love – you love your body and self so much that you want to treat yourself to oa daily luxurious spa treatment. It is also a very grounding and detoxifying practice.
Can use sesame oil, neem oil, or almond oil.
How To:
- Before starting can warm the oil slightly and place a towel or mat under feet or get in the shower to catch any oil dripping
- Start with the hands and feet, going up the arms and legs first, working toward the center of the body
- Use long strokes on limbs, circular stokes on joints
- Do the abdomen last, following the path of the large intestine: up the right, across the top, down the left, across the bottom
- Try for a minimum of 15 minutes, but any amount of time is beneficial
- Shower when finished, rinsing off any excess oil and toxins that came out
Benefits:
- Increases circulation and lymphatic drainage
- Stimulates digestion system with abdominal massage
- Calms the musculoskeletal and nervous systems
- Lipids from oil pull toxins from the skin and body when left on 20 minutes or longer
- Relieves stress and improves quality of sleep
*bonus spa experience: light a candle or diffuse some oil while playing some soft music, mantra, or a meditation*
5. Yoga / Movement (Asana)
Movement stimulates the lymphatic system helping to drain the toxins that stay stored here. Yoga actually increases this stimulation because of its strong emphasis on deep breathing.
There are also specific cleanses in yoga, known as kriyas. These kriyas need to be done with specific guidance of an experienced teacher, and specific ones focus on cleansing different parts of the body.
How To:
Benefits:
- Increases blood flow and circulation
- Removes toxins from cells
- Aids in natural body detoxification
- Connects the mind and body with the breath
Sound Therapy and Sound Healing
Ayurveda also believes in the healing properties of sound, and the vibrations can move energy in the body helping it to clear and release any stored toxins. The vibrations emit different sounds that connect directly to different frequencies of cells, tissues, and organs that can help clear and re-align all parts of the body, bringing the body back into harmony and balance. It can even remove physical pain, disease, and more.
Benefits:
- Vibrations that create sonic acupressure to remove physical pain, disease, sickness, and tension in the body
- Can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reducing risk of stroke and coronary artery disease
- Better pain management, increases mental clarity, and improves sleep
- Alleviates stress and anxiety, brining a sense of calm and relaxation
Looking for the Ultimate Detox?
Find peace in the present.
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