Colonista: One Woman's Search for the World's Best Colon Cleansing

The Rejuvenation Phase of Pancha Karma

Following the fasting period of Pancha Karma comes the rejuvenation phase.  During this period, you will return to the diet that you stuck to during the preparation phase.

 During the first two days, start eating khichadi, but alter the water proportion of the recipe so that you’re using 14 parts water to 1 part beans, 1 part rice, and 1 part vegetables.  On the third day, you can return to the original recipe.  This is to ease you from fasting to consuming nutritional foods once again.

 During this phase, it is essential that you reflect on your experiences thus far of Pancha Karma.  Many find that they are able to resolve many issues during the rejuvenation phase of the cleanse and that they come out of Pancha Karma with a new, fresh perspective and attitude.

 Are you looking forward to participating in Pancha Karma, or do you think this is a load of baloney?  Tell me below!

Recipe for Khichadi, the Stew to Prepare Your Body for Cleansing

Six parts filtered water

One part brown basmati rice that has been soaked for thirty minutes and drained

One part mung beans that have been soaked for sixty minutes and drainedi

One part veggies including spinach, carrots, green beans, and other green vegetables

 

Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add cumin for flavor.

Add one finely chopped onion, chopped garlic, and chopped garlic and sauté until beautifully golden brown.

Stir in one teaspoon of turmeric powder, one bay leaf, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper powder.

Add the water, mung beans, veggies, and rice and cook for one hour.

When the beans feel completely soft, add some salt to taste.

 

Serve and enjoy!

 

Do you have any khichadi recipes that you’d like to share?  Post them here!

Preparing for Pancha Karma

The ayurvedic cleansing method, pancha karma, is extremely helpful and beneficial to your body, as it flushes impurities out.

 The ultimate goal of pancha karma preparation is to prepare your body’s insides for the cleansing method itself.

 The preparation begins one to three weeks before the actual cleansing itself.  You will need to remove processed foods, stimulants, sweets, and dairy from your diet.  One week before the cleanse, you will need to further modify your diet and eat a diet of mostly veggies and whole grains.  This altered diet creates an alkaline environment within your body, helping to support the cleansing process and make it more effective.

 The preparation phase can be furthered along with khichadi, a stew that can be easily prepared.

 Come back to check out a killer khichadi recipe and be sure to let me know what you think!

How the Ayurvedics Maintain After Cleansing

After you participate in a cleansing ritual, it’s important to perform ongoing maintenance.  Cleansing, especially to those who follow ayurveda, is a lifestyle.

 

After the thirty days of cleansing with the Triphala Rasayana and with your cleansing diet, you can begin to incorporate heavier foods into your diet.  Only do this if your digestive system permits you to do so.  Listen to your body—if it is reacting negatively to the introduction of heavier foods, ease up.

 

Continue to eat fresh, pure foods regularly, and remember to drink lots of water—warm, preferably.  Rest often, exercise moderately, and remember to relax and meditate.

 

When the seasons change once again, ayurvedic followers recommend that you begin another cleanse.

 

Do you participate in any sort of ongoing maintenance?

The Ayurvedic Routine of Herbal Rasayanas

 

For those who practice ayrveda, cleansing is not something that you simply do once or twice a year.  There is a diet involved, a lifestyle involved, and a routine is also involved.

 

The herbs Triphala and Tulsi combine to help cleanse the human body and physiology.

 

The Triphala Rasayana can be taken by anyone and helps to cleanse the body’s entire digestive tract.  This helps to prevent more ama (toxic) build-up and also strengthens your liver.

 

In order to participate in a Triphala Rasayana, you will need to take two to four pills with warm water approximately an hour before you go to bed.  Do this every day for thirty days.  If you wish to participate in ongoing maintenance, you can take one to two pills per day year round.

 

Tulsi is an ayurvedic herb that helps to cleanse the system from toxins that accumulate during the springtime including environmental toxins and pollutions.  Drinking tea that has been infused with Tulsi once or twice a day is recommended to keep your system balanced during the springtime.

 

Have you ever taken Triphala or Tulsi?

What to Do When Altering Your Diet for Cleansing

Ayurvedic experts recommend that you follow these tips to help improve the state of your digestive tract.

 

-Eat light, easy-to-digest foods.

 

-Eat fresh, organic foods, if it is available to you.  If you buy your produce fresh, eat it quickly!

 

-Include lots of fruits and veggies in your diet.

 

-Drink warm water, and lots of it.  If you’re not a fan of warm water, check out this recipe for a great detoxifying tea:

 

1.      Boil two quarts of water. 

2.      Add ½ teaspoon of cumin seed, ¼ teaspoon of ajwain seed, ½ teaspoon of fennel seed, ½ teaspoon of coriander seed, two fresh mint leaves, one clove, and 1-2 fresh ginger slices.

3.      Turn off heat after a couple of minutes and let the tea steep for 15 minutes.

4.      Strain an pour into a thermos.

5.      Drink throughout the day and enjoy!

What is the Ayurvedic Land and Seed Theory?

Ayurveda uses the land and seed theory to explain how the human body’s immunity works.  Here’s how the metaphor works:

 

The human body is the land, and infection and disease are the seeds.  Toxic ama as well as other impurities till the soil, making it fertile and ideal for infection.  In order to protect your body, you need to flush the ama from your body.  This will help to prevent any infectious seeds from taking root and flourishing.

 

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Nine Ways to Tell if You have Ama Build-Up

In a previous blog post, I talked about followers of ayurveda who believe that ama (toxic matter) can become built-up in your digestive system if you do not follow a strict diet or at least include cleansing in your life.

 

Are you concerned that you have ama build-up?  If so, check out these nine symptoms to see if your body is suffering.

 

1. When you wake up in the morning, your tongue has a slight whitish coating.
2. You are experiencing constipation or congestion.
3. After you eat a large meal, you feel sluggish and want to go to sleep.
4. Bloating and gas are not uncommon parts of your life, especially after you eat a large meal.
5. You often feel lethargic, even if you’ve had enough sleep.
6. You have trouble concentrating and often zone out.
7. You have a poor appetite and/or crave unhealthy foods.
8. You’re unmotivated and often experience a serious lack of energy.
9. Generally, you experience aches and pains for no particular reason.

 

How many on this list describes your particular situation?  It might just be time for you to consider colon cleansing.

 

And while you’re at it, add me at http://www.twitter.com/colonista

Why the Ayurvedic Healers Recommend Cleansing

Ayurveda is system of medicine that is traditional in India and has begun to be practiced in other countries as a type of alternative medicine.  Ayurvedic healers are huge proponents of internal cleansing.

 

To better understand ayurvedic healers, it’s important to understand what this group of people believes with their Seed and Land Theory.  As I have explained before, when your digestive process is not 100% efficient, partially digested food begins to be left behind in your system and becomes toxic to your health.  These toxins are referred to as ama in ayurveda. 

 

Ama isn’t simply toxic in its existence; ayurveda followers believe that ama disturbs the digestive flow and can essentially lead to toxic build-up.  This ama build-up allows infections to thrive, leading to a overall unhealthy wellbeing. 

 

It seems as though many cultures agree with this belief, as is evident in previous blog posts.

 

What do you think?  Are you ready to cleanse your body?