Ayurvedic Cleansing Diet

"Health is order and disease is disorder" is a basic tenet of Ayurvedic medicine, a health system that has evolved over thousands of years in India. Preserving the balance between the body, mind and spirit is thought to help promote wellness and prevent illness. To restore this balance, Ayurvedic medicine uses a variety of products and techniques. These modalities can be harmful if not used properly or if used without supervision by a trained Ayurvedic practitioner. Consult your physician prior to any Ayurvedic treatment.

The Premise

Ayurvedic practices focus on healing, disease prevention, rejuvenation and purification. Ayurveda devotees believe cleansing is necessary when disorder occurs in an individual's "doshas," or life forces, "agni," or digestive fire, elimination of wastes, 7 bodily tissues or in the harmonious balance of the mind, senses and consciousness. Disorder or imbalance is believed to create toxins, or "ama," which enter the bloodstream and starts the disease process. Cleansing aims to eliminate these toxins.

The Practice

Ayurvedic medicine employs various cleansing methods to remove disease-causing toxins. A common method of cleansing is panchakarma, a therapeutic process that removes toxins, increases vitality and inner peace and brings about positive lifestyle changes. Treatments that aim to remove toxins include therapeutic vomiting, enemas, nasal administration of medications and blood letting. A special diet of kitchari, an easily digestible one-dish meal, is an important part of the cleansing process along with refraining from certain dietary substances.

The Diet

Kitchari, the traditional Ayurvedic meal eaten during a cleanse, is believed to de-age the cells, nourish all the tissues and assist the body's natural cleansing process while being easy on the digestive system. It's a one-dish meal that's made with ghee, also known as clarified butter, and a seasoned mixture of split mung beans and basmati rice. In addition to this meal, those going through an Ayurvedic cleanse avoid caffeine, cold drinks, cold food, white sugar, alcohol, recreational drugs and dairy products. Refraining from these substances and eating Kitchari is believed to aid a digestive system that's slowed during the cleansing process.

Expert Opinion on Detox Programs

The human body removes wastes naturally with a remarkable built-in cleansing system, according to Roger Clemens, Dr.P.H., adjunct professor of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy. This natural cleansing system includes the lungs, kidneys, liver, immune system and gastrointestinal tract, and removes toxins shortly after ingestion. Although Clemens did not comment specifically on Ayurvedic cleansing, he considers detox regimens of any kind unnecessary.