3 Effortless Yet Effective Ways to Detox

In the modern world, you are continuously exposed to toxins due to industrialization and technological advancements. From the air you breathe to the products you use daily, your body is constantly taking in and absorbing harmful substances. 

In 2021 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) stated that more than 400 environmental chemicals or their metabolites are found in human samples of urine, blood, serum, breast milk, and meconium (a newborn’s first poop). It’s startling that these substances are even affecting embryos via their mother.  

Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to detoxification, acknowledging the inevitability of exposure to toxins while empowering you with daily practices and seasonal cleanses to help mitigate their effects.

Daily Detoxification

You come in contact with toxic substances daily without realizing their presence or the regularity with which they infiltrate your life. 

Modest estimates suggest that you are exposed to more than 700,000 different toxic chemicals on a daily basis, not including the toxic chemicals that are flooding into the food supply. According to the Global Healing Center, it isn’t abnormal to be exposed to 2,100,000 toxins each and every day. This is a staggering number!

While minimizing exposure is crucial, it's equally important to recognize that some level of contact is unavoidable.  

Ama is anything that isn’t properly processed or broken down by the body, which can lead to disease. Ama can be seen as the toxic chemicals that you absorb daily, improperly broken down foods (due to poor digestion) and/or unprocessed emotions and stress.

Here, Ayurveda steps in with a practical and gentle approach. It stresses that every day is an opportunity for detoxification and enhancement of your overall wellbeing. This daily detoxification ensures smoother physiological functioning in all systems of your body, leading to increased energy, clarity, vitality and overall health.

Aligning with the Ayurvedic Daily Routine

An Ayurvedic daily routine naturally incorporates detoxification processes, simultaneously supporting the balance of the three doshas and harmonizing your body's systems. This routine is more than just a set of actions; it's a lifestyle choice that continually nurtures, supports, and cleanses your body.

Adding one or two practices to your everyday routine can have profound effects. It’s always best to check with an Ayurveda professional to receive custom recommendations for the practices that will be most impactful for your mind-body type and well-suited to your current lifestyle. But here are a few general tips that almost everyone can find beneficial. You can also check out my previous post about what a typical Ayurveda daily routine looks like.

Everyday Ayurvedic Practices for Detoxification

Copper Tongue Scraper:

Use it morning and evening to remove ama (toxic buildup) from your tongue, boost immunity, enhance agni (digestive fire) and improve oral hygiene, which also improves your ability to taste. In Ayurveda, it is said that a coating develops on the tongue due to your body’s attempt to rid itself of ama .

There is an in depth science around Tongue Diagnosis which I’ll discuss in a future newsletter, but for know I’ll just mention that the impurities that coat your tongue can give deep insights into your state of health. Removing this buildup has many health benefits and prevents you from re-swallowing the toxins your body is trying to expel.

If you smoke or tend to have a thick coating on your tongue, this simple practice will be a game changer for you. Tongue scraping provides a sense of renewal as you shed layers of accumulated stagnation and impurities. It revitalizes the senses and uplifts you with feelings of freshness, lightness, and confidence knowing your oral hygiene is on point.

Copper tongue scrapers are traditionally used for their antibacterial properties. Copper also maintains the alkalinity of the tongue while providing enzymes required for healthy bacteria in the mouth to thrive. It is said that copper ions help dissolve lymph congestion, supporting the smooth function of the lymphatic system which boosts immunity.

Warm Water Routine:

Drinking a full glass of warm water first thing in the morning upon waking stimulates agni (your digestive fire), aids digestion, balances acid in the stomach after sleeping, and flushes toxins from your body through the bowels and urine.

Ayurveda also recommends adding warm water to a thermos to sip throughout the day for further effortless detoxification. The warm water, in addition to the benefits already mentioned, is said to slowly liquify and remove accumulated ama from the numerous channels of your body and lymphatic system. In Ayurveda, channels that are blocked by ama give rise to disease. While you may opt to add lemon or lime to the warm water, Ayurveda recognizes that there is something special about just plain warm water.

It’s recommended to stop the warm water routine as the sun goes down, because the channels of your body are preparing for rest and the warm water naturally opens the channels. You should also be cautious of following this routine continuously for an extended period of time as it can cause weight loss. Again this is where speaking with an Ayurvedic professional can be useful to understand the best guidelines for your personal use of this powerful practice.

You should also keep in mind that those without pitta in their mind-body makeup and aren’t experiencing a pitta imbalance can sip hot water instead of warm if desired.

CCF Tea (Cumin, Coriander, and Fennel Tea):

Regular consumption of this simple herbal tea is said in Ayurveda to offer numerous benefits including supporting your body’s natural detoxification processes, improving immunity, blood sugar control, digestion, hormonal balance, skin health, heart health, respiratory ailments, as well as purifying your blood and providing antioxidants.

You can purchase a premixed version of this tea from Banyan Botanicals or you can mix your own using equal quantities of each seed (use the whole seed not ground for best results). I typically use ½ tsp of each and steep for 5-10 mins. If you have more time and would like a more powerful brew, boil the combination at a simmer for 10-15mins. Strain into a thermos and sip throughout your day. Just like the warm water routine, CCF tea should be discontinued in the evening. 

Although these practices are quite simple, they are powerful tools for detoxification. Don’t let their ease of implementation fool you. They embody the philosophy of Ayurveda, which is about maintaining balance and harmony in the body through disciplined and consistent daily actions.

Twice-Yearly Seasonal Cleanses

In addition to daily gentle detoxification, Ayurveda recommends more thorough cleansing procedures twice a year, around the change of seasons. These cleanses are designed to remove excess doshas, while preparing your body and Agni (digestive fire) for the upcoming season. This practice is not just about physical cleansing but also preparing you mentally and spiritually for the seasonal shift.

For those who are able, Ayurveda recommends Panchakarma as the best cleansing routine to thoroughly remove toxic buildup while also rejuvenating your body, mind, and soul. Panchakarma is a series of customized treatments that are typically performed for 14 to 21 days. They are designed to cleanse and reset the physiology while also deepening the connection to your inner intelligence - the pure consciousness that flows through us all. 

Panchakarma isn’t for everyone and shouldn’t be taken lightly if you do wish to undergo this sacred ritual. Detoxing years of toxic buildup and emotional trauma in just a few weeks can be very challenging. One of my teachers once stated, “we are purifying decades in days if the treatments are done properly and the person is truly ready”. If you are interested in Panchakarma procedures, be sure to reach out to me or check with another Ayurveda professional for guidance.

If you are looking for a more thorough cleanse but aren’t ready or able to do Panchakarma, there are Ayurvedic short home cleanses that can be done in a few days or up to a week. Like I mentioned before, it’s always best to work with an Ayurvedic professional to ensure cleansing is done properly and customized to your unique needs. But a good short Ayurveda home cleanse that I have personally tried in the past is the one offered by Dr. John Douillard’s LifeSpa. It’s completed over a 4 day period and includes all of the herbs and food you need. Be sure to follow the instructions properly if you choose to cleanse without the guidance of a professional. It’s important to cleanse in very specific ways or you could create greater imbalance in the body. 

Cleansing and detoxification are critical in this day and age due to the unavoidable exposure to toxins, but over-detoxification can also be dangerous.

By cleansing too often or doing extreme protocols for detoxification you run the risk of over-depleting your bodily tissues. This is why I always recommend speaking with an Ayurvedic professional or your doctor before starting any detox program, and especially more in depth seasonal cleanses. 

It’s also important to keep in mind that, as the body detoxes, it is natural for you to feel slight irritability, experience a change in appetite, and energy levels for a few days or even longer as your body adjusts. Guidance from your healthcare professional can ensure your experience goes smoothly.

Through daily routines and seasonal cleanses, Ayurveda not only detoxifies but also rejuvenates your body, ensuring a state of balance and health in your ever-changing environment. Schedule a session with me today to learn more about your unique mind-body type and the Ayurvedic approach to finding greater balance through detoxification.

** The information provided in this post is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified medical doctor or healthcare provider before attempting any new health practices or routines.