A large part of Ayurveda deals with the buildup of toxins. Ayurveda detoxing is the process of removing toxins from our bodies, minds, and spirits, so these two concepts go hand in hand. How do we acquire these toxins? Toxins buildup naturally as we interact with our environment; when we eat, drink, breathe, basically, when we consume anything, be it physical or mental. Toxin buildup can cause problems, so we must cleanse and rejuvenate ourselves regularly. However, if this task isn’t part of your routine, you might be experiencing an unhealthy buildup of toxins. Have no fear. We can help you use Ayurveda to detox your life and feel loads better just in time for spring.

Spring is springing in the south, and that means spring cleaning. When you imagine spring cleaning, I bet you envision cleaning out closets, donating unused items to charity, and cleaning those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies in your home. Deep cleaning our living spaces is important, but today I’m talking about spring cleaning our bodies. When we spring-clean our bodies, we call this Ayurveda detoxing!

What is Ayurveda Detoxing?

Ayurveda detoxing is the process of removing toxins from the mind and body. Detoxing is like spring cleaning, but for our bodies and brains. When you think of spring cleaning, I’m sure your mind jumps to cleaning, sanitizing, and organizing our living spaces. Deep cleaning our homes is important, but today we’re talking about spring cleaning our lives, a.k.a detoxing! Before we talk about detoxing, let’s talk about the kinds of toxins we accumulate.

Accumulating Mental Toxins

Toxin buildup in our bodies isn’t only physical; it’s mental too. How do we accumulate mental toxins? Much the same way we acquire physical toxins: by interacting with our world. Do you have a toxic friendship? A toxic relationship with social media, maybe? Stress from work or media consumption? Signs of mental toxin buildup are:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Worry
• Anger
• Feeling overwhelmed

Accumulating Physical Toxins

Physical toxins, like those found in junk food, build up ama throughout the body. Ama is the sticky waste product of digestion. Too much ama in the digestive tract leads to decreased nutrient absorption and even gastrointestinal tract diseases. When too much ama builds up in the digestive tract, it can begin spreading to other areas of the body. Ama can cause fatty deposits in arteries and dental plaque on teeth, for example. Signs of physical toxin buildup include:

• Decreased energy
• Body odor
• Bad breath
• Body aches
• Excessive gas
• Clouded mind
• Sleepiness after eating
• Heavy white coating on the tongue

Ayurveda Detox

Once we identify the cause or causes for our toxins, we can take steps to eliminate our toxins and plan regular cleanses and rejuvenation to prevent future buildups. Ayurveda provides many methods for detoxifying our lives. Here are some of the best tips to help you detox with Ayurveda.

Detox Your Diet

What we eat is one of the biggest contributors to toxin buildup in our bodies. Our food is fuel; our bodies use that food to create our energy. Food creates our physical, spiritual, and mental energies. What fuel we decide to consume will affect those energies. It makes sense then that the cleaner our “fuel” is, the more pure our energies will be. Simple, natural diets, especially vegetarian ones, are critical for our health. Balanced diets contain all 6 Ayurvedic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent. Incorporating each taste into every meal will ensure you feel satisfied. It’s important to eat healthy foods when you are detoxing; it’s also vital to consume food that is easy to digest.

Easy-to-Digest Foods For Ayurveda Detox

• Kitchari
• Vegetable soup
• Steamed or sauteed veggies: carrots, beets, zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage.
• Ginger, cumin, fennel, and coriander
• Sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxweeds
• Fresh berries, especially raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
• Rice, quinoa, barley, and millet
• Lentil soup
• Cooked apricots, prunes, and figs
• Poached apples or pears
• Ginger tea
• Plenty of warm water

Ayurveda Detox Your Mouth

Human mouths are notoriously unclean. Ayurveda recommends cleaning our tongues every morning, similar to brushing our teeth. Use a tongue scraper to remove toxins from your tongue. You can also use oil pulling, where you swish coconut or sesame oil around in your mouth, to eliminate toxins further. Remember to spit the oil out into a cup, not your drain, and don’t swallow it.

Dry Brush

Dry brushing is so soothing that it can also be classified as luxurious self-care though it is an Ayurveda detox method. Find a body brush with vegetable bristles and brush your body. Dry brushing does not involve creams or lotions, just the brush. Start at your ankles and work your way up towards your heart, using circular motions to stimulate your circulation and limbic system. Shower after dry brushing to rinse off toxins and dead skin.

Oil Self-Massage

In addition to dry brushing before your shower, try a daily oil massage. If you shower in the morning, give yourself an oil massage at night, or vice versa. Use essential oils that specifically target toxins and stimulate movement and circulation. These massages can move even deep-seated toxins out of your tissues. Similar to dry brushing, apply the oil in an upward motion, beginning at your feet. Rub your body in a circular motion, especially on the abdomen and around joints. Learn more about Abhyanga here!

Drink Lemon Water

Start your day with a warm cup of water with lemon in it. Lemons are well-known for their antibacterial properties, and the drink will not only kick-start your digestive system for the day but will also rid the esophagus of toxins that build up overnight. 

Lubricate Your Digestive Tract

Consuming healthy oils will lubricate your digestive tract; this is called internal oleation. Oleation helps you gently eliminate fat-soluble toxins. It also stimulates the release of bile salts that help us get rid of cholesterol and excess estrogen. Overall, the ingestion of healthy oils helps you flush ama out of your digestive tract. To provide yourself with internal oleation, consume plenty of fiber, sesame seed, and raisins. If the sesame seeds upset your stomach, try ingesting ½ teaspoon of sesame oil with 3 raisins 3 times per day.

Ayurveda: Detoxify and Glorify

I hope you’ve found these ayurvedic detoxifying tips helpful. Once you bring balance back to your well-being, you’ll feel amazing. Without all the ama and other toxins weighing you down, you will feel better and do better. The next step is to take preventative measures that keep your toxins from building up and causing you negative side effects. Take time for yourself, use detoxifying and rejuvenating methods like those listed above, and be your better you.