Here is a Ten Day Ayurvedic Detox Elimination Diet I first described for use in Spring, when it is desirable to melt some of the Ama (Toxins) and Kapha dosha that build up naturally in winter. But, this is safe enough to also use in Winter, especially after the holidays, when many folk have overdone alcohol, sugar, meat, and food in general.
This is a cleansing diet that makes radical purgative type cleanses unnecessary, in fact, it could really serve as the basis for anyone's long term healthy diet.
They are sort of like the old STP engine additive; if you need them don't use them, and if you don't need them don't use them. Meaning, if the engine is broken fix it. If its not broken, don't pour something in it it does not need.
On the other hand, strong fasting, with no food at all, is also considered weakening for about 2/3rds of people. Only Kapha Pitta's really can manage that. For the rest of us, partial fasting is much healthier; you get the benefit of restricted diet, without weakening yourself.
This cleanse is almost a partial fast. More exact partial fasting involves shorter periods of time, taking only liquids, or only rice and yogurt with spices, or taking only kitcharee. More on that in the article Ayurveda on Fasting
The starting point for this cleanse is "No Sugar No Wheat No Dairy No Meat"
Cleansing diets are usually part of mental cleanses. I recommend a diet like this be accompanied by a commitment to some kind of renewed meditative process, maybe observe silence for a day or two on the weekend, observe a fast from the computer, from t.v., from electronic media altogether.
Good Luck and write if you have questions,
Eyton Shalom
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A fast way to reduce Kapha and Ama and engender Agni is to do a ten day elimination diet when Spring wildflowers are in bloom. This will vary according to locale. This is a good guide for anyone to follow in a loose form throughout Spring, or anytime they need to detoxify, such as after the Winter Holidays. Please modify according to your dosha.
Note: This Should Be Modified to Suit Your Individual Dosha and Level of Wellness. Please contact me or another Ayurvedic practitioner for details, and do not do if you are ill or weak.
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--No sugar, no wheat, no dairy, no meat, except for diluted spiced unsweetened yogurt or kefir.
--No caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco.
--Only 1-2 serving of fruit a day, but no melons or bananas. No fruit juice.
--Limit sweetener to very small amount of honey per day.
--Lots of lightly cooked green leafy vegetables like kale, dandelion, etc.
--Lots of lightly cooked cruciferous vegetables like brocoli, cauliflower, etc.
--Small amounts of starchy veggies like yam, butternut squash, etc.
--Dark green salad greens, according to your digestive fire.
--Very little raw foods depending on dosha
--Small amounts of sea vegetables like kelp, nori, wakame, arame.
--Whole cooked rice, millet, barley, quinoa, amaranth, teff
--Small amounts of seeds and nuts.
--Legumes, beans, tofu, tempeh depending on your dosha
--Small amounts of fish if you need extra protein.
--Drink one cup of ginger tea each day.
--Plenty of fresh and dried ginger, in cooking
--Normal use of other culinary spices and churnas appropriate to your Dosha
like cumin, coriander, fennel, fenugreek, black and white pepper.
---Minimize salty and sour condiments,
except cultured foods, like miso, raw sauerkraut, kim-chee, and sea veggies
--Drink Dosha pacifying teas during the day like ProVata from Ayush
--Take Triphala, Neem, or Guggal depending on your Dosha or Condition
copyright eyton j. shalom san diego ca jan 2010 all rights reserved use with permission
This is a cleansing diet that makes radical purgative type cleanses unnecessary, in fact, it could really serve as the basis for anyone's long term healthy diet.
From Ayurveda's perspective the use of purgative cleanses involving herbs like cascarda sagarda, senna, and rhubarb are actually harmful, as they damage the Agni/Digestive Fire that is at the root of healthful digestion.
They are sort of like the old STP engine additive; if you need them don't use them, and if you don't need them don't use them. Meaning, if the engine is broken fix it. If its not broken, don't pour something in it it does not need.
On the other hand, strong fasting, with no food at all, is also considered weakening for about 2/3rds of people. Only Kapha Pitta's really can manage that. For the rest of us, partial fasting is much healthier; you get the benefit of restricted diet, without weakening yourself.
This cleanse is almost a partial fast. More exact partial fasting involves shorter periods of time, taking only liquids, or only rice and yogurt with spices, or taking only kitcharee. More on that in the article Ayurveda on Fasting
The starting point for this cleanse is "No Sugar No Wheat No Dairy No Meat"
Cleansing diets are usually part of mental cleanses. I recommend a diet like this be accompanied by a commitment to some kind of renewed meditative process, maybe observe silence for a day or two on the weekend, observe a fast from the computer, from t.v., from electronic media altogether.
Good Luck and write if you have questions,
Eyton Shalom
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A fast way to reduce Kapha and Ama and engender Agni is to do a ten day elimination diet when Spring wildflowers are in bloom. This will vary according to locale. This is a good guide for anyone to follow in a loose form throughout Spring, or anytime they need to detoxify, such as after the Winter Holidays. Please modify according to your dosha.
Note: This Should Be Modified to Suit Your Individual Dosha and Level of Wellness. Please contact me or another Ayurvedic practitioner for details, and do not do if you are ill or weak.
************************************************************************
--No sugar, no wheat, no dairy, no meat, except for diluted spiced unsweetened yogurt or kefir.
--No caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco.
--Only 1-2 serving of fruit a day, but no melons or bananas. No fruit juice.
--Limit sweetener to very small amount of honey per day.
--Lots of lightly cooked green leafy vegetables like kale, dandelion, etc.
--Lots of lightly cooked cruciferous vegetables like brocoli, cauliflower, etc.
--Small amounts of starchy veggies like yam, butternut squash, etc.
--Dark green salad greens, according to your digestive fire.
--Very little raw foods depending on dosha
--Small amounts of sea vegetables like kelp, nori, wakame, arame.
--Whole cooked rice, millet, barley, quinoa, amaranth, teff
--Small amounts of seeds and nuts.
--Legumes, beans, tofu, tempeh depending on your dosha
--Small amounts of fish if you need extra protein.
--Drink one cup of ginger tea each day.
--Plenty of fresh and dried ginger, in cooking
--Normal use of other culinary spices and churnas appropriate to your Dosha
like cumin, coriander, fennel, fenugreek, black and white pepper.
---Minimize salty and sour condiments,
except cultured foods, like miso, raw sauerkraut, kim-chee, and sea veggies
--Drink Dosha pacifying teas during the day like ProVata from Ayush
--Take Triphala, Neem, or Guggal depending on your Dosha or Condition
copyright eyton j. shalom san diego ca jan 2010 all rights reserved use with permission
Comments
thanks for writing.
if you are getting bloated from beans, that could be a sign of a Vata imbalance. Tofu is lighter than beans, and, when cooked well easier to digest for many people. But that is also why you feel less full and satisfied.
You might need to just eat smaller amounts of the beans.
i offer ayurvedic consultations by phone and email, in which we could determine your dosha and check for imbalances. if you are interested send me an email.
also, there is an excellent book called prakruti, by robbie svoboda that will help.
all the best,
eyton shalom
I've been having a rash at the front of the base of my neck for a few days, and before that, some moles, and small bumps that seem to be multiplying more just before the rash. I have red hair, and have had a tendency to abdominal rash in the past also occurring behind my knees or low back. I feel like coffee aggravates it (and has more recently pushed me over the top of pitta aggravation) and I do eat milk and wheat. My diet is inconsistent and I do eat vegetables, but randomly. We have smoothies in the morning of fruit and leafy greens, celery and a carrot. So you can see why I'm looking into auyervedic again, because my body is telling me: "eat simpler and more consistently, rice and vegetable stews, lentils sounds yummy, cool it with the sweets and fruit, eat vegetables and herbal tea" I love licorice, so I think my body wants fennel or herbal licorice. Do you have any ideas? I have red hair, if that's an indicator also. my skin is drying out more, more quickly lately, and I'm 60 years old. Thanks for your feedback and encouragement. I love your website. Thanks for the work you do in the world. Wendy
i definitely would drop the coffee and sugar if you have a rash, and with your description go on an Ayurvedic cleanse and a pitta pacification program. More veggies.
hope that helps!
thanks.
Sorry to be late to the Dosha party! I have been taking yoga for a few months now and have really found great balance in my life. My boyfriend recently did a very long and fulfilling juice fast. I thought to try it as well, but decided to start small with only a 5 day juice fast.
Well, needless to say - it killed me. Not really, I'm still alive now... but my insides are ripped to shreds even when I tried to carefully come back to food.
I spoke with one of my yoga instructors and she suggested that perhaps the juice cleanse was not a good idea - she thought I was a vata dosha. So, she gave me some info, websites, etc and I took a few tests and well- she was right. I stumbled across your blog in pursuit of info to help my current situation.
I am still suffering (4 days) from gas, bloating, constipation and diahrrea, nausea, and eggy burps (even though I do not eat eggs). I have been living on water, applesauce, and blueberries because they are the only thing that seem appetizing and don't make me feel worse.
How can I get back into food and help balance my physical/digestive body according to my Dosha?
Thank you in advance!
Danielle
To return to food i would eat congee for a few days, rice cooked as porridge with starchy veggies like butternut squash and mild spices like ginger and cumin to restore your agni. thanks!