Deep cleansing with Ayurveda
How much time and energy do we invest in Spring cleaning or decluttering our houses or vehicles? What about the home (or temple) of our body and mind? I recently had the opportunity to receive Panchakarma treatment; the cleansing process of the ancient science of Ayurveda. In this blog I share my own experiences and some wisdom from my Ayurvedic practitioner, Dr Sonal Sawant.
Ayurveda and yoga
Ayurveda has weaved in and out of my life and practise for the last 13 years; I was fortunate to receive yoga training which honoured the sisterhood of these two ancient philosophies. In 2016 I ran a retreat in Goa and invited a local Ayurvedic doctor to speak to my group and offer 121 consultations. Dr Sonal told me in her stern-but-loving way, ‘you must use this time (6 months in India) to change your life’. She could see that hopping from yoga class to yoga class to sound bath in London was not serving my constitution. I heeded her advice, soon after moving to Cornwall where life encourages a slower pace and a lighter schedule.
Living in balance
Dr Sonal and I lost touch, but by synchronicity I woke up one day in December with the certainty ‘I need to do Panchakarma’ and a few weeks later she got in touch. We arranged to work remotely since travel to India was out of the question at that point. I was having some ongoing skin issues, fluctuating with my menstrual cycle, and I knew I had to work to the roots of the issue. We started with some herbal medicine to support my immune and endocrine systems and waited for the warmth of Spring…
Personally the last few years have strengthened my conviction in natural and integrated medicine; no matter what your views are about COVID it is plain to see that our public health mentality focuses on the pharmaceutical ‘fixes’ and ignores the role of good diet, movement, meditation and being in harmony with nature. This is where I believe the ancient systems like Ayurveda and TCM can step in and help us become (re)empowered towards wholeness.
Dr Sonal explains:
‘Ayurveda is the science of life and it explains the prevention of disease and maintaining a healthy body through good routines and seasonal understanding. Ayurveda complements yoga and meditation; it is a complete lifestyle. It offers treatment when disease are happening based on the individual and their constitution, and how the disease is manifesting for them.’
She explains that the majority of health issues nowadays are lifestyle based; due to sedentary living, unhealthy habits, declining quality of food and environmental toxins. As life gets more technologically ‘advanced’ people are losing the discipline to take care of mind and body as a vessel of spirit; our connection to inner healing in harmony with nature is being lost.
It takes 5.5 years of study plus a year of hospital internship to become an Acharya (esteemed practitioner) of Ayurveda. Although for one on this path it is more than a job, it is their dharma. Their understanding deepens through constant study of ancient Sanskrit texts along with clinical practise but also through personal spiritual growth. ‘Through the blessing of gurus and my studies it became my life and now I only ever think of Ayurveda!’ Dr Sonal tells me.
The path of Panchakarma
So what about Panchakarma? ‘Pancha’ means 5 and ‘karma’ means actions or procedures. There are different categories of techniques depending on ones state of health. These will reduce the toxins in the body and balance the doshas while making any medicines that need to be given more effective.
A quick word on the doshas too. Ayurvedic wisdom is rooted in the five elements and we each have a specific combination of these elements, defining our mind body characteristics and how/ where/ when they are likely to go out of balance. You can read more about it and find out about your dosha here - although an Ayurvedic consultation will always give you a more accurate understanding.
The wider world may think of Spring as the best time to cleanse but Dr Sonal explained to me that Ayurveda also works with the nuances of the seasons, so certain practises would be done when the corresponding constitutional imbalances occur.
My experience
For me the issue was balancing pitta dosha (fire and water) which often manifests, out of balance, as skin issues. I had COVID the week before I had planned the panchkarma so it felt doubly perfect to have 10 days of cleansing ahead.
One day one I prepared a decoction of herbs and ghee (traditionally prepared clarified butter) and over the next 5 days drank the warm medicated ghee in the morning then fasted until very hungry, usually in the late afternoon. There was a process of overcoming resistance from the first moment, having been plant based for 13 years. But research revealed some amazing companies which make slaughter and cruelty free ghee (this one is UK based) and I took the medicine with awareness and gratitude.
Nausea followed me around from day 2 as my body digested increasing quantities of ghee. Dr Sonal encouraged me that I was doing great through the detox tiredness, headaches and diarrhoea over the next 3 days. Day 6 was an exciting moment; no ghee, normal food, but with the knowledge that purging and more intense fasting was to come - I savoured my last mejool dates for a while! Purgation herbs taken in several phases flush out all the toxins gathered into the digestive system by the ghee. Then follows a process of slowly and gently bringing back the digestive fire over 3 days, sipping rice soup and then gradually adding some simple dahl and veg. I felt in the safe hands of a mother as much as doctor throughout the procedures, reporting dutifully the patterns of my bowel movements to Dr Sonal and knowing I could reach out at anytime with any wobbles or worries.
On day 9 I felt my energy system reorganising itself, rushes of prana moving through my body and starting to feel stronger. My sleep was disturbed until about day 10 and I felt the mental cleansing continued for nearly a week after the body felt ‘reborn’.
Many people asked me ‘why are you cleansing, you eat so clean and healthy’ but that is to forget the teachings of these ancient systems that mind and body are extensions of one another and we are in a process of shedding the patterns of our thoughts and experiences. For me, unresolved situations and behaviours resurface, at times these were surprising and emotional - it is no wonder that yoga has always been integrated with Ayurveda to provide a spiritual context of compassion for our healing.
Lessons to take forward
After the 10 days I felt light, happy and my skin was glowing and clear. This is not just about what’s on the surface. This deep, quiet cleanse was a powerful lens to see where I had scattered, lost simplicity and contentment. It left me with with big questions about how I lead my life - as I feel such a process should, or what’s the point? It seems a brush with Dr Sonal again inspired me to change: I noticed my resistance to needing (and being given) more time off than I had planned. It got me wondering about a toxicity within wellness work which puts us at odds with the ancient wisdoms we are trying to apply. Speaking to other practitioners I realise burnout is common as we seek to both serve and support ourselves. There are of course many personal factors within this generalisation but I can only speak to what I sense from my own experiences.
It is my intention to walk my walk more authentically now; to respect my energy better and to spend less time with technology and more doing physical projects outdoors where I am happiest. And to let go of past situations which (I have let) hold me back from writing regularly.
How to find treatment for yourself
Would I recommend this process to you? An emphatic yes! If we don’t make time for our wellbeing we will only be given that time, perhaps in uncomfortable ways. If we don’t invest in our wellbeing it will cost us elsewhere. Being at home in my own environment was very relaxing but I had to dig deep to hold space for myself especially as I became too tired during the final days to get out into nature, always my best medicine. So my recommendation would be to seek out an Ayurvedic practitioner local to you or get yourself to India and dive into the whole experience in a supportive spiritual setting.
How to contact Dr Sonal for online consultation - please message or call on whats app +91 98608 85522
References:
The 5 processes of Panchakarma:
Vamanà - Therapeutic emesis
Virechanà -Therapeutic purgation
Basti - medicated enema
Raktamokshanà- blood letting
Nasyam- nasal drops
The classical books of Ayurveda:
Carac and Sushrut samhita & Ashtang hrudayam