When one talks about a cleanse or de-tox everyone seems to focus on the physical aspect or body. No one seems to talk about spring cleaning the five sensory functions.
In fact, in Ayurveda we give immense importance to the five sensory functions or rather the head and neck region:
- This is the point of entry of life, meaning we eat food, we drink water or breathe in air from the head and neck region which helps to sustain and nourish life.
- The five sensory functions are located in the head and neck region – hearing, vision, smell, taste and touch.
It is through these five sensory functions that we are in touch with the world around us. Our communication is through these five senses.
Example – how we react or respond is through these senses. We touch, hence we react. We hear, hence we react. Also, through these five sensory functions we form our memories and experiences. Example people talk about visual memories, smell experiences etc.
Ayurveda talks about looking after them and strengthening theses functions on a daily basis so that they help us to prolong life and live a life of high quality.
I have set out below a cleansing program which can be followed on a weekly basis, especially bearing in mind today’s time constraints. But if you are able to follow them more regularly, you will be amazed by the results.
The different steps of this spring cleanse for five sensory functions are as follows:
- Oil pulling
- Nasal wash
- De-tox tea
- Self massage
- Shower
- Breathing exercises
- Tratak meditation
- Nasal drops
- Sound or mantra meditation
The above would take approximately an hour. But the most important thing is that you enjoy it while you follow it.
The cleansing of the five sensory functions is as follows:
- Touch – Vata – Self Massage
- Smell – Kapha – Nasal Wash, Nasal drops, breathing exercises
- Taste – Kapha – Oil pulling
- Hearing – Vata – Mantras
- Vision – Pitta – Tratak
By cleansing the sensory functions you are ultimately also helping to balance the three Doshas.
Oil Pulling:
This cleansing practice helps to nourish and strengthen the sense of taste and also helps to get rid of toxins from the G I tract.
What you need
Upon waking up and on empty stomach, first thing in the morning, take some warmed up sesame seed oil in the mouth. Approximately 2 table spoons should suffice. Please remember the oil needs to be warm or hot, never cold.
Next apply the “mouth-wash” action, moving the oil around in the mouth. Follow this for 30 seconds. Then simply hold the oil in the mouth without moving it around. Follow this for 30 seconds. Once again move the oil around for 30 seconds. Continue repeating this for approximately 2 or 3 minutes. At the end of this procedure, spit the oil out. After this thoroughly wash your mouth and brush your teeth with warm water.
At the end of this make sure to scrape your tongue for approximately 30 seconds.
To make it even more effective:
- Silver tongue cleaner can be used to reduce excess Pitta in body
- Copper tongue cleaner can be used to reduce excess Vata or Kapha in the Body.
Take a 5-10 minute break after the oil pulling.
Nasal Wash or Jala Neti:
Next comes Jala Neti or commonly called Nasal Wash. This helps to cleanse the nasal mucosa and sense of smell.
What you need:
- Neti pot
- Warm water
- Pinch of salt
- Sesame seed oil
Pour warm water into the Neti Pot. Then add the pinch full of salt and 1 teaspoon of cold-pressed sesame seed oil.
I have observed that majority of people do a nasal wash only with salt water. Classically oil is added. The reason for this is that plain salt water can be too heating or drying for the nasal mucosa. Repeated use of it may make the capillaries in the nose weak which may lead to nasal bleeding. Adding cold-pressed sesame seed oil makes it more soothing, nourishing and calming.
Administer the water solution via each nostril (over your wash basin). Make sure you breathe through your mouth while you do the nasal wash.
Once finished, wait for ten minutes and then have a cup of warm or hot Ayurveda Pura’s De-Tox Tea with Ginger and Lemon.
Self Massage:
The next part of the sensory functions spring cleanse is to nourish the sense of touch. Follow the steps as below for a soothing nourishing self massage:
What you need
- Start by applying oil to the top of scalp and massaging
- Applying oil to the face and massaging in a circular motion – start from bottom of face and work towards the forehead
- Applying oil to each arm and massaging as follows
- Upper Arm – long strokes, circular strokes
- In the elbow, circular strokes – clockwise and anti clock wise
- Forearm – long strokes, circular strokes
- Palm – circular strokes – clockwise and anti clock wise
- Fingers – Each finger – circular strokes
- Finish by long strokes for each arm.
- Abdomen – Apply Oil and massage in clock wise direction all over the abdomen
- Applying oil to each leg and massaging as follows
- Thigh – long strokes, circular strokes
- Knee – circular strokes – clockwise and anti clock wise
- Lower Leg – long strokes, circular strokes
- Foot sole – circular strokes – clockwise and anti clock wise
- Toes – Each toe – circular strokes
- Finish by long strokes for each leg
- A warm shower for at least 15 minutes
Breathing Exercises:
As a part of spring cleanse, the alternate nostril breathing is one of the best exercises.
What you need:
- A Yoga mat to sit on
- Holding Vishnu Mudra with right hand
The Vishnu Mudra
In this exercise, you adopt the Vishnu Mudra with your right hand to close your nostrils. Tuck your index and middle finger into the palm. Place the thumb on your right nostril and your ring finger on your left.
Technique:
- Close your right nostril with the thumb.
- Inhale through the left nostril, to the count of four.
- Hold the breath, closing both nostrils, to the count of eight.
- Exhale through the right nostril, closing the left with the ring and little fingers, to the count of six.
- Inhale through the right nostril, keeping the left nostril closed with the ring and little fingers, to the count of four.
- Hold the breath, closing both nostrils, to the count of eight.
- Exhale through the left nostril, keeping the right closed with the thumb, to the count of six.
Repeat the above for seven rounds. During each round focus on one of the seven chakras.
Tratak – Candle Light Meditation
Tratak is the Sanskrit name for candle light meditation.
What you need:
- Tea Light or Candle light flame
- Ayurveda Pura’s Rose Water
Sit comfortably in front of a candle light flame. Make sure that you are sat at arm’s length away and the candle flame needs to be approximately at the same height as your eyes. You could use a stool to keep the candle light.
Start by focusing on the candle light flame, trying not to blink. Hold this focus for a count of ten. Then close your eyes and relax visualising the image of the flame in your mind’s eye, for a count of 10. Repeat this for approximately 10 rounds. At the end of the practice your eyes may start watering and this is a good sign as it helps to remove all the heat out of the body.
To conclude this practise, apply rose water eye pads on your eyes and lie down for 5 – 10 minutes.
Nasal Drops:
What you need:
This practice helps to cleanse and nourish the nasal mucosa and helps to clear any nasal congestion. Simply administer 2 drops of the Anu Nasya oil in each nostril and inhale gently so that the oil gets absorbed.
Mantra or Sound Meditation
What you need
- Yoga Mat
- Any Mantras CD
- Any soothing music CD
To conclude the whole session, it is time to nourish the sense of hearing. Sit comfortable on a yoga mat with your eyes closed. You can either sing any mantra of your choice loudly. Alternatively you can listen to any Mantra on a CD or simply any music that is soothing for you. Spend approximately 5 minutes in this meditative state.
And there you go! You are ready for a great weekend! Enjoy the benefits of an Ayurvedic Spring Cleanse for your sensory functions.