Lifestyle and Restoration
There is a very special Ayurvedic purification technique that is excellent to support digestion and helps eliminate toxins from the body’s system. It sounds very simple, but you’ll find that is has influence on strengthening the gastrointestinal tract, as well as detoxing and rejuvenating the major systems of the body.
All you have to do is…
Toxins (known as “ama” in Ayurveda) manifest in the body from undigested food material and an inability to metabolise unclean water, environmental toxins and stress. This ama that gets produced is sticky and greasy in nature, kind of like mucous.
Just as you boil or cook food in hot water to make it easier to assimilate and to remove impurities from the food, drinking hot water similarly helps.
It assists in the digestive process by further cooking the backlog of undigested food material and helps dissolve ama to be easily eliminated.
This ancient Ayurvedic method helps lymphatic drainage as it dilates (opens) the channels and softens hardened tissues. It helps hydrate the tissues as the hot water penetrates into the deeper tissues.
For best results, water should be sipped about every 20-30 minutes. If this seems to much for you, take at least one or two sips every hour.
You may have other liquids during the day as well – herbal tea, coconut water or Ayurvedic thin lassi (yoghurt drink / butter milk) in summer.
“A systemic cleansing and detox is definitely the way to go after each holiday. It is the key to fighting high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and other health-related illnesses.”
Lee Haney
You’ll appreciate the soothing and balancing this technique offers. Once you have become accustomed to it, you will look forward to drinking hot water on a frequent basis. During the first few weeks you may urinate more frequently. This is because the body may be beginning to flush out ama and other impurities. It’s a sign that something is happening to your system. Gradually the frequency of urination should return to normal, but the ama will continue to be released from the system.
On the other hand, cold water (and any cold drinks) hampers digestion. Simply put, it puts out your digestive fire. It freezes the digestive enzymes and fluids in your G.I. tract, disabling your body from digesting.
Have a cup of hot water first thing to get going. Put hot water in an insulated thermos for the day or always have a kettle nearby.
Enjoy the hydration!
