Eat this! Drink that! Cleanse your liver! Flush your gut! A detox frenzy has taken us over these days, and we forget that our bodies are actually already perfectly equipped with the best daily detox functions. All we really have to do is support the default mechanisms of daily bowel movement, urination, and sweating. These are the primary detox pathways that we are naturally endowed with at birth. So if you are maintaining these natural channels in fully operational mode, then you don’t really need any additional harsh detox protocols. Why?
This is how it works: our bodies are in constant operation mode (even when we are deep in sleep), transforming, distributing, re-routing, consolidating and discarding all kinds of nutritional data and sensorial materials acquired throughout the day. Our bodies transform the data into what is useful for our body’s subsistence, discarding bi-products that are not needed. These bi-products are called “mala.” They are not, by definition, toxic. Ayurveda has another word for toxins, and that is “ama.”
Mala-s are not ama. Mala is the waste-product of any/all transformation in the body. Hair and nail are mala-s too. The stool is the mala of the food we eat – all that is left over, after the body has taken in and transformed the food we ingested into nutritional packets and energy.
Mala can become toxic, or ama, when they are not evacuated. When they are not discharged in due time, daily. In addition, mala-s can host amavisha or garavisha – two sub-categories of toxins very well described in SV Ayurveda. Mala-s are outward bound by nature, that’s why they serve as a good vehicle to aid in the process of eliminating amavisha and garavisha. So if they are not released in a timely manner, they become double trouble: there is accumulation of unwanted unusable bi-products, mala-s, plus the actual toxins that would have been discharged along with them get to extend their unwanted stay…
This is where detox starts, if we are at all interested remotely in Ayurveda, it starts with the early morning bowel movement. If you are having one a day, every day, then you don’t need to flush, cleanse, wash or spray anything in your body! In fact, the colon, and its daily functioning is at the heart of the matter in even more ways.
In the early stages of the 7-year internship with my father, Vaidya Kameshwar Mishra, it sadly dawned on me that I would never be as expert a Vaidya as my father was. He was such a brilliant man, diagnosing and treating complicated cases with such great ease. I had to tell my dad that I would always disappoint him, and he expected so much of me, because I could simply not be as good a healer as he was. He had to know.
On that day, I bared my heart to him, and he quietly listened to me and then gently added: “You need to do only one thing, in order to become a great, even a world-famous ayurvedic physician: just take care of your patients’ bowel movements!” That was it? “Wow,” I thought, “that’s easy enough! I can do that!” My internship continued with him with greater zeal.
Seven years later, towards the end of my tenure with him, as we were wrapping things up, one day, he reminded me of that conversation we had had, and said: “Do you remember that conversation we had about having to take care of only one thing to become a perfect ayurvedic practitioner?” I said, “yes.” He added, “Well, now I need to add a small but crucial detail: you know how everybody’s face and features are different, well, same goes for everybody’s bowel tendencies – no two people will ever have the same bowel tendencies, and each needs to be addressed individually.” That comfort zone I had been basking in had just come undone.
It was a big realization. But by that time, through his training, he had instilled in me enough confidence in my abilities as a healer, so that I was not shaken by the enormity of his statement. But even more importantly, I understood that my father was emphasizing two things that I needed to always remember, as a healer:
- as a healer, I should never forget to address the health of the colon, as proper daily bowel movements are essential for good health, and
- most important of all, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to everyone’s bowel problems.
This, in a nutshell, is detox demystified, according to SV Ayurveda terms. If you are not having daily bowel movements, or your stool is not as it should be – it’s too dry, or loose, etc – then no detox will help you; and reversely, if take care of your daily bowel movements then you don’t need detox! This is a big statement. But it is a true statement.
Did you know that your colon is as central to your survival as your brain?
This is how it works. Your colon is a large physical channel of approximately five feet length – for the average adult – consisting of three sections. The colon removes water, salt, and some nutrients, forming the stool. Muscles line the colon’s walls, squeezing its contents along towards evacuation. Billions of bacteria coat the colon walls thriving in its contents, living in a healthy balance with the body. At first glance, the colon seems like an innocuous tub passively moving the stool out of the body. However, the colon is as precious and as important as the brain for your very survival! My father used to repeat, “the brain of the brain lies in the colon.” I later understood his leitmotif when I found out that the colon synthesizes neuro-transmitters – essential for brain activities – through the colonizing flora of healthy friendly bacteria in the colon walls. In my SVA lineage, these bacteria are aptly called yogini-s.
So, you see, the colon is not a ‘dumb tube’ that can be flushed here and there to clean it of residual faeces. The colon actually ‘decides’ what material to receive and what to release. It has an active intelligent role to play in our overall physical and mental health. This means you SHOULD NOT manage constipation, and other bowel disorders, by, in any way, torturing, forcing, or taking over your colon’s functions, to release its contents, or so called “cleanse” it. And this is exactly what we are being pushed to do with the use of harsh colonics; or ingesting high doses of castor oil; inserting suppositories; using senna cascara; administering strong enemas, among other things. These measures may offer short term relief and are to be used only in emergency situations. Long term, they will only prove to be more disruptive of health.
In the SVA tradition, we look at the colon, and colon care, not from a structural or ‘engineering’ point of view, but from the understanding that the colon is, or at least should be, an ‘intelligent’ organ vital for our total health.
When you start from that point, your approach to addressing intestinal imbalances shifts completely. This is why, all the SVA products I have formulated, and all the SVA protocols I use for colon care target one primary factor: to awaken the colon’s natural intelligence of what to receive and what to eliminate; and: when to do so, and how much.
My father’s words have been my guiding light: everybody’s bowel tendency is distinct. For this reason, I have formulated several SVA products for healthy bowel functioning. To see what works for you, let’s first look at the big ayurvedic picture of three distinct types of bowel tendencies, in general.
The Charak Samhita explains that there are 3 types of innate bowel tendencies in an individual. Everybody is born with different proportions of these kostha prakriti-s, or innate natural bowel tendencies.
1. Krur kosthi: this tendency means an individual is, by birth, prone to constipation, regardless of what kind of diet they keep. Krur kostha people have a tendency of getting constipated no matter what. They experience vivanda (constipation) by default.
2.Madhya kosthi: a bowel tendency that is neither loose nor constipated.
3.Mridhu kosthi: bowels that tend to be always on the soft, even loose side, naturally.
Once you know where you fall in the big picture, you can then address your bowel imbalances accordingly, adjusting also diet and other daily lifestyle factors that can be causing your colon condition.
SVA Colon-care products for all types of kosthi:
Triphala:
of those who have a very sensitive physiology. This is most appropriate for pitta types, or high pitta imbalances. It addresses mild bowel imbalances. So: whenever anyone is experiencing mild imbalances in their daily bowel discharge, then the classical triphala formula helps correct it by re-establishing the intelligence of the colon, and thus supporting bowel evacuation. That’s the operating principle behind the SVA classical triphala formulation as well: unlike other natural or synthetic laxatives, it does not “force” and take over the colon to bring about a bowel movement, rather it re-initiates the natural functioning and intelligence of the colon so it can resume its own work as and when needed.
Triphala Herbal-Memory Nectar: as the name indicates, my nectar drops carry the herbal memory of the molecules, rather than the actual physical molecules. SVA Triphala Nectar was made to address the imbalances
Prakrit Tablets (haritaki): Prakrit means “nature” in Sanskrit. This formulation is designed to return you to your balanced natural state. It does so through its shodhana, purifying effect, by
shamana, pacification of the doshas, and by acting as a rasayana – slowing the aging process, and removing imbalances in the physiology. Prakrit is used when Triphala is unable to help. A lot of Ayurvedic practitioners give triphala to almost everybody as the underlying conviction is that triphala is good for everybody. This simply is not the case. For one, triphala, made with mature haritaki fruit, can be too heating for some individuals. I only use young tender haritaki fruits in this formula, which gives all the benefits of haritaki without any excess heat production. Furthermore, I process that fruit pranically in a blend of Castor oil, with Soma Salt – an ancient lineage recipe. The results speak for themselves!
When is Prakrit Useful? In general, when people tend to have chronic slow bowel movements, especially due to a lack of communication between prana Vata, that governs the mind, and apana
vata that governs the colon, then I use Prakrit to help correct it. Prakrit is a unique SVA formulation that contains a specific kind of the haritaki fruit as its main ingredient. There are seven different species of the haritaki fruit. For the Prakrit formulation, I use the best one, called vijiya haritaki – “victorious haritaki.” I use vijiya haritaki collected from dense forests in the same season it matures, not from past seasons. I then infuse it with medical grade castor oil in homeopathic dosage – below 0.01 %, weight by weight – in order to support and enhance the ability of haritaki through the prabhava of the castor oil. Castor oil is a laxative but even short term usage can cause dependence if used in large quantities or in its raw physical form. The amounts I use are only for processing, and do not take over the colon’s intelligence, but rather support it, by enhancing the properties of haritaki.
Haritaki, we should elaborate on as it’s such a divine herb. It is one of those rare herbs that can take care of almost all the vyadhi, all the diseases. My father told me to always carry haritaki with me when traveling to a foreign land. He said if you have enough wisdom you can use this haritaki almost on any disease, in any situation – if you know how to use it – along with knowing what other things to combine (samyog) with it.
Specifically, you must understand the prabhava (ultimate effect) and actions of haritaki as given to us in Ayurvedic sutras.
Haritaki pancarasa lavana tuvarah param: It has same all five rasa, like amlaki, except lavan, the salty taste.
Ruksosna: These two guna, ruksha and ushna. Ruksha – it’s dry and creates dryness in the body. Ushna, its hot. Why does it create dryness? It scrapes the toxins. That’s how it creates dryness. God has given haritaki the kshaya, astringent taste, and also the amla (sour) taste – which has agni. If a channel in the body has a problem, the ushna guna of haritaki can clean the channel. That’s why this is special.
Dipani: It increases the pachak agni of stomach, bhuta agni (all five agni of liver) and all seven agnis of the tissues.
Dipani medhya: It’s medhya, means enhancing medha. Dhi – power of learning, dhriti – power of retaining and smriti – power of recall.
Svadupaka: The vipak is swadu, or sweet. Sweet tastes of this herb makes a lot of difference, as it will not create a lot of agni long term. So, nothing can stop haritaki on the way of digestion or assimilation, but at the end it cools off. It cools the body and at the end it has all somagenic qualities. The prabhava is very rasayana (rejuvenating.)
Caksusya: Gives healthier life span to the eyes.
Laghurayusya: laghu=light; ayushya=supports longevity; It is laghu, not creating any heaviness in the system. Burns the toxins and opens the channels. Laghu quality means it is good for those people who are overweight. But you have to be very careful if somebody is underweight you have to use this with caution – as in, use ith with other ingredients, such as the Triphala formulation, where Two somagenic herbs, two somagenic fruits are there. As mentioned, in my lineage we use baby haritaki which has more soma. Mature haritaki has more agni and more marut. Furthermore, I don’t use fully mature haritaki for the person who has high pitta, high vata or a hard time gaining weight. Baby haritaki retains the other properties but it is more soma predominant and safer to use.
Laghurayusya bringhani: bringhani=nurtures all the tissues and enhances shukra dhatu. These two words bringhani and vrishya should be understood together. Vrishya means increasing shukra dhatu. It goes to the gap between majja and shukra and works there to enhance the transformation. Bringha means nourishing all the seven tissues.
Ca anulomani: Ca means also. Anuloman is a prabhava. Anuloman means which is pushing the apana down. Or making the whole body intelligent enough to release all the used prana. That’s how our lineage recognizes
this prabhava. This fruit has a lot of divine power. It can clean the nadis (vibrational channels.) It has the swara, the primordial vibrational sound of nature. Therefore, haritaki can communicate with the swara and
connect. Why I am saying this? Because all the herbs or fruits or spices that have this anulomana prabhava have the divine energy to give more communication and connection between the individual energy and the
universal energy. All the used prana, all the used material, all the waste products not only the fecal matter, the urine, sweat, everything can get out of the body on time.
Prakrit Herbal Memory Nectar: this formula carries only the nano-particles and prabhava of the Prakrit tablets. It is meant for those high-pitta and high vata – highly delicate and sensitive colons, who sometimes cannot handle any physical colon support products, this works very gently and effectively for the highly sensitive colons.
Prakrit Transdermal Cream: this cream is applied on the lower abdomen and the lower spine before bed. It connects prana vata and apana vata, the colon, through the spine. When there are stress induced problems in the bowel movement, it addresses them perfectly. Sometimes people who cannot handle Prakrit tablet use the Prakrit drops (2-5 drops) in one glass of water, along with Prakrit TD cream on the lower abdomen and the spine for extra delicate colon types – by birth, not induced by medical or disease conditions.
Triphala for High Pitta: My experience as a Vaidya here in the West has taught me that the gentle classical triphala formula may prove to be too harsh
for some high pitta constitutions! For high pitta body types, and all severely pitta aggravated people in general, even the natural warmth of the fully matured haritaki fruit seems to be too much to handle. For them, I had to put together a unique SVA Formulation. I call it “Triphala for High Pitta.” In addition to haritaki, bhibhitaki, and amla, I have added Rose and Fennel. But I also use the almost mature, not fully mature fruit of haritaki in this formulation, in addition to the organic rose and fennel that are synergistically infused to cool pitta further. The rose and fennel are a pitta type’s best friends, they pacify the pitta dosha so that the remaining ingredients can initiate the bowel cleanse without aggravating and irritating the pitta. High pitta body types are prominent in the western world, and countless SVA clients have benefited from this High Pitta Triphala formulation.
SVA EasyLax Capsules: Triphala and High Pitta Triphala sometimes aren’t enough whenever layers have accumulated in
the colon along with toxic amavisha. For that I created SVA Easy Lax to get the most out of your daily colon cleanse. This herbal synergy combines the ancient benefits of Triphala with the detoxifying and cooling properties of Aloe Vera, Slippery elm, Marshmallow root. Long-term lack of safe colon cleanse leads to the accumulation of highly virulent toxic amavisha. Cleansing crusts of accumulated amavisha can take months if not years, given that we can only discharge a little of the toxic waste at a time without aggravating the colon environment and negatively affecting the health of the overall physiology. With this formula, Aloe Vera will work to cleanse the accumulations by reinstating the intelligence and safely discharging the waste-matter. This is a powerful and effective formulation so a little goes a long way. Use under the supervision of your SVA expert.
SVA EasyLax (Mild) Capsules: This formula is the MILD version for general, safer usage.
SVA EasyLax Nectar: Provides an even gentler alternative to the 
capsule form, as it contains nanoparticles of Easylax. Many people, particualrly high pitta and high vata body types, or high pitta types alone, cannot handle SVA EasyLax, even in the mild version, because of the irritable nature of their colons. For those people, I made SVA Lax Nectar drops – take 1-2 drops in a glass of room temperature water before bed. To cool off pitta further and support bowel activity, apply DGL TD on your lower abdomen and the lower spine.
SVA Dietary tips for mild constipation:
- Add more vegetables to your diet, specially zucchini squash and yellow crookneck squash. Make sure you have them in some form with at least one meal a day.
- Make a drink with 20% yogurt and 80% water, mix in well and drink with your lunch.
- Eat on time! Never delay or skip your meals.
- Use balanced tri-doshic spice blends such as Mum’s Masala.
- Use only Soma Salt, because common table salt can increase absorption and may cause constipation
- Make sure you have enough water during the day.
- Adding prune and tamarind chutney to your dinners at night (call the Prana Center at 1.888.9SHAKTI for recipes or browse our blog).
This chutney will enhance the balance between absorption and elimination.
Disclaimer
This product and statements have not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and are not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All of the information above is intended to be used for educational purposes only and may not be used to replace or compliment medical advice.
