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This article appeared in Paracelsus Health & Healing, issue 1/2018

 

Every spring, the best time for fasting and cleansing cures in the Ayurvedic annual calendar starts at the end of February. This is when the body naturally frees itself from the waste products accumulated over the winter and gains new vitality and lightness.

Langaham (fasting) is a wonderful self-treatment tool to strengthen the metabolism and initiate comprehensive tissue remodeling.

 

However, a fasting cure is not the exclusive panacea for losing weight. Although the body breaks down substance (Kapha) during the fasting period and loses weight and volume, as soon as we start eating again, the indicator on the scales goes up again. Unless, of course, we start a targeted diet after the fasting program, which further promotes tissue remodelling and breakdown. This is because cleansing only prepares the optimal breeding ground for the subsequent healing diet.

And this is the actual goal of an Ayurvedic fasting cure:

 

1. To strengthen the digestive fire (Agni) in order to eliminate metabolic waste products (Ama).

2. To open the circulation channels (srotas) in order to bring new movement and supply to the cell metabolism (dhatvagni).

 

On the psycho-mental level, cleansing processes strengthen self-expression in space (ether) and enable deep self-knowledge and release processes from old patterns and dependencies.

 

Fasting cures with and without food

Depending on the constitution, Ayurveda recommends different fasting cures: from very strict fasting with only hot water, ginger tea and a little rice broth for Kapha types to light "soup cures" with three small, warm meals a day for Vata types. It is always important that the organism comes to rest and that no stress or excitement hinders the detoxification process.

 

The different recipes of Ayurvedic fasting and diet cuisine are called Manda, Peya, Vilepi and Khichari. Manda, the rice water, is the classic "fasting food", which has the most intensive detoxifying effect due to its light and balancing properties. However, if you need a little more stability in your cleansing process, you should eat some peya during your fasting days. The thin rice soup strengthens the doshas (bodily fluids) and agni (metabolism) and, with the addition of special spices, is also effective against many ailments.

 

During the fasting cure, these thin rice broths are supplemented with ginger water in the morning, herbal teas, diluted fruit juices and plenty of hot water throughout the day. After the fasting days, we strengthen the body again with Vilepi and Khichari. Vilepi is a thick rice soup that is administered as a classic healing food and stimulates agni. The Caraka samhita, the most important Ayurveda textbook, describes 30 different vilepi recipes for treating various ailments. The fasting cure ends with khichari, a dish made from rice, lentils and vegetables.

 

Recipes:

Hot water / ginger water

1 liter of water possibly 2 slices of fresh ginger (0.5 cm wide)

Hot water or ginger water should be boiled for at least 15 minutes in an open saucepan. This strengthens the light, cleansing and scraping properties.

 

Manda - rice water

2 tbsp rice 560 ml water Lightly toast the rice in a pan (without fat) while stirring. Add the water and simmer for 45 minutes. Strain and collect the water. Drink the rice water throughout the day, alternating with hot water or ginger water.

 

Peya - thin rice soup

1 part rice

14 parts water

Simmer the rice and water for 45 minutes. Season the rice soup with a little rock salt and spices if necessary.

 

Use of spices in the rice soup:

• Cumin for heaviness.
• Cinnamon and pepper for asthma.
• Cardamom for nausea.
• Ajwain and hing for vata disorders.
• Coriander and cardamom for pitta disorders.
• Ginger, black pepper and basil for Kapha disorders.

 

Vilepi - thick cereal soup

1 part grain

4 - 5 parts water or herbal decoction

Lightly roast the grain in a pan (without fat) while stirring. Add the water and simmer until the grain is completely soft.

 

Procedure of a fasting cure

An Ayurveda fasting program usually lasts one week and includes 3 fasting days, one preparation day and three build-up days. A loving environment and care, warm clothing and plenty of bed rest are the basic prerequisites for this harmonious, effective and revitalizing fasting cure. Elderly or ill people should not undertake a fasting program without consulting a responsible Ayurvedic doctor, therapist or nutritionist.

 

Introduction day

The introductory day is a relief day and serves as preparation for the intensive fasting days. We come to rest and prepare the body for its deep cleansing work. A metabolism-stimulating exercise program, cleansing measures from the Ayurvedic morning routine and warm oil massages are the ideal preparation for this day. Get up early and start your day with hot ginger water and an Ayurvedic morning routine. Harmonize your body and mind with an appropriate yoga and meditation programme. Use the introductory day to drink plenty of fluids and rest. However, you should avoid lunch or daytime naps at all costs. These increase the Kapha dosha and hinder the elimination process. The diet during the introductory day should consist of light vegetables, grains and khichari. Boiled rice, mung dal and fennel, pumpkin or beet vegetables are very digestible at lunchtime and a hearty vegetable soup in the evening. Salt, cumin, ginger, coriander and a little hing can be used as spices to improve the taste and digestibility of food.

 

Cleansing days

The cleansing days usually consist of 3 fasting days. This main phase of the detoxification cure is very strenuous for the whole body. Stay indoors on these days and avoid physical and mental exertion and contact with other people.

During the cleansing days, we only consume warm and liquid substances. Depending on your constitution or needs, the drinks can vary from very light (water, ginger water and rice water) to light and strong (water, ginger water, rice soup), which are generally taken every half hour.

 

Daily schedule for cleansing days

 

7:00 a.m. - Drink 2 glasses of warm, boiled water immediately after getting up, empty the bowels if possible and cleanse the mouth, tongue and teeth with the Ayurvedic morning routine

7:30 a.m. - Yoga and/or meditation program

8:00 a.m. - Self-massage with sesame oil and/or extended yoga meditation program

8:30 a.m. - 1 cup of ginger tea with a little honey

9:00 a.m. - Drink 1 glass of warm water

9:30 a.m. - Manda rice broth

10:00 a.m. - Drink 1 glass of warm water

10:30 a.m. - Manda rice broth

11:00 a.m. - Drink 1 glass of warm water

11:30 a.m. - Manda rice broth

12:00 - Drink 1 glass of warm water

12:30 - Manda rice broth*

13:00 - Relax, but do not take a nap

13:30 - Drink 1 glass of warm water

14:00 - Manda rice broth

14:30 - Drink 1 glass of warm water

15:00 - Manda rice broth

15:30 - Drink 1 glass of warm water

16:00 - Drink a type-appropriate herbal tea with honey

16:30 - Drink 1 glass of warm water

17:00 - Manda rice broth

17:30 - Drink 1 glass of warm water

18:00 - Manda rice broth*

18:30 - Now only drink if you are really thirsty

19:00 - End the day, relax, meditate...

20:00 - Massage your feet with ghee or St. John's wort oil

 

*Alternatively, a Vilepi or Kichari can be eaten at 12.30 noon and in the evening at 6.00 p.m. in a weakened fasting cure.

 

Build-up days

The build-up days are extremely important for our sensitive and delicate metabolism. They are just as much a part of the fasting cure as the cleansing days beforehand and are decisive for the long-term success of the cure program. The most difficult challenge of the entire fasting cure is not to eat too much during the build-up days. Because as soon as we overload the stomach during the build-up days, we overload the digestive system and the formation of new dhatus breaks down, as the agni is now on strike.

On the 1st build-up day, a maximum of 1/4 of the usual amount of food is allowed (approx. 1/2 handful per meal). On the 2nd day of build-up we can already digest double the amount (approx. half of the usual amount of food) and on the 3rd day of build-up 3/4 of the usual amount of food is well tolerated.

The best healing food to prepare on the build-up days is a khichari with rice, lentils and vegetables. There are countless recipes for this, in which the legumes and vegetables are selected differently depending on the constitution and symptoms. Basmati rice, mung beans and sweet vegetables such as carrots, fennel are generally best tolerated. Pumpkin or beet. It is important to add enough fat (ghee or sesame oil), salt and a little lemon juice during preparation to ensure that the pulses are well tolerated.

 

Basic khichari recipe

50 g basmati rice

50 g yellow mung beans

500 ml hot water

1 tsp ghee

1 thin slice of fresh ginger

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp ajwain

1 MS Hing

1/2 tsp salt

1-2 tsp lemon juice

 

1. Wash the rice and mung beans under running water.

2. Heat the ghee in a pan, add the spices and fry. Add the rice and mung beans and fry briefly.

3. Now pour in the hot water and bring to the boil with the other ingredients.

4. Cover the pan and simmer gently for approx. 40 minutes.

5. Add salt and lemon juice.