Ayurvedic Spring Cleanse: Detox and Renew for the Season
A complete reset of your body and mind.
How do you feel after the winter? Most people I talk to now yearn for the spring to arrive finally. Warmer temperatures, brighter days and brighter colours also brighten our mind.
But then, our dream comes true and instead of being all energised and buzzing we feel lethargic and heavy. How did this happen?
Well, we need to nourish our bodies during winter to create resilience against the cold with sweet, sour and salty tastes and enhance warm, dense, oily and so forth qualities to protect the mucous membranes and nerves against the cold and rough qualities of the wintertime.
Naturally we are less active during the dark months, we might overnourish a little, all resulting in putting on a few pounds more than planned.
When it gets warmer, the body reduces its building and mucous producing activities, our appetite decreases, and the digestion slows down. This is a sign for us to introduce lighter food and spices to support the process. Naturally, we stop craving stews and start thinking about lighter food. This is nature’s way to steer us through this transition.
When we look at nature, the snow melts, and the rivers swell. Inside our body, this is mirrored by softening the excess mucous which previously protected the membranes from the cold, leading now to runny noses, sinus congestion or puffiness.
Ama, a toxin created by half-digested food, starts circulating through the system, looking for weak spots to settle and creating illnesses like sinusitis or allergy flare-ups, colds, and coughs.
The body needs to expel the excess mucous accumulated during the winter months. That’s where the seasonal spring cleanse comes in.
It serves two purposes:
Clearing excess mucous, shedding excess weight.
Smoothing the transition from nourishing winter food to reducing spring food, from sweet, salty, sour to bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes.
Those, creating lightness and energy in body and mind and strengthening the immune system.
Intrigued?
Try it yourself by joining this year’s spring cleanse from March 16th to March 23rd.
Is the Spring Cleanse for Anyone?
Yes. But not everyone should cleanse in the same way.
In general, Ayurveda doesn’t recommend pregnant or, postnatal and breastfeeding women to enter any reducing activities. Nor should older folks because they are already in the Vata, reducing, time of their life. Both groups could, though, focus on integrating wholesome food, reducing snacks and sipping hot water/ginger tea to help with the transition.
People who are chronically ill, ideally adapt their diet to heal their body.
How does an Ayurvedic Spring Cleanse work?
I have been introduced to this cleanse when I started Yoga, nearly 30 years ago, and have integrated it every year in some form.
The actual cleanse is seven days, but together with phasing in and out of the cleanse, you mentally prepare rather for ten days.
Mung dal and kitchadi are the main dishes incorporated into each meal; easily digestible vegetables, leafy greens, plenty of hot water and ginger teas, no caffeine (or as little as possible), supporting herbs, appropriate daily Yoga practice, early to bed and early up, and daily oil massages, tongue cleaning and oil pulling.
In our part of the world, spring cleanses are best done during March and April.
Cleansing and Stress
They are not a match!
Your cleanse needs to be a time of minimum business and stress for the body to be able to do its job. The effects will be lost if you cleanse during a very busy or stressful time.
It is therefore essential to plan your spring cleanse accordingly and consciously create space for the cleanse to happen by practising Yoga and breathing techniques, reflecting, journaling, and walks in nature.
Cleanses are not just cleaning up your body; they also present the opportunity to
reflect on your life and identify habits that you have established but don’t serve you, like snacking, late bedtimes, checking emails or social media feed just before bed or even delaying sleep to do so etc.
establish habits that suit your physical and mental health.
That way, we also detox our mental and emotional bodies. The above-mentioned ama, is also created by too much sensory input. This is called Artha, too much or too little use of the sense organs; both disturb your balance. Ayurveda suggests wonderful special oils to nourish and calm the nose, ears, eyes, and mouth.
Final Thoughts
As you wave goodbye to winter and welcome the fresh energy of spring, it's a perfect time to consider a gentle reset for both body and mind. The concept of a spring cleanse, deeply ingrained in Ayurvedic tradition, is not just about adjusting your diet to lighter fare but also about easing your transition into the vibrant days ahead. This process helps shed any extra weight or sluggishness accumulated during the colder months, making way for renewed vitality and clarity.
However, a spring cleanse isn't solely about what you eat; it's an opportunity for a broader reset. It's a time to reflect on your routines and habits, identifying what serves you well and what might need changing. By doing so, you're not just detoxifying your body but also clearing your mind of clutter, creating space for new, healthier practices that support your overall well-being.
In short, embracing a spring cleanse is about nurturing yourself, aligning your inner state with the season's natural energy. It's a gentle nudge to pay attention to your needs, listen to your bodies, and make mindful choices that enhance your health and happiness as we step into the brighter, more active days of spring.
Have you learned something new? Would a cleanse be for you? Let me know. You can leave a message or your questions below, on Instagram, Facebook or even good old email.
I love hearing from you!
Katja x
