Basti & Shanka Prakshalana

Bowel Cleansing

Dhauti cleanses the upper digestive tract. Basti and shanka-prakshalana empty the intestines and perform a complete cleansing of the entire digestive system [from the mouth to the anus (feces)].

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Basti

In ancient times, the settlement process was completed by sitting on the banks of the river. With the help of nauli, the water was drawn into the intestines and then it was thrown back into the river. Today this method is used as an enema to clean the lower part of the intestines.

Shanka Prakshalana

This method is practiced early in the morning on an empty stomach and the first three times of course this practice is done only under the guidance of the teacher “Yoga in Daily Life”.

Method :

Make 6 to 7 liters of water lukewarm to 34-40 centigrade. Add half a tea-teaspoon of sea salt per liter of water (if you have high blood pressure, use food salt.) The water temperature should remain the same throughout the exercise.

Drink all the water rapidly, one by one glass. After every glass, stretching and twisting exercises, such as Trikonasana, Tiryaka Bhujangasana, right-left twisting of the body, Meru Prajasana and Tadasana should be practiced in these five asana.

After the fifth glass, go to the toilet and do Ashwini Mudra (quickly contracting and opening the muscles of the anus). This pose encourages the wavy movement of the intestines.

Continue to drink glass after glass of hot salted water and do all the five asanas and Ashwini mudras, till the solid stools are completely removed. This process is completed when completely clean water starts coming out from the stomach in the form of defecation. The color of the water may be slightly yellow, but there should be no solid part in it.

After this, clean the stomach, food pipe and throat tubes with the help of Dhauti (but without salty water). Lastly, do Jal neti to avoid headache. After the doubt-practicing practice, take a rest for one hour. Cover your body well, but do not allow sleep.

Precaution:

The following food is important. Khichdi should be eaten after about 1 hour after doubt-prakshalana – it can be prepared before resting.

Making Khichdi:

Put two cups basmati rice, 3/4 cup peeled moong dal, half tea-teaspoon ground turmeric, half teaspoon white cumin and salt in a vessel, cover them with thrice water. Let it boil till it is cooked and ready. Now serve by adding a big spoon of butter or adding ghee. This food is able to form a protective membrane on the intestinal tract, so it must be eaten as much as possible. Do not drink water for two hours after having this meal.

Food

In the coming weeks, eat only fast-digesting food, as the intestines become very soft after this practice. Avoid milk, cheese, raw fruits, greens, vegetables, black tea and coffee for seven days. Avoid gas-producing foods such as legumes, cabbage, cabbage, ginger, onions, hot pulses and carbonated drinks for 20 days. Do not take meat, fish, eggs, alcohol for at least 40 days. However, it is best for our health to avoid them altogether.

In order to encourage the wavy movement of the intestines, it is advised that the Nauli of Agnisara Kriya be practiced daily after the Shanka Prakshalana method.

It is normal that after this practice there is no need for any kind of retrieval for the next 2-3 days. In the early morning of the 5th day, you should drink warm, unsalted water (4 to 5 glasses) and after every glass, do the same exercises that are done after doubting.

Shanka Prakshalana should be practiced four times a year at the time of change of season. This is the time of physical change within us. Alternatively, this method can be practiced at least twice a year, from mid-October to early November, mid-March to early April.

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Benefit:

Shanka Prakshalana purifies the blood, detoxifies the body and helps in developing good digestion. It removes the energies (eg hay fever) and skin diseases (acne, dandruff or psoriasis). At the same time, it removes the stagnation of spring and has a balancing effect on the mind.

Caution:

Shanka Prakshalana should not be performed by those under 15 years of age, during menstruation or pregnancy. People with low blood pressure, air disorders, ulcers, weak kidneys, large gallbladder, kidney stones, chronic diabetes, hernia or mental illness should also avoid this action.