There is something to be said for Spring cleaning. It signals that the long dark days of Winter are over. It literally brings a breath of fresh air into our homes. But what about our bodies? What about a change of pace from all the heavier and harder to digest foods we tend to favor in the Winter? In the Ayurvedic tradition, there is a special cleanse recommended for Spring. It's simple and only takes 4 days. There are practices in this cleanse which actually benefit us year-round because they help the lymph system, which is the detox engine in our bodies. There are five easy steps to this cleanse. Think COMFORT! Think SPA!!! Step 1. Oleation with Ghee (an amazing detox vehicle) Every morning after scraping tongue with a tongue scraper and cleaning teeth, drink melted ghee in increasing amounts. Ghee (clarified butter) is available in health food stores or on-line. It's also easy to make. Day 1: 2 tsp Ghee Day 2: 4 tsp Ghee Day 3: 6 tsp Ghee Day 4: 9 tsp Ghee
- Drink the melted Ghee plain or mix it in a small amount of warm unsweetened almond or rice milk, and a pinch of ginger and cardamom for taste.
- Wait 30 minutes. Then drink a glass of warm water with 1/4 to 1/2 of fresh lemon squeezed into it. If nausea occurs after drinking the Ghee, sip ginger tea. This is not uncommon on days 3 & 4.
- Prior to the evening bath, warm your jar of oil in a pan of hot water. You will use 2 to 4 TBSP for your whole body. Do the massage just after getting out of the bath.
- Start with the scalp: Use a small amount of oil on your fingertips. Use gentle but vigorous motions to work the oil into the scalp, as if you were shampooing. If possible, do not rinse this oil out of your hair. If you really feel too greasy, then rinse with water. (If you have long hair, keep it up in a ponytail or braid for the 4 days of the cleanse to keep it from getting grease on your clothes. Sleep with an old towel or cloth over your pillow so that you don't get oil on it.)
- Move to the ears and then face, using gentle circular motions.
- Move to the neck using gentle but brisk downward strokes towards your heart.
- Firmly circle each shoulder, elbow, and wrist on the front and back 3 to 5 times.
- Firmly stroke up each arm on all sides 3 to 5 times.
- Circle the palm of each hand 3 to 5 times, and then firmly stroke each finger from the base of the knuckles to the tips of the fingers.
- Firmly circle the middle of the chest over the heart 3 to 5 times.
- Gently but firmly circle the abdomen 3 to 5 times.
- Use brisk strokes over the lower back in an upward motion on each side of the spine in the low back. Only stroke up your back as high as you can reach comfortably.
- Firmly circle the upper thighs, knees, and ankles 3 to 5 times.
- Firmly stroke up each leg on all sides from ankle to upper thigh 3 to 5 times.
- Gently but firmly, circle the soles of the feet 10 times, then stroke each toe from base to tip.