Ayurvedic Fasting

Fasting or cleansing methods can be confusing because one type might help one person but harm another. Ayurveda identifies each person’s constitution and determines the best path based on specific health concerns and the season.

Ayurveda and Yoga view fasting as pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), described in the yoga sutras. The word comes from two Sanskrit words: “prati,” meaning against, and “ahara,” which refers to anything taken into the body, mind, and spirit, such as food, breath, or sensory input.

Fasting is often viewed as a form of deprivation, but Ayurveda considers fasting and cleansing the same. After assessing specific health needs, the appropriate duration and type are determined.

Ayurvedic Types of Fasts and Cleanses:

·     Daily fasting: Naturally occurring overnight fasts with circadian rhythms during sleep.

·     Seasonal fasting: Fasting during the change of seasons, particularly in the spring and fall.

·     Mono-diet fast: Eating only easy-to-digest food, such as kitchari, for a specified time.

·     Juice fast: Consuming only fresh fruit and vegetable juices for a day or two.

Ayurveda teaches us that digestion is the cornerstone of health, understood through the digestive fires (agni) that transform food, nutrients, and all sensory information. When digestive fire is weak, toxins (ama) are produced. Over time, they can enter the bloodstream and circulate through the body until they settle in vulnerable areas, developing diseases and becoming the root cause of illnesses.

Fasting and cleansing benefits include redirecting the energy required for digestion to rest and healing, which improves digestion (Agni), burns toxins (Ama), supports the immune system (Ojas), and brings more focus and balance to the physical body and clarity to our mental, emotional, and spiritual realms.

The first step in designing a fast or cleanse is understanding what best fits your constitution, digestion, toxin levels, and overall health goals.

Ayurveda is known for Panchakarma (detoxification), which is usually performed during the transition from winter to spring and possibly during the shift from summer to fall. However, variations can be tailored for any time of year and shorter periods with specific goals.

Ayurveda typically recommends a mono-diet based around kitchari (moong beans and rice), doshic-specific spices, and some vegetables because it nourishes and controls blood sugar levels. Water and/or juice cleanses can be incorporated depending on the person's constitution, health concerns, and goals, but they are not always the first choice. Below are some general rules about the doshas.

Vata is dry, light, and mobile, and benefits from seasonal fasting, which uses the warmth, wetness, and heaviness found in kitchari, specific spices, and herbal teas.

Pitta is hot, wet, light, and sharp, with a strong digestion. A juice fast can be introduced with bitter and astringent fruits and vegetables for a few days, but the kitchari and herbal tea are best. 

Kapha is naturally heavy, and liquid fasting can be beneficial. For digestion, hot water with lemon, apple, pomegranate, or prune juices and Trikatu powder can be incorporated.

Contradictions:

Avoid fasting and cleansing during pregnancy, breastfeeding, menstruation, when underweight, weakened, malnourished, dealing with severe or chronic illnesses, or for children and the elderly.