Ayurveda is a medical healing modality originating in India. The word Ayurveda literally means "the science of life," and it's goal is to achieve proper balance in the body. It combines many mind-body practices to help you get to the root of disease, and take preventative measures to live a healthy and balanced life by using natural and holistic techniques.
Today I'm sharing 3 Ayurvedic rituals I practice daily that help me look and feel my best. Although these rituals are incredibly easy to practice, they are not commonly used in Western culture, so I thought it was important to highlight them so you can start reaping the benefits today!
1. Tongue Scraping
As simple as it sounds, many of us are unaware that proper digestion and detoxification begin in the mouth. When we sleep, toxins accumulate on our tongue, creating a poor environment for oral health, and are then passed down into our gastrointestinal tract. By scraping our tongue daily, we remove these toxins and create balance in the body.
Benefits of tongue scraping:
- improves dental health
- better breath
- prevents gum infection
- improves digestion
- enhances taste buds (better tasting food!)
- promotes strong immune system
- eliminates toxins
How to do it:
Starting at the back of the tongue, drag your tongue scraper along the surface of your tongue. You should see a thick, milky substance accumulate on the tongue scraper. This substance is referred to as ama in Ayurveda, meaning toxicity. Rinse your tongue scraper, and repeat up to ten times, or until your tongue appears clean. Rinse your mouth and follow up with oil pulling.
2. Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is Ayurveda's version of an all natural mouth wash. By swishing around oil (such as coconut oil or sesame oil) in the mouth, we are pulling out bacteria and toxins and preventing things like gum disease, bad breath, plaque build up, cavities, and gastrointestinal issues. This is because the oil binds to oil-soluble toxins, pulling out the bad bacteria and leaving the good. This creates an environment where healthy bacteria thrive creating whiter teeth, better breath, and flourishing gut health. Conventional mouthwash kills ALL bacteria in the mouth (good and bad), creating an overall sterile environment which can actually lead to chronic bad breath and other health issues in the long run.
Benefits of oil pulling:
- improves dental health
- better breath
- whiter teeth
- less cavities
- improves digestion
- lowers inflammation
- promotes strong immune system
How to do it:
Start by choosing your oil. For a warming oil, choose sesame. For a cooling oil, choose coconut. Coconut oil is nice because you can add a drop of peppermint essential oil for a fresh tasting mouth wash. Take a spoonful of oil and swish it around in your mouth anywhere between 5-20 minutes. I like to oil pull while I get ready in the morning (making breakfast, getting dressed etc.) Spit the oil in the garbage, not the sink, as it can clog your pipes. Be careful not to swallow the oil as well, as it contains harmful bacteria you're trying to eliminate from the body.
3. Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is the practice of gently scraping the body with a dry loofa brush to remove dead skin cells, and other toxins built up on the top layer of skin. Our skin is our biggest organ, responsible for eliminating 1/3 of the body's toxins. Dry brushing also stimulates our lymphatic system, the system responsible for detoxification.
Benefits of dry brushing:
- removes dead skin cells
- stimulates the lymphatic system & detoxification process
- improves appearance of cellulite
- increases oxygen flow and circulation
How to do it:
Using a firm-bristle dry brush, start by making upward brushing motions on each arm, brushing towards the heart. Then move on to the chest, stomach, and back. Use firm, yet gentle strokes, taking care not to brush too roughly. Brush from the bottom of the feet and up the legs as well. Do this once a day before stepping into the shower.
There you have it: 3 simple self care routines to help detoxify the body. I suggest placing your tongue scraper, oil, and skin brush somewhere you will see it everyday, next to something you're already in the habit of doing. For example, leaving your tongue scraper next to your tooth brush will remind you to practice tongue scraping before brushing your teeth. Leaving your dry brush in the shower will remind you to practice everyday before bathing. Implementing new habits can take time, but once you start, you will gain so many benefits of these practices!
To learn more of my favorite self care routines, check out 5 Simple Self Care Practices to Transform Your Week.