Vamana Dhouti or Kunjal Kriya (Stomach Cleansing)
In this cleansing practice the stomach is flushed by drinking several glasses of saline water on an empty stomach, the first thing in the morning. You then consciously induce a vomiting reflex to regurgitate the water ingested. The fore or index finger, middle finger and the small finger of the right hand is used by inserting it in your mouth and pressing a little at the end of the tongue to gag.

As revolting as this method sounds, it’s not as bad or unpleasant, unlike actually throwing up food or something not agreeable to the stomach. The water usually comes out clear in gushes removing any remnant food and also helps replace the mucus lining. In short by performing this cleansing ritual the stomach and the esophagus are washed clean of any impurities from the inside.

Shankaprakshala (Intestinal Cleansing)
There are two types to this hatha yoga cleansing practice -Poorna shankhaprakshalana (full version) and Laghoo Shankhaprakshalana (short version). In the short version, one starts by gulping down 2 glasses of warm salty water (some add lime juice to the solution) followed by the performance of 6 yoga specific poses which are repeated 6 times each while drinking more of the saline solution. Usually, by the time 6 glasses have been drunk a strong bowel movement should be felt (if not the process is continued). The water drunk along with the exercises is said to wash put all matter from the stomach and small intestines. You’re not supposed to eat anything for at least half and hour after the cleansing, other than that the short version has no specific dietary restrictions and is not as thorough as the full version.

In Poorna shankhaprakshalana, one keeps drinking and exercising, drinking and exercising the same set of 6 asanas until you pass out water as clear as when you drank it. While it differs from person to person, it’s a long process involving anywhere between 20-50 glasses of the salt water solution and must be performed under strict guidance from and experienced yogi. Poorna Shankaprakshalana is an extensive and detailed practice which disagreeable consequences if not performed correctly. However, under the proper guidance this technique not only cleanses the gastro-intestinal tract but purifies the whole body as a strict diet and restricted activity and rest is followed according to guidelines, in order to restore the intestinal activity gradually. If the correct diet and rules are followed, the full effect of shankhaprakshalana is then felt during a two week period.

After completing the flushing of the intestines in both versions, kunjal kriya and neti kriya are usually performed.

Kapālabhāti  (Cleansing Breath)
It involves cleaning the wind pipe and is also meant to have a good effect on the frontal lobe of the brain. Kapalbhati is also known as the cleansing breath and helps clear blocked nasal passages well. The performance of kapalbhati by air emphasis on exhalation while leaving inhalation up to the natural reflex. It uses only abdominal breathing, that is breathing into the diaphragm. (*This exercises should be approached with caution for people with Blood Pressure as if it is done incorrectly one may feel lightheaded)

• Sitting upright in Vajrasana, place hands on your thighs.
• Gently exhale all of the air from the lungs then take a regular inhalation.
• Exhale through the nose, mouth closed with force rapidly in a short burst (like a sneeze) so your stomach squeezes in.
• Repeat twenty times, keeping a steady rhythm paying attention and emphasizing on the exhalation each time. Let the inhalation happen automatically. You should use your stomach muscles to exhale completely.
• Perform 8 to 12 Kapalabhati inhalations and exhalations for starters. This is one round. Slowly build up the Kapalabhati breaths taken in each round with practice to 30 times or 1 minute and then to 5 mins minutes.
• Repeat for 3 rounds.

Jala Neti or Jalneti (Nasal irrigation)
Jala Neti is the most popular of the cleaning practices and is a simple yet powerful technique which works wonders to purify and clear the breathing path from the nostrils to the throat as well as sinuses. For more details and the method to perform Jalneti (which is simple can can be tried even at home), read- The Wonders Of Jala Neti: A Yoga Nasal Irrigation Technique

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*Photo Credits: photo by prolix6x on flickr

An important part of Shatkarma (Shatkriya), the yogic system of body cleansing techniques, Jala Neti and the Neti pot used in this technique have become a popular solution to blocked sinuses and nasal clearing. So popular, that the queen of television Oprah Winfrey did a feature on her talk show (click here) with Dr. Oz who stated that the treatment may be more effective than medication.

Method of doing Jala Neti-

• What you need to begin with is a special pot called the neti pot which has a specially designed spout that is used to irrigate the nostrils.
• Fill the neti pot with lukewarm water (cold water may make you feel like you’re drowning in a pool) and add to it a quarter teaspoon of non-iodized salt.
• Standing over a sink, large bowl or outside, place the spout of the pot pot into the right nostril. The end of a neti pots spout is specially designed to seal the nostril gently.
• Bend forward, tilt your head to the left and with you mouth open (breathe through your mouth) allow gravity to do its work as the water flows through the one nasal passage and out the other nostril.
• Allow the water to flow in a small steady steam and don’t forcefully pour the water into your nostril.
• Do this for a few seconds (20-30 seconds is all it takes). Remove the pot and stand up.
• Before changing sides, gently blow out any remaining water and mucus from your nose. Slow, soft blows as you would clear a cold is all you need to do.
• Repeat the method with the other nostril.
• If you still feel there is a mucus blockage you can repeat the whole process over several times until it clears.

While Yogis have practiced this method of nasal irrigation to flush out the sinuses using the neti pot, scientific studies too have proved its efficacy – Read- The Claim: Nasal Irrigation Can Ease Allergy Symptoms (NYTimes article).

While it may look , the benefits of Jal Neeti should eliminate any reservations you may have in trying it out. Used to treat a wide range of chronic sinus symptoms, evidence suggests that nasal irrigation also causes relief for both hay-fever and the common cold. If not just for blocked a blocked nasal passage or sinus, people who perform Jala Neti on a regular basis without any particular symptoms have been stated claiming it improves the quality of life and reduces use of medication, including antibiotics.

The simple yoga technique is used by many across the world (including scuba divers, to put an end uncomfortable diving due to equalization problems)  that swear by its wondrous results. Primitive, yet proven supremely beneficial I picked up my first Neti pot a few years now and life  has smelled so sweet since!

Photo Credits:photos by cesarastudillo, Chiot’s Run on flickr

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