A. Cleansing Techniques

Any instrument or machine must be cleaned regularly or else it will become ineffective and will eventually break down because of its congested condition.

The human body and mind are no different. They are instruments with which we should live our lives on the Earth, and it is our responsibility to keep the body-mind clean. The alternate is poor health and more frequent disease.

The basic elements of fire (sun), earth (clay), air and water can all be used to clean the various parts of the body. In this regard one should have as much contact as possible with the fresh air, sunshine and sea. These in themselves are healers of the body-mind.

Fasting is an extremely efficient method for cleansing the whole system. For a complete discussion of all aspects of fasting properly see the article «Juice FastingΖRoyal Road to Health and Long Life». Of course, the best approach is a regular, balanced diet.

Let us look at the various parts of the body and see what we can do to remove the toxins stored in each of them.

1) Eyes:

a) Candle gazing as described in the exercise section under «Eye Exercises».

b) Eye cups can be used within pure water or chamomile tea. Chamomile has an antiseptic and soothing effect on minor eye irritations.

2) Nose

a) Kapalabathi, the rapid breathing exercise as described in the section on breathing exercises.

b) Jalaneti or cleaning with water. When the sinuses are blocked with mucous, one can remove much mucous in this way. Take a cup of luke warm water and add a teaspoon of salt. Make sure your hands are clean. Pour some water into your cupped left hand, and closing the right nostril, inhale the saline solution into the left nostril so that it comes through and down into the mouth. Blow that nostril well.

Do this 2 or 3 times through each nostril. Then practice some Kapalabathi to clear away the watery mucous which begins to flow out.

Do not overdo this technique, but use it when necessary. If done just at the outset of a cold, it could stop the cold. Do not do jalaneti in the middle of a bad cold. Doing this periodically – once every two weeks – can diminish the number of colds you have.

3) Stomach:

Besides fasting, one can perform a «stomach wash». As this tends to be rather unpleasant at first, you may need a teacher to guide and encourage you. Of course, people with stomach ulcers should not do the stomach wash. Also, it should be done on an empty stomach.

Take a liter of warm water (body temperature) add a tablespoon of salt. Drink all of the liter as quickly as you can. Now make the pumping movement with your abdomen as described in the exercise section for the Nauli exercise. Do this for about 2 minutes.

Then go to a basin or toilet and stick two fingers (be sure then are clean) down into the bottom of your throat. Tickle this area until you begin to vomit. Keep doing this until you feel that most of the water has come up.

Do not worry if all of it doesn’t come up. It is only water and salt.

This can be done once every few months as is festXX? necessary.

4) Large Intestines:

Enemas help with the elimination of wastes from the lower digestive tract. Fill the container with «body warm» water and place it about five feet above the ground. Grease the nozzle with Vaseline and insert it while lying on your back on the floor (on a sheet). After you have taken in between one and two liters, pull out the nozzle and turn onto your left side for one minute, then onto your stomach for one minute, then on your right side for one minute, then onto your back again. Then sit up and go to the receptacle and let all the water out.

A folding see-through-plastic bag is very convenient. You can take it with you anywhere. Also you can watch the water level going down so as to know whether the water is going in and how much you have. (They are calibrated).

Enemas should not be overdone. Once every few months and more frequently (every three days) during fasting. Starting a fast with an enema helps to take away the desire for food.

5) Lungs: See the section dealing with breathing exercises.

6) Skin:

a) Dry friction or rubbing the skin with a relatively rough surface helps to clean the skin of dead cells and waste products. Also it increases the flow of blood and oxygen through the surface of the skin.

This is an especially effective way to start the day. Take a nylon brush or the rough scrubbing pads sold in pharmacies for baths and use it dry against the skin covering the whole body, always working towards the heart.

b) Heat and light in the form of sunlight or artificial radiant heat help to breakdown muscular contractions, tonify the muscles and the skin. One should spend some time in the sunlight everyday if possible. Sunlight also disinfects the skin.

c) Sea Salt Bath – Dissolve 1-1/2 kilos of sea salt (available at bakeries and the government monopoly) in a bath of warm to hot water. This bath is of general benefit to the whole body, but is especially useful in releasing back and leg tension. The benefits of a salt bath are:

1) It opens the pores of the skin and draws out toxic impurities thus purifying the body.

2) Necessary minerals may be absorbed by the body through the skin.

3) It relaxes the nervous system and the muscles.

4) It increases blood circulation.

One should remain in the water for 15 to 30 minutes and then rinse off with a cold shower. Rub yourself dry and warm with a coarse towel.

Avoid using very hot water if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure.

7) Liver and Gall Bladder:

CASTOR OIL PACKS have been made popular by the famous «psychic-healer» Edgar Cayce, who recommended these packs for a variety of illnesses from arthritis and constipation to liver and gall bladder problems.

The packs are prepared in the following manner: Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of castor oil in a pan and heat the oil until it starts to simmer. Dip a flannel cloth (about 20 cm wide and 50 cm long) into the oil until the cloth is saturated.

For liver, gall bladder, or constipation problems, the pack is applied to the right side of the abdomen with the cloth covering the area from the rib cage down to the leg joint. Then cover it with a hot water bottle or heating pad and another towel, and a blanket, if it is chilly. You should remain lying on your neck in this manner for 1-1/2 to 3 hours.

This is done for 3 consecutive days. After these 3 days, for the next three days you take 2 tablespoons of olive oil internally. Once in the morning upon rising, and once just before going to bed in the evening.

After the second 3 days, take one day’s rest and begin this 6-day remedy again until your problem disappears. (Of course, you should have a medical examination if the problem continues).