The Sattvik Kitchen: Wellness Guru On Transformative Power Of Food

Do you think you are eating right but not getting the desired benefits? Do you want to understand how your body reacts to food and why? Do you want to rethink food as well as eating to live better and longer? In The Sattvik Kitchen, internationally renowned yoga and wellness guru Dr Hansaji Yogendra of The Yoga Institute reveals the transformative potential of food. This includes not just the food itself but also the timing, quantity, manner of consumption and seasonal considerations.

In her second volume on sattvik food practices, Dr Hansaji reintroduces us to age-old remedies that can help us deal with modern-day health issues. With easy, wholesome and mouth-watering sattvik recipes, she emphasizes on how mindful eating combined with knowledge about the right food can maximize your immediate and long-term health. 

Here's an excerpt from Dr Hansaji Yogendra's The Sattvik Kitchen

Nutrition is the only remedy that can bring full recovery, and can be used with any treatment. Remember food is our best medicine.

-Bernard Jenson, Author

Panchakarma is a prominent Ayurvedic tool used to restore balance in the body. It is also used as a detoxification method, which helps in the removal of the excess of doshas from the body. Through the use of herbal oils and medicine along with various therapies, panchakarma is designed to allow the body to rid itself of wastes that create blockages in the functioning of various systems, including the circulatory, nervous and digestive systems.

In Ayurveda—an ancient Indian medical system—the human body is composed of derivatives of the basic elements of ether, air, fire, water and earth, and these derivatives must maintain an equal balance within the body to maintain good health. If the balance is disturbed, the toxins, or ama, will accumulate and saturate the tissues of the body. This can lead to diseases.

Panchakarma is divided into three procedures:

Purva Karma (Pre-Procedure): This pre-procedure to prepare the body for detoxification ensures that a person receives all the benefits of the process. This procedure is done to undergo proper and thorough cleansing. It includes applying as well as ingesting of oil and fats known as snehana karma (oleation therapy), application of heat through steam known as svedana karma (sudation therapy) and also advising which herbs to use to improve digestion—dipana and pachana (digestive juice stimulation and digestion).

It Pradhan Karma (Main Procedure): It is the main procedure and consists of five purification therapies that help eliminate toxic material from the body. 

(i) Vamana Karma (Emesis Therapy)

Emesis therapy (ET) is a process by which the contents of the stomach, including kapha and pitta dosha are expelled through the mouth. It is favourable for asthma, respiratory disorders, anorexia, peptic ulcers and skin diseases, and aggravated kapha dosha.

It is contraindicated in patients of hematemesis, cardiovascular diseases, in children and the elderly.

(ii) Virecana Karma (Purgation Therapy)

2. Purgation therapy is a specific process for the elimination of pitta dosha. The procedure involves elimination of toxins through the rectal route. It is mainly for patients suffering from chronic jaundice, various GI tract disturbances, asthma, skin disorders, epilepsy and other pitta disorders.

Purgation therapy is contraindicated in patients with anorectal injury, prolapse of the rectum, bleeding from lower parts of the body, diarrhoea, excessive oleation, and is also not suggested after enema. It is also not suggested for children, the elderly, and patients who have fasted or are pregnant.

(iii) Vasti Karma (Enema Therapy)

Enema Therapy (ENT) is a procedure in which medicated oils, decoctions with pastes of herbs or oils are introduced into the large intestines through the rectum with the help of an enema apparatus. This therapy is indicated in various GI tract disorders, urogenital disorder, neuromuscular disorders, paralytic disorders and anorectal disorders. It is not suggested for patients with intestinal obstruction, perforation, ascites, cholera, dysentery, anal inflammation, anaemia and anasarca. 

(iv) Nasya Karma (Errhine Therapy) 

Errhine Therapy refers to the administration of medicines in various forms through the nostrils (i.e., instilling medicated oil in the nose or administering paste, powder or fumes of errhine drugs in the nostrils). Errhine therapy should be administered to patients who are 70 to 80 years old. When the oil is being instilled, the head should not be shaken; the patient should not lose their temper, speak, sneeze or laugh.

Its usage is indicated in various diseases of the supraclavicular region, such as stiff neck and jaw, headache, migraine, graying of hair, baldness, facial palsy, stammering, alteration of voice, hoarseness of voice, tonsillitis and earache. This therapy should be avoided in patients who have acute fevers or have had purgation, or have fasted and have indigestion. 

(v) Rakta Mokshana (Bloodletting Therapy) 

This therapy may be administered by application of leech, dried bitter gourd, or coupling glass where blood impurities are removed.

It is practised to remove toxic materials from the blood in the case of blood-borne diseases; pitta-predominant diseases; and also in a few vata disorders, like boils, blue and black pigmentation on the face, moles, scabies, red patches and gout.

It is not suggested for patients with bleeding disorders, piles and conditions where venepuncture is contraindicated. Venesection is the process of cutting open a vein under strict aseptic conditions. It is done with sharp instruments and is a more severe form of bloodletting than the application of leeches. When venesection is done properly, the impure blood flows automatically. 

Venesection is considered to be performed correctly if the patient feels lightness in the body, a decrease in pain and remission of symptoms. Signs of inadequate venesection include swelling, burning sensation, inflammation, pain, itching and redness at the site of venesection. 

3. Paschat Karma (Post-Procedure): It includes certain diet and lifestyle changes to be followed after the main therapy. It is inclusive of eating a simple and light meal without any exceptions. Sleeping and getting up early is a must. Consumption of alcohol, smoking and overeating is restricted. 

Extracted with permission from Dr Hansaji Yogendra's The Sattvik Kitchen; published by Rupa Publications