Cleanup Time!
By Gary Scott
The horizon in a darkening finery of oranges and gold. Twilight painted in
fading light and brushed amber memories on quiet waters below. In the patina
of eventide, weariness descended on a day past. Hushed anticipations grew with
thoughts of warm fires, cozy beds and the excitement of new dawnings ahead.
This long day and flight were nearly through.
Merri and I approached Ganges Harbour, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia,
Canada, just as the sun slipped beneath the sea. The Cessna 185 settled gently
onto smooth water. From that time, and those days we bring you a health tip.
Merri and I sat while the pilot pushed the little plane higher, despite its
full load and awkward pontoons, so we could see the spectacular sunset panorama
better. Golden lights muted the darkening Pacific islands below. Then we descended
with the sun onto a sheltered bay… having flown from Florida to Atlanta,
Portland, Vancouver and then at last to Salt Spring Island by float plane.
The trip had taken 16 hours and we were ready for its end.
Yet our bodies felt good. Our spirits were high! We have studied the physical
and emotional aspects of long trips for years. Our travel plans are a science.
We use a special routine so we are still bright, happy and full of stamina
when we arrive. Besides this trip was an adventure of a lifetime. We felt the
extra excitement.
Over the years I have written often about Merri's and my semi-annual trips
to the Ayurvedic health spa run by Dr.
Jay Glaser. Merri and I travel too much and work too hard. We need this
R & R to keep our energies high and minds clear. We learned years ago that
we can't keep drawing money out of our health bank without putting some back
in. We have learned that a busy schedule and hectic pace, need a regular deep
rest and some form of cleansing.
One Ayurvedic system of health-tune up is an ancient cleansing therapy from
India called Panchakarma. This was a twice a year routine for us for seven
years. Every spring and fall we took this break and as fall approaches this
message is meant to remind you of the importance of a twice yearly cleanup!
This trip to Salt Spring Island, however, was different as we decided to take
an even deeper healing technique called Kayakalpa, a once in a lifetime treatment
of rejuvenation. In the process of trying many different healing technologies,
one puzzling point was that the healers often disagreed on how to maintain
health, yet each looked and seemed to be in excellent health. In other words,
each system seemed to work despite the fuss over which was better than the
other.
Many years passed before I realized the problem. Most of the Master healers
have learned their skills through generation after generation of oral tradition.
Without a printed focus these healing systems have altered ever so slowly and
slightly. Thus after dozens, even hundreds of generations of passing down the
knowledge, each practice become part dogma and part truth.
So when we learn from a Master or take a treatment, we try to not only listen,
but to spot what is being said and done that matches what others have said
as well. What we hear that is the same from differing practices is more likely
to be a truth. Then we put it to the final test and try it to see if it works
for us in today's world. Some stuff we have learned works well if a person
lived in a cave or forest with loads of time. But our lives are enmeshed in
the busy, Western world.
One practice that permeates every healing practice, we have heard or seen
from the Andeans, Amazonians, Tibetans, Indians, is that all have one form
of cleansing or another. This message looks at a far less enjoyable yet even
more powerful and ancient cleanser, castor oil. This is one of the most horrible
tasting, but most powerful digestive tract cleansings we have experienced and
regularly use. This is an excellent tonic everyone should consider taking at
the beginning of each fall.
In Ayurved, the taking of castor oil on an empty stomach is called a virechana.
Many whom I have shared this tip with have told me tales of how their mom
or grandmother used to make them take this when they were ill. A virechana
does not have to wait for a health imbalance to begin. This technique can correct
imbalances. To take a virechana, eat a light lunch, skip dinner or have a small
snack and before going to bed to take the caster oil. I take (at 150 pounds)
six teaspoons. Merri at 113 pounds takes four, but you may wish to start first
time with less (one or so).
I take mine mixed in a bit of orange or lemon juice and try to just slug it
down. Ugh! It is also easy to take a lemon and sink your teeth into it and
soon as it is down. This helps. You may wish to begin on the lighter side rather
than heavier and don't do until you have a night when you do not have to sleep
through. Chances are (though not always) you will be up at least once in the
night.
We normally awake feeling much lighter and brighter, full of energy. Yet sometimes
we awake after a virechana feeling very dull and loggy. We often try to take
this on a night when the next day we can have an easy one. The day after the
virechana we always eat very lightly, just juices or light easy to digest food.
Always the next day we feel wonderfully great!
Another help I find in virechanas is they reduce my hunger. As a former fatty
(I used to weigh 220 pounds), my weight seems to run away with me if I am not
careful, so this has become a great weight control device for me.
Castor oil is a powerful cleanser and in another message we will look at its
entirely different cleansing capacity when taken with meals.
You can learn more about virechnas from Dr. Jay Glaser or read the book, Perfect
Health by Deepak Chopra, M.D.
Every three weeks for years, we took this type of cleansing. It helped me
in many ways…and Merri and I experienced the memory of being there on
that beautiful island with the Tibetan master who was gruff and stern with
us but steeped in the ancient knowledge of Kayakalpa (Sanskrit: Kaya-body,
kalpa-transformation). He left these deep impressions in our minds and bodies
and memories of the seasonal transitions.
Until next message, good health to you!
Gary
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