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WARNING: THIS DHAUTI IS TO BE PRACTICED UNDER GUIDANCE OF AN EXPERT
Shankha Prakshalana or intestinal cleansing is a method of evacuating and cleansing the entire alimentary canal. It is a wonderful technique to cleanse whole gastrointestinal track. It is the only systematic, sure and gentle method of thoroughly cleaning the entire digestive system. Though laxatives empty the system, they do so forcibly and cause excessive irritation. Moreover, laxatives do not scrub the whole digestive tract as thoroughly as does Shankha Prakshalana. This practice is also sometimes called Varisar Dhauti. The word Vari means to wash. It is also called Kaya Kalpa which means a technique to transform the whole body.
TECHNIQUE
Take only a light, semi-liquid diet in the evening and night before Shankha Prakshalana.
Don't do any Asana early in the morning before commencing and also do not take any food, tea, coffee, etc. before the practice.
Plenty of lukewarm water should be made available. There should be one person who can prepare more lukewarm water as required and make the special food which you will eat when you have completed the practice.
Add salt to lukewarm water so that the water tastes salty. Don't add too much salt so that the water is undrinkable but add enough salt so that it can be tasted. Add salt in the proportion of two teaspoonfuls per litre of water. Thoroughly dissolve the salt in the water.
A glass should be made available for each person who is doing the practice. Each person is likely to consume more than sixteen glasses of water, so make sure that you have a steady and sufficient supply of lukewarm water.
Wear light and comfortable clothes.
It is important that Shankha Prakshalana is practised only when the climatic conditions are not extreme. It should not be practiced when the weather is very cold or very hot.
The best place to practice this is in a garden or on a veranda where you are in contact with fresh air. Also make sure that a toilet is reasonably accessible and toilet should be situated reasonably near, within a few seconds walk, so that you can reach it quickly when circumstances demand it.
Do not treat Shankha Prakshalana as a gravely serious affair. Don't start the practice with an attitude of grim determination, for this is a sure way to create tension and prevent free bowel movement. Approach the practice with a feeling of fun and lightheartedness, for this is the way to finish the practice quickly and enjoyably.
Shankha Prakshalana should be practised in a jovial and friendly group atmosphere, for it is this setting that makes the practice fun and easy to carry out.
The complete practice of Shankha Prakshalana takes two days. This includes about three or four hours for the actual cleansing process and the remaining time for rest. If you cannot spare two days then don’t practice and wait until you have enough time available.
Generally, the best time of the day to begin is about 7 am in the morning, but this will depend on the weather.
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