When you think of doing a cleanse what are the first few words that come to mind? Deprivation, starvation, headache, stress might be a few. Understandably so, but not all cleanses are created equal.
Dr. John Douillard and the team over at Lifespa have developed the unique Colorado Ayurvedic cleanse, and have perfected it over the course of some 20+ years. Now, you can adapt this ancient wisdom into your everyday lifestyle.
This article will go over the basics of the 3 part cleanse and how to be successful with it. Please note, this a very (very) lightened version of Ayurveda meant to introduce you to the concept. There is a lot of deep study and practice involved with becoming a practitioner, even more to become a Doctor of Ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurveda, known as The Science of Life, is an ancient Indian system of healing that looks at the body as a whole. It adopts the concept of Elemental Theory, where everything in the universe is made up of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. Each element is represented in the natural cycles of the universe and is present within the human body and its physiology. This is only natural, since we are, in fact, extensions of nature and not separate from it. Each element carries its own unique set of characteristics and presents itself in the body differently. From the thickness of your hair to how you poop (or don’t), Ayurveda can determine where your body’s weaknesses lie and how imbalances are created.
The first step you’ll take when seeing an Ayurvedic practitioner is to fill out a constitutional analysis. This helps determine your dominant dosha and how your imbalances are affecting your health.
Regardless of your dominant element (dosha), Lifespa’s Colorado Cleanse will aid in resetting your digestive system and clearing out years of bile and lymphatic sludge.
Keep in mind before you begin this cleanse is that suffering is ABSOLUTELY NOT AN OPTION. If you find you are experiencing any stress associated with taking herbs or the food protocol, Dr. Douillard has options for shifting.
The cleanse is intended to becoming a regular part of your healing practice that promotes healthy lifestyle habits. It is not a marathon starvation period to lose some weight.
This is the initial detox. During the first 4 days of the Cleanse you will begin a gentle detox and prep your body for Phase 2. In this phase, you eat specific whole foods for your 3 meals. There’s even an option for a snack between meals. It’s important to note that the “snacks” are not chocolate or sugary bits for pleasure- they’re meant to support healthy blood sugar levels so you don’t feel dizzy. You may experience a slight headache throughout this phase, which can be normal. When you sign up for the guided cleanse, you get lots of support and information on how to deal with the possible side effects of the detox. The foods in this phase are a balanced mix of seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Perhaps the most effective part of the Cleanse is the herbs that you take pre and post all meals. These herbs are organic and high grade that aid in eliminating sugar cravings, support digestive functions, liver functions, decreases inflammation, helps the body with bile production and elimination, and lymphatic drainage. 3 herbs are taken before your meals and 4 are taken after each meal, 3 times a day. This adds up to 21 supplements per day and while that may seem like a lot, remember, this is only for 2 weeks and the support they give your body while you’re cleansing is worth it.
Your food protocol changes during days 5-11. You begin each day by taking a certain amount of melted ghee, on an empty stomach. Each day, you increase the amount of ghee you take, up to 10 tsp. Yes, you read that right- 10 tsp. If you’re an advanced cleanser, then it’s even more.
Your meals can vary, depending on how you are feeling and what you’re able to do. Remember- no suffering! You may follow the mono-diet, eating healing kitchari for your meals. If that’s too much for you, the polydiet adds for a bit more variety with proteins and seasonal vegetable options. And if you’re feeling like you need a snack, well, you have that option too.
This part of the cleanse focuses on fat detox and elimination of excess lymph in your system. It can be very effective and you may find increased energy and stamina throughout your day.
On the evening of day 11 you will take a gentle herb to induce a final flush of excess fats and lymphatic build up. You will wake up to start day 12 feeling empty from years of inflammation and ready to begin to add additional foods back into your diet.
The final part of the Cleanse is a 3 day reintroducing of certain food groups. You’re still taking your herbs, you’re just going to start adding (slowly) things like fats and carbohydrates back into your diet.
This part of the cleanse is very important to follow or you risk putting too much back into your body too quickly and taxing your liver/gallbladder. The 7 day fat flush has cleared out your gallbladder from bile sludge, given your liver a chance to heal from years of filtration. It has also aided in a pretty heavy detox from years of excess fats and lymphatic goo.
Dr. Douillard leads this cleanse twice each year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The Cleanse is best for your body during the seasonal shifts, from winter and summer, respectively.
If 14 days feels like too much for you, there’s the 4 day Short Home Cleanse that’s a much more streamlined version of the Colorado Cleanse. And if that even seems like too much, you can learn how to change your life by following a seasonal diet, based on Ayurvedic principles.
The Colorado Cleanse is a gentle way to reset your digestive system and clean up your body. It supports natural fat metabolism and is easy enough to do while living your life. You won’t need to set aside time for a personal retreat away from people. Because this is an eating cleanse, you’ll not feel deprived or lethargic.
The Cleanse has its protocol, however you get online support and several options, with whole food recipes and tips to be successful during your 14 days of digestive reset. It never hurts to give your body a rest and reset period. The folks at Lifespa really make it easy to start feeling your best in as little as 2 weeks. The time will pass anyway so why not give it a try?
I’ve done this cleanse a few times and it’s the only one I’ll ever do again. You can read all about my personal experience with this cleanse and how it changed my life.
Here’s to your health!