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Kunjal Kriya

This is a practice that comes under the category of Dhauti which means washing or cleansing and refers to a process that purifies the entire alimentary canal, including the mouth, the food pipe, the stomach, intestines, and the rectum.

There are different Dhauti techniques, here we will be discussing Kunjal Kriya.

Kunjal Kriya

This is also called Gaja-karini kriya (gaja- elephant; karini- action; the action with which an elephant sucks the water and then throws it out). It is the process of washing the food pipe and cleansing the stomach. Even after we have digested the food some small particles of food might still be sticking to the lining of the stomach. This is called Ama in Ayurveda. Kunjal kriya helps us to remove these toxins from the stomach and the food pipe. It is practiced in the morning on an empty stomach.

kunjal kriya, gaja karini kriya

Before You Start

  • Have somewhere close by that you can throw up the water like a bucket or toilet.
  • Do the practice first thing in the morning BEFORE ANY FOOD OR DRINK (yes that includes you, coffee lovers)

Technique

  • Prepare 1.5 liters (about 6 glasses) of lukewarm salty water solution (2 teaspoons per liter).
  • While standing, quickly drink all the water (or as much as you can) without pausing between glasses. (yes we know it’s unpleasant but it really does need to be like this)
  • Lean forward (over a bucket or toilet) and rub the back of the tongue with the middle and index fingers, you will get an urge to vomit and water will come out
  • Keep going until the stomach is empty.
  • Do not eat for at least 20 minutes after, and stick to simple easy-to-digest food.
  • Kunja Kriya can be done once a week, or as part of an occasional detox, but even doing it once in a while will be beneficial.

*If you drink water on an empty stomach, it will pass into the duodenum and on into the upper intestinal tract quite rapidly; in a matter of minutes, so it is recommended to drink the water very fast without any break in between and then vomit it out, hence not letting the salty water to pass through the stomach and have a diarrhea effect. (if there is more food in the stomach along with water then it takes more time for the water to pass through)

Benefits

  • Removes indigestion, acidity, and gas from the stomach.
  • Eliminates excess mucus from the esophagus, helping to remedy cough, sore throat, mild asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments.
  • Tones stimulate all the abdominal organs by inducing strong muscular contractions in the stomach walls.
  • Balances vayu in the body
  • Alleviates depression, sloth, and heaviness

Contraindications

  • Asthama,
  • Stomach ulcers
  • Heart problems
  • Hernia

Other Cleansing Practices: