In the 8-fold path of yoga, as outlined by Maharshi Patanjali, there is a concept called Shocha. It is about cleansing. Nowadays, there is another term used called detoxification or detox for cleansing and getting rid of unwanted things. Today, let us detox the most important part of our body, and that is brain. Do you know what happens when there are unnecessary things in the brain?
You may feel tired or moody, and you may not be able to concentrate on your work. The intention of doing brain detox is to protect yourself from poor brain function and neurodegenerative diseases. Let’s see a few natural methods of detoxifying your brain.
Eat berries
You may ask which berries are good for you for brain. All berries are good. Berries such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and cranberries. These are popularly known as superfoods all over the world. Indian berries such as Amla, Bel, Karonda, Falsa, Jamun, Lasoda are also equally good as superfoods. Indian Jujube or Bel has antioxidants due to the presence of phenolic compounds in it.
Such compounds found only in berries cross the blood-brain barrier, reach the learning and memory centers in the brain to maintain brain health. Scientists have found that berries have beneficial effect on the brain and may help preventing age-related memory loss and other things.
Ayurveda promotes Ashwagandha for brain health
Ashwa means horse. Gandha means scent. Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb which smells like horses. It is available in powdered and tablet form. Researchers have found that Ashwagandha promotes healthy functioning of the brain. Extracts of Ashwagandha may protect brain from damage. Damage caused by a wide range of toxins, injuries, and even strokes. You can take Ashwagandha powder along with warm milk or else you can mix it with water adding little ghee and honey in it.
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Chant or Memorize Mantra
Chanting is an ancient practice that calm your mind and soul. Mantras are sound vibrations that have a powerful healing effect on our body and mind. Scientific studies have found that chanting mantras like Om for 10 times every day can decrease the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Mantra chanting is also believed to remove negative energy and to restore positive healthy states in the brain.
Halasana or the Plough Pose
In Halasana, the parts of your body is positioned in unnatural dimensions. This asana which has several benefits requires some skill and practice to master. It has a powerful impact on your spine and make your mind alert. Here are the steps. Lie on your back with legs together, palm besides you, palm facing downwards. As you inhale, use your abdominal muscles to lift your feet off the floor.
Raise your legs vertically at 90 degree angle. Now lift yourself up while breathing out completely and then continue to breathe normally while supporting your hip and back. Lift your hips higher. Allow your legs to go over your head till your toes touch the floor. Keep your back perpendicular to the floor. Hold this pose for few seconds or up to a minute and let your body relax with each breath.
Gently bring your legs down while inhaling. A person needs a lot of concentration and flexibility while doing this pose. Halasana reduces the stress. Improves brain health and enhances memory.
Kapalbhati
According to traditional yogic texts, Kapalbhati is one of the six cleansing techniques. It is derived from the Sanskrit word Kapala means skull and Bhati means shiny. This practice of Kriya consists of powerful exhalation and inhalation. It is an internal purificatory process that tones and cleanses the respiratory system and all our sinuses, refreshes the body and rejuvenates the system.
It reduces the frequency of sinusitis and migraine attack. The increase of oxygen stimulates and energizes the brain which helps in increasing concentration. So here, sit or stand comfortably with your spine erect. First, take a long breath in and completely fill your lungs. And now, exhale sharply, forcefully and inhale sharply and forcefully. Practice ten such breathing to make one round. Do such three to five rounds. Kapalbhati has been practiced for generations and it is proven to clear the mind.
Also read, https://www.healthline.com/health/brain-detox
Mudra called Yoni MudraThis is a unique psychophysical technique practiced at the Yoga Institute. It is beneficial to strengthen your nervous system as it provides relief from the constant onslaught of sensory information on your brain. Hence, it brings the distracted mind to attentiveness and provides clarity of thoughts.
So here, sit in Padmasana or any meditative posture. Close your eyes, place your thumbs on the ear and the index finger resting gently on your eyelashes. Place the middle finger on the respective nostrils. The ring fingers are placed above the lips and the little finger below them. Ensure that your elbows are at shoulder level parallel to the ground. Now here, passively observe your breath.
The mind may wander to other thoughts but gently bring your mind back to the breaths. For best results, it is recommended to practice Yoni Mudra for five to ten minutes every day.
In addition to these six methods to cleanse your brain, you must also make some right lifestyle choices for overall well-being. Improve blood circulation in your body with some asanas, exercises. Sleep well, drink plenty of water, learn to meditate.
Surrender all your hardships and problems to higher reality and cultivate a working faith. Learn how not to think unnecessarily. Thinking and action should go parallel. Whenever you have to do some action, think before doing your action and do the action properly. So live life sincerely and don’t bother your brain unnecessarily. Just have faith in yourself, in your work and the higher reality. So take charge of yourself.