Yogic Intestinal Cleanse – Shankhaprakshalana

Author: Shanti

Shankhaprakshalana purifies the body.
By practicing it with care, one gets a luminous or shining body.

Gheranda Samhita
17th century text

Hatha Yoga

The yoga tradition contains a rich knowledge of the body and mind. It is a science of tried and tested methods that have been refined over thousands of years. Anyone can use yoga, regardless of what you believe in or who you are. The methods of yoga give you access to your own inner resources.

Hatha Yoga is an important part of the yoga tradition. It includes physical cleansing processes that can resolve imbalance and tensions in the body that stand in the way of your well-being. Your overall state of health can be improved with Hatha Yoga.

Ha stands for the sun and Tha for the moon. The sun - warm, active and physical. The moon - cool, passive and mental, reflecting the light of the sun. Hatha Yoga is based on a knowledge of how to bring the organs and functions of the body into balance, creating a harmonious foundation in the physical and mental state. Restlessness is often a sign of imbalance in the body.

The yogic principle of balance between heat and cold, exertion and relaxation, or expansion and absorption can be likened to the two complementary functions of the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic.  When we feel stressed or threatened, the sympathetic nervous system responds: The pupils dilate, blood rushes from the inner organs to the muscles, the heart beats faster and respiration increases. When we are able to relax again, the parasympathetic nervous system causes an opposite physiological response: the muscles relax, the digestion increases, etc.

Chronic stress is the result of an imbalance between these two functions, between sun and moon energy. In the autonomic nervous system it can be seen as a constant sympathetic activity, even when trying to rest. This can lead to all sorts of complications, physical as well as mental.

The cleansing processes of Hatha Yoga remove fundamental tensions that stand in the way of clarity and concentration. There are six main groups of cleansing processes, called Shat Karma. Some of the simpler methods include brushing the teeth and cleaning the scalp. These, along with more comprehensive methods, are described in texts such as the Gheranda Samhita.

Such cleansing processes include nose cleansing, Neti, where body-temperature salt water is poured through the nasal passage, and stomach cleansing, Kunjal Kriya, where salt water is consumed on an empty stomach and then expelled by vomiting. There are exercises for the stomach such as Agnisar and Nauli, where the muscles of the abdomen are rotated, massaging the intestines and stimulating digestion. The breathing exercise Kapalabhati cleanses the lungs. Tratak, where you concentrate on the flame of a candle, creates balance in the brain and strengthens the eyes – it is also an important concentration technique. Finally, there is Shankhaprakshalana, intestinal cleansing.

Shankhaprakshalana is the most comprehensive cleansing process, cleansing the entire digestive tract. Prakshalana means to wash thoroughly, and shankha refers to the conch, which symbolises the intestines. In some texts, Shankhaprakshalana is referred to as Varisara Dhauti.

In the intestines, residual matter accumulates and remains in the small folds of the intestines. This can give rise tensions that bind energy and affect one's well-being. When the intestines are rinsed, this residue is removed, allowing tensions to be released. This has an effect on the whole body – the skin may become cleaner and softer, and conditions such as eczema can be alleviated or even cured. The senses are sharpened, as though they had been "muffled" and are now unblocked. I will never forget the taste of the steamed carrot I ate after my first intestinal cleanse. It tasted more like a carrot than I had ever experienced before.

However, the effects are not only physical, such as an improvement in taste and smell. As the tensions in the stomach and abdomen are released, the energy that was bound there becomes available and the body feels light and healthy. It becomes easier to calm down, which in turn makes it easier to learn yoga and meditation.

Where can I learn Shankhaprakshalana?

The Scandinavian Yoga & Meditation School offers intestinal cleanses regularly in Stockholm and Copenhagen. It is also part of all our retreats at Håå Retreat Center in southern Sweden.

Even though the intestinal cleanse is easy to do, it requires the guidance of a teacher with personal experience, and should not be done alone, but only together with others in a group.

We urge yoga teachers not to use or teach Shankhaprakshalana until they have the necessary experience and training. We also ask authors not to rewrite or summarize this article in their own words. It is based on personal experience and a direct introduction to the method, and should not be retold as second-hand knowledge.

Upcoming dates

Full retreat schedule »

The process

It is necessary to set aside a whole day and not make any other plans for the afternoon and evening. Dinner should be skipped the day before. You can eat some fruit and drink water or herbal tea, but not dairy.

If you suffer from any illness, consult your yoga teacher before doing the intestinal cleanse.

The intestinal cleanse starts by drinking a glass of salt water and performing five simple exercises that help the water pass through the intestines. Afterwards, you drink another glass of salt water, do the exercises and continue like this.

After the sixth glass, you begin to go to the toilet following the exercises. Gradually, as you drink more glasses and do the exercises, the water that is evacuated becomes lighter and contains fewer and fewer particles. In the end it is almost as clear as the water you have been drinking, and free of particles.

The intestinal cleanse is now complete. In total, 16 glasses of salt water, or slightly more, are consumed. Do not drink ordinary water during the process.

The water used for the intestinal cleanse must be physiological saline, containing approximately 0.9% sodium chloride – the same concentration as that of body fluids. This isotonic solution passes through the easily while maintaining equal osmotic pressure across the intestinal wall. As a result, the body neither absorbs nor loses significant amounts of water or salt. The saline solution remains within the gastrointestinal tract as it moves through the system and is eventually expelled through the rectum.

We have found that some people react negatively to sea salt. We recommend using ordinary rock salt, free from additives. We generally use Himalaya Salt or Luisenhaller rock salt.

The ease with which the water passes through the intestines also depends on the temperature of the water. It should be similar in temperature to a bowl of warm soup.

The exercises

Stomach Cleanse, Kunjal Kriya

Shankhaprakshalana is followed by Kunjal, the stomach cleanse.

The water used for the stomach cleanse has the same salt concentration as that used for Shankhaprakshalana, but is slightly cooler, just below body temperature.

Kunjal Kriya should not be confused with Kriya Yoga, which is an advanced meditation technique.

In Sanskrit, Kunjal means "to throw up water", and Kriya means "process".

You drink the water in one go until the stomach is full – approximately 1½ litres – and, if it has the right temperature, the water will come up by itself. Otherwise, you can insert two fingers down your throat and trigger the vomiting reflex.

Kunjal is a simple and quick process that produces a feeling of well-being and relaxation. It is used against stomach and digestive problems, headache, nervousness, asthma, common cold and coughing.

Kunjal Kriya can be practiced every morning on an empty stomach, for up to forty days. No special diet is required after practicing Kunjal, but wait 45 minutes before eating.

Nose cleanse, Neti

Afterwards, the nose is cleansed using the same physiological saline water, this time at body temperature. The spout of a neti pot is placed into one nostril, so that it sits tight. The head is held at an angle so that the water runs by itself in through one nostril and out of the other. The process is repeated with the other nostril.

Read more about how to practice Neti »

Rest and food

After you have cleansed and dried your nose, do the exercises and go to toilet once more to get any remaining water out. Then lie down and rest for 45 minutes. You should not sleep, but just lie and relax, maybe listening to some pleasant music.

By the end of the practice the whole digestive system has been flushed out and pure water is being passed. After this is completed, the practitioner rests totally for forty-five to sixty minutes. This period is the only opportunity that the digestive system (including the pancreas and liver) ever gets to really rest, because only when the intestines are completely empty, do digestive nerve impulses and glandular secretions stop. In this short time, the internal organs are able to revitalize themselves and when the rest period is finished the practitioner eats a simple meal of Khichari (rice boiled with lentils and ghee).

Dr. Swami Shankaradevananda Saraswati
Yogic Management of Asthma and Diabetes

This meal, consisting of rice, lentils, and ghee (clarified butter, the clear oil from heated butter) helps the digestive process start again in a gentle and balanced way. Eat plenty. Vegans can use coconut oil instead of ghee. Do not drink water and do not take a bath for the next four hours. After the four hours, drink warm water only for the rest of the day.

Take it easy until bedtime. You can take a walk in the fresh air, but don't do anything strenuous. Avoid getting cold.

The diet

The first ten days after the intestinal cleansing, it is important to keep a special diet of easily digestible food. The food should be mild, because the intestines are sensitive, and also to give the nervous system a break from strong stimulation.

During these ten days, the food should be simple, easily digestible and neutral, consisting of fresh vegetables, preferably organic. Avoid canned and processed foods.

Eat as much as you like. It is not a weight loss diet, but people who are overweight often lose weight.

What can I eat after the intestinal cleanse?

• Cooked grains (e.g., rice, quinoa, oats, egg-free pasta, bread)
• Most kinds of vegetables, steamed or boiled
• Legumes (e.g., beans, lentils, chickpeas)

What should I not eat?

• Animal products (e.g., meat, fish, eggs, dairy)
• Coffee and black tea
• Alcohol
• Sweets (e.g., sugar, honey, chocolate)
• Strong spices (e.g., ginger, chili, black pepper)
• Onion, garlic, leek
• Raw vegetables
• Fruit
• Fried foods
• Fermented foods (e.g. sauerkraut, plant yogurt)
• Raw nuts and seeds

Ten days after the intestinal cleanse, you can start eating normally again, but is it highly recommended to avoid meat, fish, eggs and alcohol for another 30 days.

Diet planning and preparation

If you are unsure whether you can eat a certain food during the diet period, ask yourself if you would give it to a baby. If not, avoid it until after the diet.

A diet of cooked vegetables and grains may seem boring, but you can make interesting dishes by using your creativity. After a couple of days, you can start seasoning the food with mild herbs. Use salt sparingly.

It is important to follow the diet carefully, as breaking it early may result in unpleasant symptoms.

When joining a retreat at Håå Retreat Center, the meals will be provided, so you won’t need to plan the diet yourself.

Bear in mind that your body will be more sensitive after the diet period. You may not feel the same need for stimulants like coffee or sugar. Pay attention to signals from your body. After an intestinal cleanse, it is easier than usual to change your eating habits. It can also be a good time to stop smoking, as many lose the desire to smoke after the cleanse.

It may take a few days before you start having bowel movements. This is normal, but to support the digestive process, you can soak a tablespoon of flaxseed in water overnight, and eat in the morning.

The small intestinal cleanse, Laghoo Shankhaprakshalana

Laghoo Shankhaprakshalana is a shorter version of the intestinal cleanse. It can be used as part of a special treatment, for example by people suffering from diabetes. In this case, it is done every morning for forty days, following the full intestinal cleanse.

Only six to eight glasses of salt water are consumed, and there is no need to observe a special diet afterwards. The same exercises as in the full Shankhaprakshalana are done after every other glass.

The small intestinal cleanse is done in the morning on an empty stomach. Unlike the full intestinal cleanse, which is usually only done once or twice a year, the small cleanse can be done as often as necessary.

Research on Shankhaprakshalana

Shankhaprakshalana has been used in medical settings since at least 1961, when Swami Anandananda founded the Yogic Treatment-cum-Research Center in Jaipur. Swami Anandananda oversaw the treatment, in collaboration with a team of physicians, which consisted of the full intestinal cleanse, followed by various yoga programmes and supplemented with the small intestinal cleanse, which was done as often as needed. With these simple forms of treatment, diabetes (especially type II diabetes) and asthma patients experienced a noticeable improvement, if not full recovery.

In more recent years, Shankhaprakshalana has been studied as a potential treatment for a range of conditions, including back pain, high blood pressure, overweight, and diabetes. A 2024 meta-analysis published in the Indian Journal of Gastroenterology summarizes some of these findings, with encouraging results. Shankhaprakshalana has also been shown to be an effective and more comfortable method for bowel preparation before colonoscopy.