Interview with Balvinder Sidhu: "Effective Ayurvedic Detoxification Treatments"

"An Ayurvedic purification frees the organism on all three levels, i.e. body, mind and soul, from the burdens of the past and gives us back our original energy and our 'all-round feeling of well-being'." Ayurveda therapist Balvinder Sidhu - author of the books "Ayurveda Detox" and "Ayurveda: Energy Source" - explains in an interview what fascinates her about the ancient Indian healing system and how "purification" and detoxification with Ayurveda works.

With “Ayurveda Detox” you have now published your fourth book about the Indian healing system. What fascinates you about this holistic health doctrine and what is special about your new guide?

Balvinder Sidhu: What fascinates me about Ayurveda is that it is much more than a healing doctrine - it is a way of life. A way of life with the potential to change our lives for the better. The treasure chest that is Ayurveda contains the potential for a healthy and happy life. We just have to open the box. I am lucky that my family has been so closely connected to Indian healing doctrine for generations and that I was therefore able to benefit from the Ayurvedic tradition from a young age. With my books, I want to make this valuable knowledge accessible to everyone and, above all, useful for Western society. That is why I have developed two effective Ayurvedic detoxification treatments for my new guide "Ayurveda Detox" that can be wonderfully integrated into our everyday Western lives.

More and more people today feel sick and weak, although from a conventional medical perspective no cause can be found. Where do these complaints come from and how can Ayurveda help to cure them?

Balvinder Sidhu: Our everyday lives have changed a lot over time. Our days are much more jam-packed with professional and private appointments. We don't allow ourselves enough time to pause. And that's exactly where the crux of the matter lies: our body, our soul and our mind all need time off to rid themselves of the toxins that inevitably build up over time. If this doesn't happen, old burdens build up that can block us in all areas of life in the long term. This means that, even though no cause can be identified from a conventional medical perspective, we no longer feel well and are listless. An Ayurvedic detox frees the organism of the old burdens on all three levels - body, mind and soul - and gives us back our original energy and our "all-round feeling of well-being".

Everything that our organism cannot use becomes a burden for it. Digestion therefore plays a key role in Ayurvedic medicine. What are the findings of Ayurveda's nutritional theory based on?

Balvinder Sidhu: In Ayurveda we distinguish between three constitutions, the doshas. Each of us is born with an individual dosha distribution. In addition to many other characteristics, this distribution also determines which foods and preparation methods are good for us. This is why there is no one-size-fits-all diet plan in Ayurvedic detoxification. The recommendations are always tailored to the respective dosha type.

There are many different symptoms that indicate a build-up of toxins in the body and a heavy burden on the mind and soul. What are the most important symptoms and what Ayurvedic diagnostic methods are there?

Balvinder Sidhu: The symptoms are extremely varied and manifest themselves both externally and internally - usually in combination. Those affected often complain of hair loss and skin problems, digestive problems, fatigue and sleep disorders, among other things. Every Ayurvedic therapy begins with a pulse diagnosis. Unlike in conventional medicine, we take a holistic approach here too. Clients in my institute are always surprised at what their pulse reveals about their constitution. At Kaya Veda in Augsburg, we also work with face and tongue diagnosis - both of which are also traditional Ayurvedic methods.

In your book you describe some methods that are easy to integrate into everyday life to help the body remove waste and toxins. What are these methods and do you need special tools to do this?

Balvinder Sidhu: One of the most important basic principles of Ayurveda is: "Everything you need to be healthy and happy is already there. It's inside you." You'll also notice this when you read my book: apart from a few small, supporting aids, which are all easy to obtain, all you need is yourself. In Ayurveda Detox I present you with specific cleansing methods for the body, mind and soul that are particularly easy to fit into everyday life. On a physical level, these are different external and internal cleansing methods that are easy to carry out every day, e.g. of the tongue, mouth or lungs. To "declutter" the soul, I recommend various mindfulness exercises.

In most detoxification concepts, the mind and soul are completely ignored. Yet it is precisely unresolved feelings and constant stress that lead to physical symptoms. What methods does Ayurveda use to get rid of emotional baggage?

Balvinder Sidhu: It is precisely these mindfulness exercises that we have just mentioned that allow us to free ourselves from emotional burdens. It is about listening to yourself and examining the status quo of your own inner life, but also of the relationships you have. The best way to do this is with daily meditation. You will be amazed at how much strength and peace you can gain from just a few minutes of "going within" each day.

After the detoxification treatments, it is a good time to rethink your eating and lifestyle habits. What can you recommend based on your many years of experience?

Balvinder Sidhu: I always recommend to my clients: Don't fall back into old patterns. Make some elements of the detox treatment, such as a short meditation, part of your daily ritual! The most important thing is not to lose sight of yourself again after the detoxification. If we are mindful and listen to our body, if we pay attention to what is good for us and avoid what is not good for us, then we have already gained a lot.

Book tip:
Balvinder Sidhu: Ayurveda Detox - Holistic detoxification and purification - Ayurvedic intestinal care - Tips for every type and every day. Mankau Verlag 2019, paperback, 13.5 x 21.5 cm, 158 pages, 12.95 euros (D) / 13.40 euros (A), ISBN 978-3-86374-499-1.

Link recommendations:
More information about the guide book "Ayurveda Detox"
To the reading sample of the book "Ayurveda Detox"
More about the author Balvinder Sidhu
To the discussion forum with Balvinder Sidhu