Inside My 7-Day Ayurvedic Spring Cleanse
This week was Spring Cleanse Week, and I want to share what the cleanse itself actually looked like.
Everyone’s experience is a little different, but I find that sharing the rhythm, the meals, the tired moments, and the energy shifts helps others prepare for their version. Below is a glimpse into my journey and how I navigated each day, what I ate, and how I supported my body and mind.
Day 1 – Easing In with Substance and Simplicity
When I start a cleanse, I prefer to take it slowly. I don’t jump into thin soups or restriction; I start with grounding, slightly denser foods that ease the transition. On day one, I made kitchadi and a beetroot and taro root soup.
Beetroot helps stimulate bile flow, aiding digestion and alleviating heaviness. Taro root provides grounding and supports toxin elimination by binding to and guiding them into the gastrointestinal tract. Just removing “nonsense food” is already a huge act of cleansing.
I also focus on returning to a rhythm: three meals a day, no snacking, warm meals, and mindful eating. Letting go of small habits (like crisps with my tea) is already a powerful shift.
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Day 2 – Lightening Up & Herbal Support
Still having kitchadi, but I made a lighter zucchini and fennel soup. I increased hydration with ginger-lemon tea and hot water.
I also introduced Ayurvedic herbs:
Neem (after meals): removes toxins from tissues
Triphala (at night): supports elimination
Turmeric (morning and evening): targets inflammation and supports the liver
These herbs work in conjunction with the food to support a deeper cleanse by aiding digestion and helping the body flush toxins safely and gently.
Day 3 – Settling In & Observing Cravings
Meals were more liquid: mung dal and spinach soup. I felt focused and productive throughout the day, although I was tired in the afternoon. I took a 10-minute rest and bounced back with more clarity.
I noticed I wasn’t really hungry in the evening but craved texture—something to chew. This is often more mental than physical hunger. Sipping hot water every 15 minutes has helped with digestion and those cravings.
Day 4 – The Turning Point
Day 4 is when things shift. The body adjusts to the cleanse, and digestion begins working efficiently. Hunger is less intense, and I felt more energetic and lighter.
I had mung dal with taro and spinach during the day, and, in the evening, the same soup with two chapatis. Eating early helped, and the chapatis gave enough grounding to keep me going during my evening classes.
Day 5 – Supporting a More Physical Day
This day was physical work with massages, so I started it with oat porridge for a little more substance. For lunch, I made mung dal with spinach and spring cabbage. Cabbage is not typically considered a standard cleansing food, as it can aggravate the Vata dosha. However, spring cabbage is softer, smoother, and easier to digest than standard cabbage.
Again, chapatis helped bring texture and satiety. I noticed mung dal keeps me full longer than kitchadi, making it great for more active days. My energy has been steady, and rest breaks keep me balanced.
Day 6 – Staying Steady
A teaching day. So I had oat porridge for breakfast and mung dal with carrots and spinach for lunch and dinner. I felt a bit tired after the week.
Day 7 – Deep Cleanse and Elimination
Day 7 focuses on helping the body fully eliminate toxins that have been drawn from the tissues.
It’s my least favourite part - it involves castor oil, but it is an essential part and not to be skipped.
I prepared the night before with hot spiced milk and ghee (a mild laxative), and then in the morning, I took 4 tablespoons of castor oil with 1 tsp of triphala in ginger tea. It kicked in after 90 minutes.
The amount of castor oil depends very much on how your body reacts to it. My body reacts quite fast and I can’t take much, these four spoons are the maximum for me. But, if your body needs more, you would need to repeat the process after 2-3 hours.
This step ensures that toxins are actually removed from the body. If they stay, they’ll keep circulating and potentially create new imbalances.
Until elimination was complete, I only had fluids, such as vegetable stock, ginger tea, and hot water. Once the castor oil had done its job and I felt hungry, I had a light, liquid kitchadi in the early afternoon and evening. I felt tired but clear.
The next day should be restful. Meals should remain light, and reintroducing heavier foods should be done gradually. Read on to learn why.
But first.
What I didn’t manage to do: going to bed early, however earlier than usual.
These have been my favourite add-ons:
I took it easy and avoided stress.
Surya Namaskar and Kapalabhati breathing in the mornings.
Practised foot massages with a Kansa wand in the evenings, which helped draw access heat from the body.
Journaling and time for introspection.
How to Reintroduce Foods After an Ayurvedic Cleanse
Completing an Ayurvedic cleanse is a powerful way to reset your digestion, boost your energy, and improve your overall well-being.
However, the real magic often occurs after the cleanse is over.
This post-cleanse phase, known in Ayurveda as samsarjana krama, is the gradual reintroduction of foods and routines that allow your digestion (Agni) to rebuild and strengthen.
During a cleanse, meals are simplified and light, which gives digestion a rest but also temporarily weakens the digestive fire, or Agni. The purpose of samsarjana krama is to gently reignite that digestive fire, starting with very easy-to-digest foods and slowly increasing in complexity as strength returns.
Most people feel so good after a cleanse that they want to celebrate with coffee, bread, or even fried food. But jumping back into heavy or processed foods too quickly can undo the benefits you’ve just gained. Worse still, it can overload your still-sensitive digestive system, leading to symptoms such as bloating, brain fog, fatigue, or skin breakouts.
Instead, think of this phase as an opportunity to lock in the benefits of the cleanse and gently transition into more sustainable, healthy eating habits. It’s also a powerful time to break the cycle of unhelpful habits and replace them with nourishing, supportive routines.
Let’s look at this process in detail.
🥣 Days 1–3 Post-Cleanse: Rebuild & Stabilise
Focus on light, warm, soupy meals
Examples: Liquidy kitchadi, pureed vegetable soups, steamed zucchini, carrots, spinach.
Avoid: Bread, dairy, meat, coffee, raw food, cold drinks, fried or processed foods.
Support: Sip warm water or ginger tea throughout the day. Use Deepana spices, they kindle the Agni, the digestive fire, like ginger, black pepper, cumin, fennel and lemon.
Goal: Awaken digestion gently and maintain regular elimination.
🥭 Days 4–5: Gentle Variety
Begin introducing slightly denser vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, squash, and courgettes.
Add grains such as quinoa or millet and small portions of toasted sourdough bread or chapatis.
Still no coffee, meat, fried foods, or processed snacks.
Tip: Keep meals warm, spiced, and simple. Avoid combining too many food types at once.
🧀 Days 6–7: Building Digestive Strength
Continue with warm meals.
Introduce small portions of sprouted or sourdough bread if you haven’t already.
If you drink coffee, this is the time to reintroduce it gradually (start with half a cup, ideally with milk or spices like cardamom).
Note: Watch your energy and digestion closely. Don’t reintroduce everything at once.
🥗 Days 8–10: Heavier Proteins & More Variety
Add light animal proteins such as:
Bone broth
Steamed or poached chicken
Soft-boiled or poached eggs
Light fish
Continue to eat slowly and chew thoroughly
Reminder: Stick to lunchtime for heavier foods, as Agni is strongest then.
🍟 After Day 10: Fried Foods (Only if Truly Needed!)
Fried foods are the hardest to digest and should be avoided for at least 10–14 days after the cleanse
If reintroduced, keep portions small and use digestive spices (like cumin, fennel, ginger)
Still avoid cold or carbonated drinks, and keep caffeine minimal
It may seem like a tedious and lengthy process, but your digestion will thank you with a strong and resilient digestive fire known as Agni. It is the Agni that keeps us healthy.
If you're curious about digestive fire (Agni), consider reading this post to understand your Agni type.
I also share more food-based tips in Comfort in a Bowl: Spiced Winter Porridge.
Final Thoughts
This cleanse wasn’t just a physical reset—it was a journey back to rhythm, simplicity, and awareness. From the grounding meals and mindful pauses to the elimination phase and gradual rebuilding, each day brought opportunities to listen to the body more deeply.
While the post-cleanse phase is essential for restoring Agni and transitioning back to regular eating, it’s the entire process—slowing down, simplifying, letting go—that makes the most impact.
Agni, our digestive fire, is more than just a gut function. It reflects our ability to process and transform not only food but also thoughts, emotions, and experiences. The cleanse quiets the noise; what we do after it determines what we carry forward.
Let this be more than a one-time detox. Let it be a starting point for more conscious nourishment on every level.
Go slow. Stay warm. Keep listening. Your body will thank you.
Resources
Samsarjana Krama Resources:
Samsarjana Krama - Graduated Dietetic Protocol After Cleansing Treatments
This article provides an in-depth explanation of the graduated dietary regimen followed after Ayurvedic cleansing treatments. Read more here
Herbal Products by Dr. Deepa:
Herbal Powders Collection
Explore a range of Ayurvedic herbal powders curated by Dr. Deepa, one of my lovely teachers, for various wellness needs.
Get 10% off with this link.Ayurveda Yoga Wellbeing with Dr. Deepa
Visit Dr. Deepa's official website for more information on her Ayurvedic products and services.
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Now, I’d love to hear from you: Have you done a spring cleanse before? What’s your experience? Let’s chat in the comments!
Let’s start a conversation. Leave a message on Instagram, Facebook, or even a good old email OR comment below :)
I love hearing from you!
Katja x
P.S. Did you know healthy eating habits are naturally essential during cleanses?
