Upavasa)

Fasting should be used as a purification only if panchakarma cannot be done. Daily enemas and other heroic procedures should form no part of your fast. Professional guidance is recommended for prolonged fasting, as acute physical stress may occur if the system begins to mobilize ama faster than the organs of excretion can handle it.

• Vata: Should not fast on water or any severely restricted diet for more than a day or two. Absolute fasting for as little as a week can wreck metabolic balance in a Vata that may have taken months to obtain. Vata types should select a single food like khichadi on which they can live for a month or more. May fast once weekly or bimonthly on liquids other than water alone — some like lemon juice and honey in pure water, others enjoy juices, and those not allergic to dairy may prefer milk, fresh whey, or yogurt blended with water. None should be refrigerator-cold.
• Pitta: Can fast on liquids like fruit or vegetable juices or on raw fruits and vegetables, but not on water alone. Should not skimp on quantity. Can use diluted fruit juices like grape, prune, or pomegranate, or Bitter or Astringent vegetable juices like cucumber. Should avoid Sour juices.
• Kapha: Alone may indulge in a prolonged water fast. Otherwise may use raw juices. Kapha people in particular need to develop a regular weekly fasting habit to promote strong digestion. Should avoid juices that are either intensely Sweet or Sour.

Whether or not you have used panchakarma for purification, you must focus your healing process on balancing your unbalanced doshas.

• Vata imbalance: Use dry ginger, fennel, or dill to digest ama. Lemon, lime, or grapefruit for the Sour Taste; rock salt for the Salty Taste; and ginger or garlic for the Pungent Taste to rekindle digestion. Medicinal wines are excellent for the Vata digestive fire. Light, well-cooked food and warm liquids, especially with ginger added. Mild exercise, especially simple Yoga stretches, regular sunbathing, and indirect ventilation since strong winds increase Vata.
• Pitta imbalance: Use fennel to digest ama. Dry ginger if not too intense. Psyllium seed husks, Triphala, or any Bitter herb like gentian to rekindle digestion. Light or raw foods and juices with cold coriander or sandalwood tea. Strolling in the open air especially near flowing water, moderate sunbathing early or late in the day, and regular exposure to wind to help dry Pitta.
• Kapha imbalance: Use dry ginger, black pepper, or cumin to digest ama. Any Bitter or Pungent herbs like garlic or black pepper to enkindle the digestive fire. Small quantities of food, especially roasted, with as little liquid as possible. Tea of dry ginger is best. Vigorous exercise, extensive sunbathing well-wrapped if need be to encourage sweating, and wind bathing well-wrapped to preserve body heat.

Even after you quit using medicines, your dietary control must continue for at least six weeks, as must your restrictions on your normal habits of indulgence.

Ayurveda's texts list eight common practices which can recreate a disease in those who are healing:

• Excessive and forceful talking
• Travelling, especially long distance
• Excessive walking
• Continual sitting or lying in one position
• Overeating, leading to indigestion
• Inappropriate diet with improper food combining
• Sleeping during the day (except in summer)
• Any kind of sexual activity