Traditional Indian Practices: For Better Mornings and a Healthier You

(Photo : Mudassar Iqbal)

In the morning, when you wake up, what is the first thing you usually do? While others might say that they look at their phone and scroll through their social media apps, others might say that they go straight to the bathroom to do their morning routine. Routines could include skincare routines - applying moisturizers, exfoliating, and putting on sheet masks - or others.

ALSO READ: Why Drinking Water First Thing in the Morning Is Important

While South Korea and Japan are the countries you would be thinking that takes adequate care of oneself, other countries also have their version of routines. For centuries, the Indians practice Dinachraya or in Sanskrit, daily routines which affect the function of your body and influence your long-term health.

According to Paavani Ayurveda, Dinachraya is an ayurvedic practice that is done every day or routinely which ensures a happier and healthier life. They added that DInacraya should be practiced first thing in the morning in order to maintain the connection to the circadian rhythms of nature. They also emphasized that practicing dinachraya will connect our roots back to nature, which was been distorted by the societal norms and advancement of technology.

While basic routines compose of skin-caring activities, Dinachraya does not only pamper the skin but certain practices are concern with the soul and well-being of humans. But let us focus on three natural steps that concern the mouth and sleep that you can include in your morning routines.

Mouth Care

While you might be thinking that brushing your teeth alone is the only method you need to take care of your oral health, you might be wrong. The tongue is part of your mouth and is exposed to different tastes as you eat and also needs cleaning.

When not cleaned, the tongue usually contributes to bad breath which all of us do not want. An Indian method of cleaning the tongue is using a metal scraper. Tongue scrapers are used to remove the build-up of bacteria and dead cells in the tongue that can cause the indecent smell coming out of the mouth.

According to Medical News Today, togue scraping removes odor-causing substances such as volatile sulfur compounds. They also added that this step can be repeated because the sulfur compound continues to build throughout the day. Just remember to not hurt yourself.

In an interview with South China Morning Post, Nutrition Consultant from Mumbai India, RK Anushruti said that another method that can help oral health is oil pulling. She said in the interview that oil pulling detoxifies the mouth by eradicating detrimental bacteria, toxins, and viruses. According to Healthline, by swishing sesame oil or coconut oil for up to 20 minutes on an empty stomach, oil pulling may help in moisturizing the gums and increasing saliva production that can minimize bacteria build-up.

Sleep Time

Anushruti said in the interview that getting to bed before 10 pm is another rule of dinachraya that supports the liver and kidney's natural detoxing processes. She added in the interview that doing this prevents the liver from overheating that can cause digestive problems.

These are just a portion of the dinacharaya practices that may assist you in refining your health. It does make sense because taking care of your mouth especially the tongue will make you enjoy the taste of your food better and having a good night's sleep will boost your mood and energy the next day.

Ayurveda has a variety of practices that you can incorporate into your lifestyle. You may start with these three then dive into the rest when you feel good about them.

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