Shankhaprakshalanam (Shankha Prakshalana) - Complete Guide

What Is It?

• Shankha = conch shell (representing the coiled, spiral shape of the alimentary canal from mouth to anus)
• Prakshalana = to wash completely

Sources: Yoga Point, Scandinavian Yoga & Meditation School, Yoga in Daily Life

Types

STEP 1 - Pre-Procedure Preparation (Night Before & Morning Of)

The Evening Before:

• Skip dinner the night before
• Light fruit or herbal tea is acceptable; avoid dairy
• Ensure complete rest and mental calm

Morning Preparation:

• Begin early morning, ideally 6:00-7:00 AM, on a completely empty stomach
• Choose a location with fresh air (garden, terrace, open area) and a toilet nearby
• Practice in a calm, relaxed atmosphere - group practice is helpful for motivation

Prepare the Saline Solution:

• Water: Clean, lukewarm water at 38-40°C (body temperature)
• Salt: 2 teaspoons of salt per 1 liter of water
• Optional: Juice of 1 lemon per liter (no sugar)
• Prepare enough for approximately 16 glasses (4 liters)
• Lukewarm temperature is important: it promotes movement of stagnant stool and mucus, and triggers frequent elimination. Cold water would cause bowel constriction; hot water would damage mucosa.

Special Meal Preparation (Before You Start):

• Prepare khichdi (rice + moong dal cooked together with ghee and turmeric, no salt) in advance so it is ready after the procedure

Source: Yoga Point, Dharshmi Yoga Academy

STEP 2 - The Cleansing Procedure (Core Process)

How One Round Works:

1. Drink 2 glasses (500 ml) of lukewarm saline water quickly, in a sitting position
2. Immediately perform all 5 asanas, 8 times each (= 40 movements per round)
3. After completing the asanas, attempt to go to the toilet
4. Repeat this cycle (2 glasses + 5 asanas) for 5-6 rounds total (approximately 16 glasses)

Progression of Bowel Output:

• Early rounds: Normal, formed stool
• Middle rounds: Looser, yellowish stool mixed with water
• Later rounds: Cloudy, yellowish water with decreasing solid content
• End point: Clear (or nearly clear) water exits the bowel - this signals completion

Source: Dharshmi Yoga Academy, Scandinavian Yoga & Meditation School

STEP 3 - The Five Asanas (Performed in Order, 8 Times Each)

Asana 1: Tadasana (Mountain/Palm Tree Pose)

• Position: Stand upright, feet slightly apart
• Movement: Interlock fingers, raise arms overhead with palms facing upward, rise onto tiptoes
• Hold: 3-5 seconds, then return
• Purpose: Stretches the entire torso, creates upward pressure that opens the pyloric valve between the stomach and small intestine, encouraging water to move from stomach into duodenum

Asana 2: Tiryaka Tadasana (Swaying Palm Tree Pose)

• Position: From Tadasana, arms raised overhead
• Movement: Bend sideways from the waist - right, then left (alternating)
• Purpose: Lateral stretching of the digestive tract, squeezes the sides of the abdomen, helps water move along the ascending and descending colon

Asana 3: Kati Chakrasana (Waist Rotating Pose)

• Position: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms extended sideways
• Movement: Twist the entire trunk left and right, wrapping arms around the body
• Purpose: Rotational pressure on the abdominal viscera, particularly squeezes the transverse colon and the hepatic/splenic flexures; propels water through the corners of the large intestine

Asana 4: Tiryaka Bhujangasana (Twisting Cobra Pose)

• Position: Prone (lying face down), hands under shoulders, come into a cobra-like backbend
• Movement: In the cobra position, twist the neck and shoulders to look over the left shoulder toward the right heel, then right shoulder to left heel
• Purpose: Compresses and stretches the small intestine and ileum; increases peristalsis in the lower small bowel; helps water move toward the ileocecal valve into the colon

Asana 5: Udarakarshanasana (Abdominal Stretch Pose)

• Position: Squat (malasana-like), hands on knees
• Movement: Twist the trunk, bringing one knee down to the floor (e.g., right knee touches the floor while left knee presses toward the chest), alternating sides
• Purpose: Directly compresses and squeezes the large intestine (sigmoid colon and rectum); creates contraction and relaxation waves in the alimentary canal; this is the key pose for stimulating the final passage of water through the bowel and expulsion

Sources: Dharshmi Yoga Academy, Yoga Point

STEP 4 - Post-Procedure: Immediate Rest

• After the final clear water evacuation, do NOT drink ordinary water
• Lie in Shavasana (corpse pose) for 45-60 minutes
• Do NOT fall asleep - sleep may cause headache, cold, or body ache
• Maintain complete silence; allow the digestive system to reset
• Cover the body warmly
• Passing urine during this rest period is normal

• Kunjal Kriya (Dhauti) - drink plain unsalted water and voluntarily expel it to cleanse the stomach, esophagus, and bronchi
• Jala Neti - nasal irrigation to prevent post-procedure headache

Sources: Yoga in Daily Life, Yoga Point

STEP 5 - The Post-Procedure Meal (Khichdi)

Why Khichdi?

How to Eat:

• Eat a sufficient, generous quantity - enough to keep the intestinal walls stretched; eating too little may cause intestinal cramping
• Rest after the first meal; avoid sleep for 3 hours
• Repeat the meal again after approximately 6 hours
• Vegans may substitute coconut oil for ghee

What to Avoid Immediately:

• Do not drink water or take a bath for 4 hours after the meal
• After 4 hours, drink warm water only for the rest of the day

Sources: Scandinavian Yoga & Meditation School, Yoga Point

STEP 6 - Post-Procedure Diet (Days Following)

Sources: Yoga in Daily Life, Scandinavian Yoga & Meditation School

Frequency of Practice

• Standard recommendation: 2 times per year (mid-October to November; mid-March to April - at seasonal transitions)
• Some traditions recommend 4 times per year, at each change of season, when the body's biorhythm shifts
• Never exceed twice per year for the full (Poorna) version

Benefits (Traditional Claims)

• Purifies the blood and detoxifies the body
• Removes accumulated waste, fermented food particles, and mucus from the entire GI tract
• Improves digestion and gut motility
• Claimed to help with: skin diseases (acne, psoriasis, neurodermatitis), allergies (hay fever), springtime lethargy
• Balancing effect on the mind and nervous system
• May support management of diabetes (via Laghu version)

Source: Yoga in Daily Life

Contraindications (Do NOT Perform If)

• Age under 15 years
• Pregnancy
• During menstruation
• Very low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Gastritis or peptic ulcers
• Weak kidneys or kidney stones
• Large gallstones
• Hernia (especially abdominal)
• Chronic uncontrolled diabetes
• Mental illness
• Any active illness - consult a physician and yoga teacher first

Beginner Modification (6-Day Gradual Method)

• Day 1: 1 round of saline water + asanas, then evacuate
• Day 2: 2 rounds
• Day 3: 3 rounds
• Continue adding one round each day until completing 6 rounds on Day 6

Source: Dharshmi Yoga Academy

Important Safety Note

This practice should never be attempted without guidance from an experienced yoga teacher and, if applicable, a medical practitioner. The electrolyte shifts, physical demands, and post-procedure dietary requirements are significant. It is not a self-administered home remedy.

Summary Table