Kunjal Therapy – The Gentle Art of Stomach Cleansing

Madhukar Dama
Aug 13
7 min read

-- Kunjal is our family's first choice for headaches, acidity or indigestion.

-- Hundreds of our clients have healed from acidity with just this simple method.

-- Make it as a first choice for curing acidity.

-- Kunjal may sound difficult. Not at all. Once you do it - it is so easy.

---

Step into the world of Kunjal Kriya — a time-tested yogic cleansing that leaves your stomach light, your breath fresh, and your mind clear. In this guide, you’ll discover its history, benefits, exact method, and the quiet joy of starting your day unburdened. Whether you seek relief from acidity, mucus, or mental fog, or simply wish to feel lighter inside, Kunjal offers a simple, natural way to reset from within.

---

1. Introduction

Most people in cities today wake up carrying yesterday inside them. Yesterday’s food, yesterday’s stress, yesterday’s mucus. It sits there, heavy in the belly, coating the tongue, dulling the mind. They try coffee, they try antacids, they try mouth fresheners — but nothing moves that heaviness.

Kunjal Therapy is not new. It’s older than your grandfather’s grandfather. A practice that begins with drinking warm salted water and ends with a clear, light stomach. Some call it Kunjal Kriya, others just Kunjal. In old yogic texts, it sits proudly under Shatkarma, the six cleansing practices.

But here’s the truth — this is not a trick, not a dare, not a “detox fad.” This is a method of keeping one of your most important organs — the stomach — clean, so your whole system works better.

---

2. Roots and History

Hatha Yoga Pradipika (written over 500 years ago) mentions Vamana Dhauti — therapeutic vomiting — as a way to clean the stomach before deeper yogic practices.

Ayurveda includes something similar in Panchakarma: Vamana Karma, done with herbal decoctions, to remove excess Kapha.

In rural India, before words like “yoga” and “naturopathy” became fashionable, elders simply called it pet saaf karna — clearing the stomach. Farmers would do it before planting season to avoid seasonal fevers.

---

3. How Kunjal Works

When you drink lukewarm salted water on an empty stomach, three things happen:

1. The stomach fills up and stretches, triggering a natural urge to vomit.

2. The salt in the water prevents it from being absorbed — so it stays in the stomach instead of passing to the intestines.

3. When you expel it, it carries away mucus, acid, and residues that would otherwise sit there fermenting.

The result?

Lighter body

Fresher breath

Clearer mind

Reduced morning acidity

---

4. Benefits Seen in Practice

Digestive Relief

Chronic acidity calms down

Reduces bloating

Improves appetite regulation

Respiratory Help

Less throat mucus

Seasonal sinus issues reduce

Mental Calm

Gut-brain link means less irritability

Morning mental fog clears

Preventive Health

Keeps Kapha (mucus) excess in check

Reduces risk of bacterial growth in stagnant stomach contents

---

5. Who Should Avoid It

Do not do Kunjal if you:

Are pregnant

Have hernia, stomach ulcer, or severe acidity flare-up

Have uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease

Recently had surgery

Are under 12 years old without medical supervision

---

6. Getting Ready

Best Time: Early morning, empty stomach.

Best Place: Quiet, private space — maybe the bathroom, maybe a clean backyard.

Best Mood: Calm and unhurried. This is not a rush job.

---

7. The Step-by-Step Method

This video gives complete demonstration of the Kunjal Therapy - https://youtu.be/MbF5oieLBdI?feature=shared

You’ll Need:

1.5–2 liters of lukewarm water

1–1.5 tsp rock salt per liter (not iodized salt)

Optional: pinch of turmeric

Procedure:

1. Warm your body: walk a few minutes or do light stretches.

2. Drink the salted water quickly until your stomach feels full.

3. Bend slightly forward, open your mouth, and gently insert two or three fingers at the back of your tongue.

4. Relax and let the stomach contract — water will come out easily.

5. Continue until the water comes out almost as clean as it went in.

6. Rinse your mouth.

---

8. Aftercare

Rest for 15–20 minutes.

Sip a little warm herbal tea or rice gruel.

Eat light, warm food for your first meal.

---

9. How Often

For general health: once every 2–4 weeks.

For acute congestion or acidity: daily for 3–7 days (guided).

For seasonal change: 2–3 times at the start of summer/winter.

---

10. What People Get Wrong

Using cold water → stomach cramps.

Too much salt → dizziness, dehydration.

Doing it after meals → discomfort, reflux.

Forcing too much → sore throat, irritation.

---

11. Real Stories from the Field

Raghu, 38, IT Employee, Bengaluru

“Two years of popping antacids every morning. My friend took me to a naturopathy camp. First day — kunjal. The first gag made me think I’d never do it again. But by the third session, I woke up feeling light, hungry for breakfast, and my acidity stayed away for days.”

Shanti, 52, School Teacher, Mysuru

“Every winter, I would have a blocked nose till March. This time, I did kunjal three mornings in a row at season change. My sinuses didn’t trouble me at all.”

---

12. Risks and Misuse

Doing it daily for months without reason can weaken stomach lining.

Using it as a binge-purge tool for weight loss can cause serious harm.

Relying only on kunjal while ignoring diet, stress, and medical needs is a mistake.

---

13. Prevention First

Kunjal works best as part of a bigger picture:

Balanced, seasonal diet

Avoiding late-night heavy meals

Walking daily

Managing stress through breathing and rest

---

Here’s a detailed, exhaustive list of conditions and situations where Kunjal Therapy is known to help — either as a main practice or as a supportive measure.

I’ll group them for clarity, because this practice works on multiple systems at once.

---

A. Digestive System Issues

(Primary domain — Kunjal acts directly here)

1. Chronic acidity / hyperacidity

2. Gastritis (mild, non-ulcer type)

3. Morning heaviness in stomach

4. Nausea without infection

5. Belching and burping due to excess stomach gas

6. Indigestion from overeating the previous night

7. Loss of appetite due to stomach congestion

8. Mild food stagnation after travel or irregular meals

9. Bad breath from stomach origin

10. Morning coated tongue from digestive residue

---

B. Respiratory & ENT Issues

(Kunjal helps by reducing mucus and post-nasal drip)

11. Chronic sinusitis

12. Seasonal sinus blockages

13. Throat mucus accumulation (phlegm in morning)

14. Post-nasal drip

15. Mild bronchitis linked to mucus overproduction

16. Allergic rhinitis with heavy mucus

17. Mild asthma triggered by throat mucus

18. Recurrent sore throat from mucus irritation

19. Morning hoarseness from mucus in vocal cords

---

C. Head & Mind-Related Issues

(Gut-brain and gut-respiration links play a role here)

20. Morning headaches linked to acidity

21. Heaviness in head from sinus congestion

22. Brain fog / mental dullness on waking

23. Daytime lethargy from poor stomach emptying

24. Mild anxiety from gut discomfort

25. Poor concentration due to heaviness in head and gut

---

D. Seasonal & Lifestyle-Related Uses

(Preventive and general wellness cases)

26. Change-of-season detox (spring, autumn)

27. Before starting deep pranayama or meditation

28. Post-festival overeating cleanup (e.g., Diwali, weddings)

29. After long travel with irregular meals

30. During early signs of seasonal flu (Kapha-dominant)

31. Reducing hangover heaviness (without alcohol withdrawal issues)

32. Prevention of seasonal throat infections in teachers/singers

---

E. Skin & Allergy-Related

(When linked to stomach and mucus overload)

33. Acne triggered by digestive congestion

34. Mild eczema aggravated by Kapha imbalance

35. Itchy skin from digestive toxins (Ama in Ayurveda)

36. Hives linked to allergic food reactions

---

F. Naturopathy & Yoga Integration

(Therapeutic sequencing and preparation)

37. Before fasting therapy to clear stomach

38. Before certain Panchakarma therapies

39. As part of shatkarma for yoga students

40. Before advanced breathwork (Kapalabhati, Bhastrika)

41. To prepare for Ayurvedic Vamana Karma (medicated emesis)

---

G. Emotional & Behavioral Support

(Through gut-brain axis and lightness effect)

42. Morning irritability linked to acidity

43. Mild mood swings from heaviness in gut

44. Reducing sugar cravings linked to gut stagnation

45. Supporting early withdrawal from tea/coffee habit

---

Important Note

Kunjal Therapy is supportive, not curative, for many of these conditions. It works best when combined with:

A mucus-light diet (less dairy, fried food, refined sugar)

Good hydration

Proper sleep

Seasonal lifestyle adjustments

---

Epilogue – Returning to Lightness

When you first hear of Kunjal Therapy, it may sound strange — to drink and then gently let it all go. But once you experience it, you understand that it’s not about forcing the body to do something unnatural. It’s about giving the body a chance to release what it has been holding onto unnecessarily.

In a world that tells you to keep adding — more food, more pills, more stimulation — Kunjal teaches you to subtract. It is an act of cleaning, not just of the stomach, but of the start of your day. You begin lighter, your breath fresher, your head clearer. And when you start your morning like that, it changes how you meet the world.

Like all traditional practices, it works best with respect and rhythm. Done occasionally, with care, it is like opening the windows of a closed room and letting the morning breeze in.

Your stomach, after all, is not just a vessel for food — it is the first meeting point between the world and your inner self. Keep it clean, and the rest of you will follow.

---

Some mornings are meant for filling, some for emptying.

You pour in the warm salted water,

and with it, pour out the heaviness of yesterday.

What remains is not an empty stomach,

but a clean slate —

ready to greet the day without carrying the past.

Hello Seeker,

If my words or work have helped you heal, think, or simply slow down for a moment,

I’ll be grateful if you choose to support me.

I live simply and work quietly, offering my time and knowledge freely to those who seek it.

Your contribution—no matter how small or big — helps me keep doing this work without distraction.