The 185-Year-Old Yogi & His Exact Longevity Protocol!

Summary

In this podcast, Dr. Chiti Parikh, an integrative medicine physician, discusses the ancient science of Kayakalpa and its detoxification process, Panchakarma. She shares her personal journey of recovery from COVID-19 using these practices, which led to her writing 'Intentional Health.' The conversation explores the 28-Day Reset program, the importance of diet, and Ayurvedic principles for optimal health and rejuvenation.

Takeaways

• 😃 Dr. Chiti Parikh, an integrative medicine physician, shares her experience with COVID-19 and the subsequent long-haul symptoms she faced.
• 🌟 The ancient science of Kayakalpa, which translates to 'body transformation', was used by yogis to extend or reverse their physiological age and was the inspiration for Dr. Parikh's recovery protocol.
• 📚 Dr. Parikh's book, 'Intentional Health: Detoxify, Nourish, and Rejuvenate Your Body into Balance', incorporates elements of Ayurvedic medicine and her personal journey with Panchakarma, a detoxification ritual.
• 🧘 Kayakalpa involves intense practices such as complete sensory deprivation, meditation, and prolonged fasting, mimicking the womb environment to stimulate stem cells and the vagus nerve.
• 🌿 Panchakarma is a more accessible detox program that Dr. Parikh underwent, which includes a mono diet, ghee consumption, oil massages, and enemas to mobilize and purge toxins.
• 🔄 The 28-Day Reset program in the book is a simplified version of Panchakarma, designed to bring the body back to balance through four stages: preparation, detoxification, easing out, and rejuvenation.
• 🍵 Ayurvedic medicine emphasizes the importance of diet and lifestyle synchronization with the body's circadian rhythm for optimal health and digestion.
• 💧 Dr. Parikh advises against drinking excessively cold water or too much water during meals as it can dilute stomach acid and impair digestion.
• 🌱 The use of adaptogenic and rejuvenating herbs like amla (gooseberry) is highlighted as a key component in the rejuvenation phase of the 28-Day Reset for its high antioxidant content.
• 🌐 Dr. Parikh discusses the integration of Eastern and Western medicine, noting the growing acceptance and research into practices like acupuncture and herbal medicine within Western healthcare systems.

Q & A

What is the significance of the 185-year-old yogi mentioned in the conversation?

The 185-year-old yogi is significant because he is an example of someone who underwent the Kayakalpa process, an ancient science of body transformation used by yogis to extend or reverse their physiological age, allowing them to continue their spiritual pursuits without the body being a barrier.

What is Kayakalpa and how does it relate to the discussion with Dr. Chiti Parikh?

Kayakalpa is an ancient science that involves a process of body transformation, which includes intense practices like sensory deprivation, meditation, and fasting to rejuvenate the body. It was discussed in relation to Dr. Parikh's exploration of Ayurvedic medicine and her personal experience with a detox ritual called Panchakarma, inspired by the yogi's practices.

How did Dr. Chiti Parikh become interested in Ayurvedic medicine and the Kayakalpa process?

Dr. Chiti Parikh became interested in Ayurvedic medicine and the Kayakalpa process after contracting COVID-19 and experiencing long COVID symptoms. Conventional medicine provided no answers, so she turned to alternative practices and discovered the story of the 185-year-old yogi and the Kayakalpa process, which inspired her to try the Panchakarma detox ritual.

What is the Panchakarma detox ritual, and how is it connected to Kayakalpa?

The Panchakarma detox ritual is an Ayurvedic practice involving a series of treatments to cleanse the body of toxins. It is connected to Kayakalpa as a more accessible and less intense version of the process, designed for 'mere mortals' rather than highly spiritually advanced yogis. Panchakarma can be seen as a preliminary step before undertaking the full Kayakalpa process.

What are the key components of the 28-Day Reset program that Dr. Parikh discusses?

The 28-Day Reset program is inspired by the Panchakarma detox and consists of four stages: preparation, detoxification, easing out of detox, and rejuvenation. It involves simplifying the diet, following a mono diet, using herbs for detox support, reintroducing foods gradually, and incorporating rejuvenating herbs.

How does the mono diet fit into the 28-Day Reset program, and what is its purpose?

The mono diet is a part of the first week of the 28-Day Reset program, where individuals consume one type of carbohydrate, protein, and fat to simplify digestion and conserve metabolic energy for detoxification. It prepares the body for deeper detox processes in the following weeks.

What role do herbs play in the Panchakarma and Kayakalpa processes?

Herbs play a crucial role in both Panchakarma and Kayakalpa processes by aiding in detoxification and rejuvenation. They are used in oil massages, consumed as teas, or included in enemas to mobilize toxins, support liver function, and promote overall health.

Can you explain the concept of dosha as mentioned in the conversation?

Dosha is a concept from Ayurvedic medicine that refers to the three fundamental energies or constitutional types in the body: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Imbalances in these doshas can lead to health issues, and understanding one's dosha can help in maintaining health and wellness through diet, lifestyle, and herbal remedies.

How does the timing of meals and activities align with the body's natural rhythms in the Ayurvedic approach discussed?

In the Ayurvedic approach, the timing of meals and activities is synchronized with the body's natural circadian rhythm. For example, waking up an hour and a half before sunrise is recommended for meditation, lunch should be the largest meal to align with the body's peak digestive strength, and dinner should be lighter to facilitate easy digestion and restful sleep.

What is the significance of the enema practice in the Panchakarma detoxification process?

Enemas play a significant role in the Panchakarma process by helping to purge toxins that have been mobilized during the detox. They are used to cleanse the colon, repopulate the gut with healthy flora, and strengthen the gut barrier, contributing to long-term gut health.

Outlines

00:00

🧘‍♂️ The Kayakalpa and Panchakarma Practices

Dr. Chiti Parikh discusses the ancient science of Kayakalpa, which involves a year-long process of sensory deprivation, meditation, and fasting to rejuvenate the body. She shares the story of a 185-year-old yogi who underwent this process, resulting in physical rejuvenation. Dr. Parikh also talks about Panchakarma, a more accessible detoxification ritual that she used to recover from the effects of COVID-19, which had left her with long-term symptoms. Ben Greenfield introduces Dr. Parikh and her book, 'Intentional Health,' which integrates Ayurvedic medicine into modern health practices.

05:00

🌿 Ayurvedic Medicine and the 28-Day Reset

Dr. Parikh explains the principles of Ayurvedic medicine and how they relate to the 28-Day Reset program outlined in her book. The program involves a mono diet rich in ghee, which is beneficial for gut health, and the use of oil massages and sweat therapy to mobilize toxins. She emphasizes the importance of simplifying the diet to allow the body to focus on detoxification and the role of circadian rhythms in liver function and detoxification. Ben Greenfield inquires about the science behind the dietary choices and the practicality of the program for the general public.

10:04

🌞 The Impact of Diet and Lifestyle on Longevity

The conversation continues with Dr. Parikh sharing her personal experience with the Panchakarma cleanse and its effects on her health. She discusses the role of diet and lifestyle in longevity, mentioning a yogi who practiced intense meditation and survived on minimal nourishment to extend his life. Dr. Parikh also touches on the importance of syncing one's circadian rhythm with natural cycles for optimal health. Ben Greenfield expresses interest in the Kayakalpa practice and its potential for modern adaptation.

15:05

🧪 Stem Cell Research and Regeneration

Dr. Parikh delves into the scientific research on stem cells and their potential for organ regeneration, mentioning studies that have used stem cells to cure certain types of cancers and diabetes. She discusses the process of directing stem cells to become specific types of cells and the implications for future medicine. Ben Greenfield is intrigued by the parallels between ancient practices and modern scientific advancements in health and longevity.

20:07

🌱 Ayurvedic Herbs and Daily Rhythms

The discussion shifts to the use of Ayurvedic herbs like amla or gooseberry for rejuvenation and their antioxidant properties. Dr. Parikh explains the importance of following the body's clocks and daily rhythms for optimal health, emphasizing the role of digestion, metabolism, and detoxification. She provides tips for aligning one's daily routine with Ayurvedic principles, including the timing of meals, exercise, and rest.

25:07

💧 The Importance of Proper Hydration and Digestion

Dr. Parikh addresses the common practice of drinking water with meals and explains how it can dilute stomach acid, leading to improper digestion and fermentation by gut bacteria. She advises against excessive water intake during meals and suggests alternatives like herbal teas that can aid digestion. Ben Greenfield asks about the role of mindful eating and the use of digestive aids, such as enzymes and apple cider vinegar, to support healthy digestion.

30:13

🌛 Sleep Patterns and Their Connection to Health

The conversation concludes with Dr. Parikh discussing the significance of sleep patterns in Ayurvedic medicine. She explains how waking up at different times during the night can indicate an imbalance in certain doshas or body types. Ben Greenfield connects this to the broader concept of understanding one's body constitution and how it can guide lifestyle choices for better health.

35:17

🌐 Integrating Eastern and Western Medicine

Dr. Parikh reflects on her training in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine and how they complement each other. She highlights the growing acceptance of Eastern principles in Western medicine and points to the increasing research and funding in this area. Ben Greenfield acknowledges the progress and encourages listeners to explore these ancient healing methods to take a proactive approach to their health.

Keywords

💡Ayurvedic medicine

Ayurvedic medicine is a traditional Indian system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is based on the idea of balance in bodily systems using diet, herbal treatment, and yogic practices. In the video, Dr. Chiti Parikh incorporates elements of Ayurvedic medicine in her integrative health practice, highlighting its significance in modern healthcare. The discussion on Panchakarma and Kayakalpa are examples of Ayurvedic practices mentioned.

💡Panchakarma

Panchakarma is an Ayurvedic therapeutic procedure that involves a deep cleanse of the body to remove accumulated toxins. It is part of the detoxification process that prepares the body for rejuvenation. The script mentions Panchakarma as a detox ritual that Dr. Parikh underwent, which helped her recover from the effects of long COVID.

💡Kayakalpa

Kayakalpa, as described in the script, is an ancient science used by yogis to extend or reverse physiological age, allowing them to continue spiritual pursuits unimpeded by physical limitations. It is an intense detox process that involves complete sensory deprivation, meditation, and fasting, mimicking the womb environment to activate stem cells.

💡Integrative medicine

Integrative medicine combines traditional medical approaches with complementary and alternative therapies for a more comprehensive healthcare experience. Dr. Parikh is described as an integrative medicine physician, indicating her practice's blend of conventional and alternative treatments to promote healing and wellness.

💡Detoxification

Detoxification, or detox, refers to the process of removing toxins from the body. In the context of the video, detox is a central theme, with discussions on how specific practices like Panchakarma and dietary changes can help cleanse the body and promote health.

💡Vagus nerve

The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that plays a critical role in the parasympathetic nervous system, influencing functions like heart rate and digestion. The script mentions stimulating the vagus nerve as part of the process to activate stem cells during the Kayakalpa practice.

💡Stem cells

Stem cells are unique cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body. They are crucial for growth, repair, and the regeneration of tissues. The video discusses how specific practices like Kayakalpa aim to activate stem cells to rejuvenate the body.

💡Ghee

Ghee is a type of clarified butter used extensively in Indian cuisine and Ayurvedic medicine. It is rich in butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that has gut-healing properties. In the script, ghee is mentioned as a part of the diet during the Panchakarma cleanse for its health benefits.

💡Mono diet

A mono diet, as discussed in the video, is a dietary regimen where an individual consumes only one type of food or a single macronutrient source for a certain period. It is part of the Panchakarma process, simplifying digestion to allow the body to focus on detoxification.

💡Circadian rhythm

Circadian rhythm refers to the body's internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours. The script mentions the importance of aligning one's circadian rhythm with natural cycles for optimal health, which is a principle in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.

💡Adaptogenic herbs

Adaptogenic herbs are those that help the body adapt to stress and maintain balance. They are highlighted in the video as part of the rejuvenation phase of the 28-Day Reset program. Examples include amla or gooseberry, which are used for their high antioxidant content and rejuvenating properties.

Highlights

A yogi underwent a year-long process in a specially constructed hut to mimic the conditions of a mother's womb, aiming to reduce metabolic rate and stimulate the vagus nerve.

Dr. Chiti Parikh, an integrative medicine physician, discusses the ancient science of Kayakalpa for body transformation and its application in modern health practices.

The Panchakarma detox ritual, a component of Kayakalpa, was personally experienced by Dr. Parikh to alleviate symptoms of long COVID, resulting in significant physical improvements.

Dr. Parikh's book, 'Intentional Health,' offers a 28-Day Reset program inspired by Panchakarma, designed to detoxify and rejuvenate the body.

The 28-Day Reset is a simplified version of Panchakarma, making ancient detox practices accessible for modern individuals.

Ayurvedic medicine emphasizes the importance of diet simplification during detox, focusing on one carb, one protein, and one fat to conserve metabolic energy.

The circadian rhythm plays a crucial role in detoxification, with the body prioritizing digestion over toxin processing during fed states.

Dr. Parikh shares her personal experience with Panchakarma, detailing the steps of the process, including oil massages, sweat therapy, and enemas.

The 28-Day Reset is divided into four stages: preparation, detoxification, easing out of detox, and rejuvenation, each with specific dietary and lifestyle recommendations.

Ayurvedic herbs such as amla or gooseberry are highlighted for their high antioxidant content and rejuvenating properties.

Dr. Parikh discusses the importance of synchronizing one's circadian rhythm with nature for optimal health and productivity.

The ideal daily routine according to Ayurveda includes waking up before sunrise, meditating, exercising, and eating at specific times to align with the body's natural rhythms.

Dr. Parikh explains the significance of meal timing, suggesting lunch as the optimal time for the largest meal due to the body's peak digestive capacity.

The concept of doing oil self-massage (Abhyanga) for lymphatic drainage and detoxification is introduced, along with the benefits of using specific oils.

Enemas are discussed as a traditional Ayurvedic practice for detoxification, with Dr. Parikh addressing common misconceptions and detailing the process.

The integration of Eastern and Western medicine is emphasized, with Dr. Parikh sharing her expertise in both Ayurveda and acupuncture.

Dr. Parikh highlights the growing acceptance and research into complementary and integrative health practices within Western medicine.

Transcripts

Chiti Parikh: For one year,  

he entered a hut that was specially constructed  for this process, which did not let any sound or  

light in. So it was supposed to mimic being in  mother's womb, right. To activate stem cells,  

you have to significantly reduce your basic  metabolic rate and significantly stimulate your  

vagus nerve. This is what he essentially did for  one whole year, mimicking being in the mother's  

womb. Complete sensory deprivation, meditation,  prolonged fasting. And when he emerged,  

he had new teeth, hair, skin. He looked  about 30, 40 years younger when he emerged.

Ben Greenfield: I am holding a book right  

now. It's called Intentional  Health: Detoxify, Nourish,  

and Rejuvenate Your Body into Balance.  And I don't want to tell you how many  

books I get every week that have yet another  detox body reinvention. Follow this plan,  

and your life will change forever. And I usually  make it through a third of them and realize it's  

just a giant echo chamber. But I do have several  podcasts that I've done on Ayurvedic medicine,  

and I paid attention to this book because I  saw that it was written by a doctor who has a  

background in integrative health and wellness and  incorporates some elements of Ayurvedic medicine  

in her practice. Her name, and she wrote  the book, by the way, is Dr. Chiti Parikh.

Ben Greenfield: So if you aren't familiar with Dr. Parikh,  

she is a great integrative medicine physician.  She's the founder of the integrated health well  

being at Cornell Medicine at New York Presbyterian  Hospital. She wrote this book, and it was a page  

turner for me inside baseball. I'll show you  all the pages that are, I should say a page  

folder for me, that should be my word, because  all those pages are folded over. And Dr. Parikh,  

when I interview somebody on my podcast, I just  like to ask all those questions that really,  

I found related to topics I found really,  really interesting in the book. And I think  

probably the most important thing, or at least  the most interesting thing right off the bat,  

was this 185-year-old yogi that  you talk about. So do tell.

Chiti Parikh: So it was April 2020 when all of our worlds  

were turned upside down with COVID. I was on the  front lines in New York taking care of really sick  

patients, and I got COVID. I got pretty sick, but  I had to go right back to the front lines. A month  

later, I realized that my hair was falling out. I  was losing weight, I was getting short of breath,  

just going up a flight of stairs. At that time,  no one even knew what COVID was, but what I was  

experiencing was long COVID. I scoured every  medical journal I could find, no answers.  

And fortuitously, I was on Amazon buying toilet  paper, as everyone else was at that time, and a  

book about 185 yogi popped up on my feet. To this  day, I have no explanation for how that happened.

Chiti Parikh: It was an out of  

print book with one copy. I don't  even know where it was coming from,  

and it caught my eye. Right. 185 yogi. I want to  know more. So I ordered the book. I read it within  

as soon as I got my hands on it. And in the book,  they described this ancient science of Kayakalpa.

Chiti Parikh: Kayakalpa translates into body  

transformation. So this is an ancient science  that yogis used to extend their physiological  

life or age or reverse the physiological age  so that they could continue their spiritual  

pursuits without the body being a barrier.  And I had extensively learned about Ayurveda,  

which is a traditional Indian medicine going back  thousands of years. So that inspired me to do the  

ancient detox ritual called Panchakarma,  which is detoxification of five elements.

Ben Greenfield: Okay, so Panchakarma  

is like an element of Kayakalpa.  Kayakalpa isn't the name for the detox.  

Panchakarma is the name for the detox that  you do if you're doing this Kayakalpa program.

Chiti Parikh: Exactly. Kayakalpa  

is more so for the yogis people,  who are way higher spiritually than  

we are. Panchakarma is for mere mortals  like me that's accessible to everybody.

Ben Greenfield: Okay, wait, so you saying Kayakalpa  

is like a really, really intense detox and  Panchakarma is like a more doable version of that?

Chiti Parikh: Exactly. So this is something that is part  

of Ayurvedic medicine that's recommended to many  people if you get treated Ayurvedically. So that's  

been around for a while. So I said, okay, let me  just start there. And, Ben, within a week of doing  

this, my hair completely stopped falling. And by  the end of it, not just physically, mentally, I  

had never felt better. And a couple months later,  I was clipping my nails because nail salons were  

still closed. I was clipping my nails and I was  like, wait a minute, I just did that two days ago.

Ben Greenfield: That's the sign  

of health with rapidly growing nails. Right.

Chiti Parikh: It was shocking to me. So I went from losing my  

hair, like, in chunks, as if I was going through  chemo, to cutting my hair, clipping my nails every  

few days because they were just growing. It was  just a sign that my body was in the state of  

optimal balance. Right. This is something I could  see on the outside. I can't. I couldn't look into  

my liver, my kidneys, and my heart, but I knew  a huge transformation had taken place. So that  

just rejuvenated my passion of really bringing the  best of Eastern, Western medicine to the masses.

Chiti Parikh: People need to  

know this science. This is not a myth. This is  not a miracle. It is as scientific as it gets,  

and people need to know about it. And  that's what inspired me to write this book.

Ben Greenfield: What'd you do? What is the Panchakarma cleanse?

Chiti Parikh: So I'll walk you through.  

And that's what the 28-Day Reset in the book  is inspired from. It's something to just bring  

your body back to balance. So the way it works  is, first week, you are the simplifying your  

diet. You follow something called a mono diet,  where you're sticking to one carb, one protein,  

one fat. Ayurveda is something called a  kitchen. So it's rice, lentil, mung beans,  

yellow mung beans. It's a complete plant based  protein, has all essential amino acids and ghee,  

which is extremely rich in something called  butyrate, or short chain fatty acids.

Chiti Parikh: Extremely gut  

healing. So that's what you do. And then you  actually start drinking ghee, just pure ghee,  

on empty stomach in the morning. And you don't  eat anything until that ghee is digested.

Ben Greenfield: How do you know  

if it's digested? Are you just  waiting a certain period of time?

Chiti Parikh: When you get hungry.  

So you actually pay very close attention to when  your true hunger returns. That's how you know how  

strong your digestion is and what the ghee does,  it penetrates deep into the tissues to pull out  

a lot of fat based toxins that we hold onto.  And then you do these extensive oil massages,  

sweat therapy, heat saunas to mobilize the toxins.  And then you take some castor oil to poop it all  

out, because now you're pulling all those toxins  into your GI tract while eating a very simple  

diet. So your body actually has metabolic power  to digest the toxins in the gut. You purge them,  

and then you do about a week of enemas, which  different herbs that are customized to your  

body constitution, the doshas, which I talk about.

Chiti Parikh: And then so that's  

the whole month. It is extremely intense.  It is not for the week. It really needs to  

be done under an expert care because it  has to be curated to your constitution.  

The herbs, the dosage of the ghee,  everything is customized to you.

Ben Greenfield: Yeah, I would imagine  

that. I mean, I've seen, like, online order  a kitchari cleanse kit type of things,  

but this sounds like something a little more  

of, I guess, something that might require a little  bit more medical management. Is that the case?

Chiti Parikh: Exactly. So that's  

why for medical reasons, like what I was doing  it for, it required this sort of intense thing.  

And I typically do a shorter version, about  12-day version of it, at least once a year  

now. And that's where the 28-Day Reset was  inspired. So I simplified it to make it more  

accessible to everyone, that everyone can do it  more comfortably. Take out the challenging parts.

Ben Greenfield: Yeah, because I was going to say, like,  

this is not what I read in the book. What you  just described is like, is not the 28-Day Reset.

Chiti Parikh: It's not the 28-Day Reset. So I want to  

be very clear. So I, as a doctor, I always believe  in making it simple and safe for everyone. So I  

was able to do that because I already did a lot of  fasting, intimate fasting, herbs, things like that  

were generally part of my sort of regimen, so I  was able to do something like this. But someone  

who's extremely new to all of this, it can be  very intense. You really have to ease into it.

Ben Greenfield: What's the science behind the one carb,  

the rice, the protein, which I assume is the beans  and or the lentils and the one fat, the ghee.

Chiti Parikh: Very good question. So,  

in Ayurveda, mono diet is a treatment diet. The  reason is, the idea is that our digestion takes up  

a significant amount of our energy, our metabolic  power. Right? So the idea is when you're detoxing,  

you want to conserve energy, not use it to  digest a big piece of steak and bucket of  

ice cream. Right. You want to simplify your diet  to a point where using minimal energy to nourish  

yourself still and conserve that and revert  that to detox. Because the same digestion,  

your gut, your liver, can either process food or  process toxins, not at the same time. So if you  

restrict your diet to what your body really needs  to not go into breaking down your muscles, right.

Chiti Parikh: You don't want to do  

an intense fast. Nourish your  body, but use your liver,  

use your kidney, use your gut microbiome  to actually focus on detoxification.

Ben Greenfield: I've never heard that  

your liver can't process a food and a toxin  simultaneously. What's the reason for that?

Chiti Parikh: The reason is  

our circadian rhythm. So our biological clock  dictates what the job is for liver at any given  

time. Studies have shown that the genes that  are responsible for detoxification, repair,  

regeneration actually get activated at night after  certain hours of fasting. So the liver always  

prioritizes digestion. And once that is done,  that's why fasting is so important, because then  

your body can switch in metabolic gears into detox  and repair instead of just metabolizing food.

Ben Greenfield: Okay, so digestion and  

metabolism is not necessarily conducive  to, I would imagine, detoxification and  

also cellular autophagy. I think I'm suspecting  that there probably could be a small amount of  

detoxification that occurs. I wouldn't imagine  the liver's detox pathways are completely shut  

down in a fed state, but probably, it  sounds like, suppressed significantly.

Chiti Parikh: Yeah. So if you really want to  

amplify detoxification, repair, regeneration, the  liver needs all the time to focus on it. Right? So  

that's why the more toxic our diet is, the more  medications we take, the more food we overeat,  

processed foods we eat. It just consumes the  liver's capacity. So the last thing on its list is  

detoxification. But if you're eating while you're  exercising, you follow a very clean diet, you're  

fasting properly, then your liver has all this  capacity to detoxify and repair and regenerate.

Ben Greenfield: Okay, elephant in  

the room here. If what you did, that  Ponchakarma that you just described,  

was so intense, I just have  to ask, what is the Kayakalpa?

Chiti Parikh: Let me just tell you  

a little bit more about the yogi. So we know who  this person doing the Kayakalpa really is. So this  

yogi was actually a prince, and he gave up his  royal life to pursue, you know, to become a monk.

Ben Greenfield: This supposed 185-year-old dude.

Chiti Parikh: Exactly. And there's actually pictures and  

we know which kingdom he was part of. And there's  records of him. We even have pictures of him.

Ben Greenfield: Birth records. Are there birth records?

Chiti Parikh: So these are records.  

These are royal records because he was part  of the royal family. So there's lineage as  

to which king when. So we know who this  person was. And he was alive until in the,  

I think he passed away in the fifties or so.  So we actually have pictures of this person.

Ben Greenfield: Wow, that's crazy that the,  

you know, because you, you no doubt  know this. Like a lot of people say,  

longest living person on record is, it's  like 115, maybe 117. Now. I think John  

Calment of France was on that list for a  while, but nobody talks about this person.

Chiti Parikh: So, Ben,  

I took a year off before medical school, and I  traveled all through Asia, and I went to some  

of the most remote parts of the world. And  the people I met and the stories I've heard  

and what I've actually seen, you know, in Europe  and America, we had birth records starting, say,  

in the 1800s. My grandma grew up in a small  town in India where there was no plumbing,  

there was no electricity. We had no idea what her  birth date was. My dad grew up in a small town,  

India, where they didn't have electricity. My  dad used to study under a street lamp for his  

exams. Right? So when you talk about a big part  of the world where this science really comes from,  

we're not going to have, you know, birth records,  Social Security information to track down and say,  

you know, this is when the person was  born. This is how long they've lived.

Chiti Parikh: But when you go out in the world,  

you see what. Even in America, I've taken  care of a Chinese patient who came to me  

who the family claims she was 125. And she  looked. I mean, she definitely looked it,  

but they had no birth records to prove it.  Right? She was born in a small town in China,  

and they basically guessed a date to get  her a passport. But her whole family,  

four or five generations who were  there, they're like, no, she's 125.

Ben Greenfield: Okay, you're raising the  

bar for all these biohackers like Brian Johnson  and Dave Asprey and Peter Diamondis and all the  

people going for 160. But they, if they listen,  they might be a little bit crestfallen it at  

what it takes. I suspect, if you describe  the Kayakalpa. So I'm curious, what is it?

Chiti Parikh: Yeah. So what the  

yogi did. So this was a yogi who did intense  meditation practices. So he would actually  

spend months sitting out in blazing Indian  hot summer sun, just directly in the sun,  

and meditating. Then he would spend  in the Himalayas, in the mountains,  

wearing a loincloth in subzero temperature, would  meditate for months at a time. So what he did for  

Kayakalpa for one year, he entered a hut that  was specially constructed for this process,  

which did not let any sound or light in. So it was  supposed to mimic being in a mother's womb. Right.

Chiti Parikh: To activate stem cells,  

you have to significantly reduce your basic  metabolic rate and significantly stimulate your  

vagus nerve. So he was basically in this sort  of hut, this cave. No light, no sound. Simply  

meditating. The only person allowed in there was  an Ayurvedic doctor who would put together some  

herbs and just fresh cow's milk he would drink for  nourishment. And prior to entering Kayakalpa, he  

actually did the full Panchakarma. Then he entered  the hut, and this is what he essentially did for  

one whole year, mimicking being in the mother's  womb. Complete sensory deprivation meditation,  

prolonged fasting, surviving, essentially on  a combination of herbs that was curated by  

the Ayurvedic doctor. And when he emerged, he had  new teeth, hair, skin, you know, everything was.

Chiti Parikh: He looked about 30-40 years younger  

when he emerged, but he actually went through this  process three times in his life, and that's how  

he was able to. And, of course, as he got older,  he couldn't do the full year. So the subsequent  

Kayakalpas were a little bit sort of trimmed down,  but that's what allowed him to be in that physical  

shape, to continue his spiritual practice. But, I  mean, again, not for us mere mortals, but it gives  

you hope that there is a way to activate our stem  cells. We're doing this in our lab, right? We're  

doing research in our hospital, in our medical  school, where we're regenerating body organs, like  

liver, from stem cells. This is not myth. This  is science. They just figured out how to do it.

Chiti Parikh: We're still figuring  

it out. We're still trying  to make sense out of it all.

Ben Greenfield: Tell me more about that research.

Chiti Parikh: What we're trying to do is take  

stem cells and figure out how to activate certain  gene-signaling pathways to almost direct the cells  

in certain paths. If you take stem cells, they  can become essentially any cell in the body. What  

we're trying to figure out is, which genes, which  signal do we need to activate to make that cell,  

say, into a liver versus a heart versus a  cornea of your eye? That's what the science is  

really focused on. We're already using stem cell  therapies to cure certain types of cancers. So  

we are getting closer and closer to a point where  we'll be able to extract stem cells from someone's  

body and give the cells the right signals to turn  into essentially any cell we want in the body.

Ben Greenfield: When I interviewed Dr.  

Adeel Khan of Eterna Health down in Cabo,  he described how they're doing a sort of  

genetic reprogramming of stem cells to achieve  something very similar to what you've described,  

is that what they're doing?  Is it genetic programming?

Chiti Parikh: Exactly. So there  

are some genetic sequences you can activate  and also external cell signaling pathways you  

can trigger that can optimize this process  of converting stem cells into actual cells  

that we want. But this process is going to be a  game changer, not just in the field of cancer,  

as we're seeing right now, but organ regeneration.  There's a recent study out of China where they  

have actually cured diabetes using stem cells.  They were able to regenerate pancreatic cells.

Ben Greenfield: Wow. It's incredible.  

This is so cool. And it's interesting how we  are possibly, in a way, despite a lot of people  

I know, kind of have this sense that you must  climb to the top of Mount Everest in order to  

get the results. But with science, we might  be, in a way, able to simulate with a little  

bit more ease and less time in a cave what  this yogi got with the Kayakalpa approach.

Chiti Parikh: The medicine is  

within all of us. It's just a matter  of learning how to activate it.

Ben Greenfield: So let's talk about the 28-Day Reset,  

because from what I understand, that is kind of  a way to achieve this type of activation. Yeah.

Chiti Parikh: So it still follows the fundamental principles  

of Panchakarma and Kayakalpa. The step one. So 28  days are split into four stages. The first stage,  

most important, is preparation. So we can't go  from, you know, drinking beer, eating, you know,  

junky food, and then just going straight  into detox. That's not how the body works.  

You need to prepare. The way you prepare is  you start easing and simplifying your diet,  

your lifestyle, so your body can start conserving  the energy and shifts gear into detox process.

Chiti Parikh: So, week one,  

we're cutting out all the foods that are heavy  to digest does not mean that these foods are bad  

for you. Things like dairy, gluten, meat, it's not  that they're bad, it's just they're very heavy to  

digest. So let's simplify it. Get closer to that  mono diet as much as possible. And then week two,  

we amplify the detoxification by sticking to a  mono diet and adding some of the herbs that can  

help with the detoxification process. And then  week three, we ease out of the detox by slowly,  

methodically reintroducing the foods based on  how easy they are to digest. Because we have  

to wait for our digestion to shift gears out  of detox into digesting food. If we mess up,  

and if we do that too quickly, we're  just reaccumulating the toxins.

Chiti Parikh: Because in Ayurveda there's  

a saying that food that is metabolized properly  becomes nutrition. Food that is not metabolized  

properly becomes toxin and root cause of disease.  Food is the same. So throughout this process,  

we have to be very mindful of eating according  to what we can digest. So week three is slowly  

reintroducing the food as we are waiting for  digestion to kind of kick back into full gear.  

And week four is rejuvenation. This is  where you take this, some of the herbs  

that really amplify the rejuvenation process.  But if you take that stuff before detoxing,  

it's not going to work, right? It's like  trying to paint a car that's still dirty.

Chiti Parikh: It's not going to  

work. You got to clean the car, then you paint  it, the paint's going to stick. So rejuvenation  

allows your body to really. It's a clean slate.  So you're selectively putting in the herbs that  

are extremely transformative, rejuvenating,  adaptive. So they're going to build a strong  

foundation for you for years to come. Right.  This is where you start reaping the benefit,  

and you continue to see those benefits  even months out from the 28-Day Reset, as I  

did with my hair and skin, you know, everything  sort of rejuvenated within a matter of a month.

Ben Greenfield: That all makes really  

good sense. And I know that you get into way more  details in the book, and if you want to try this  

program. Took my wife out to dinner last night,  and I was telling her I was going to interview  

this morning. She's like, that sounds really  cool. I would like to try that and see what  

happens to my body. And I said, well, me too. I'm  actually intrigued by it. I haven't done it yet.

Ben Greenfield: Probably should have to do  

ample research for this podcast to ask you  questions about, I don't know what kind of  

poop came out or something, but the interesting  thing, the herbs that rejuvenate, what are those?

Chiti Parikh: In Ayurveda, there's a whole class  

of herbs that are adaptogenic and rejuvenating.  Rejuvenating herbs help us regenerate, rebuild  

cells. Again, it triggers those pathways that help  us activate the stem cells. One of the big ones we  

often use is amla or gooseberry. Gooseberries,  they traditionally grow in Southeast Asia,  

have one of the highest antioxidant contents.  It's almost 10,000 times, I believe,  

compared to like a blueberry. So extremely  high antioxidant content. So it makes sense.

Chiti Parikh: Has tremendous  

rejuvenation potential. Because if you take  these antioxidants, you protect your body  

against oxidative stress that comes from wear and  tear and aging. Right. So that's one of the main  

things that it says herbal jam that you have  to eat. It actually tastes delicious that you  

eat during the rejuvenation phase. And one of  the key ingredients is this gooseberry or amla.

Ben Greenfield: Oh, it's a jam.

Chiti Parikh: It's a jam. So it's  

a concoction of about 30 plus herbs that  are mixed with some honey, with some ghee.

Ben Greenfield: This sounds delicious. Where do I get it?

Chiti Parikh: It's absolutely  

delicious. I have to actually prevent  my husband from eating too much of it  

because he just puts it on, like an apple or  something. I'll just eat the whole bottle if  

I don't stop him. It's delicious. The herbs  you take for detox are not delicious. They  

taste like dirt. And so that's a little  reward you get after you finish your detox.

Ben Greenfield: Okay, where do you  

get this mysterious amla gooseberry jam?

Chiti Parikh: So one of the companies  

that I use for this is Banyan Botanicals. They.  Oh, yeah, they're. Yeah. So they do a really  

good job at curating high quality Ayurvedic  herbs. They, you know, they are very mindful  

of how they make their products that are clean,  they're ethically sourced, so they actually put  

in a lot of effort. And making this jam is a long  process because you have to cultivate the right  

herbs at the right time, put it together,  you have to store it for x number of time,  

and then it's sort of ready for consumption. So  there's a lot of work that goes into making it.

Ben Greenfield: So we've got the rejuvenative  

herbs and the detoxifying herbs, and those are  at different parts of the timing of the 28-day  

cycle. The timing thing is really interesting  because you have a couple of clocks in the book.  

You show the Chinese medicine clock, and then you  have another clock. I don't know if it's one that  

you developed. I forget which page it's on, but  it kind of goes through some of the ways that you  

incorporate some of this Ayurvedic typing into a  circadian rhythm or a daily rhythm. I realize it's  

a little bit of a complex question that might  rabbit hole a little bit, but walk me through  

what a typical day would look like following  the body's clocks in a somewhat ideal manner.

Chiti Parikh: Yeah. So the first thing I focus on with my  

patients, even, is synchronizing your clock, your  circadian rhythm with that of the nature, right.  

When those things are synchronized, everything  works effortlessly. So the first thing is figuring  

out when are you going to bed, when are you  waking up and when are you eating your meals.  

So the ideal time to wake up is actually about an  hour and a half before sunrise. And understand,  

in extreme, like hemispheric zones, the sunrise  sunset times can vary significantly. But we're  

talking about more sort of equatorial time zones,  right. So let's say the sun comes up at 6:30.

Chiti Parikh: So ideal time to wake  

up would be around 05:00 in the time between  that hour and a half before sunrise. In yoga,  

it's called Brahma Muhurta, which is  God's time. So this is the time when  

your brain waves are in optimal theta  state. So this is peak creativity time.  

So this is the time if you meditate, the  results are almost ten times stronger.

Ben Greenfield: Can I ask you real quick,  

is that due to the. I think someone  explained to me on the podcast,  

I believe it was when I interviewed Joseph Anu,  he talked about why he meditates in the morning.  

And he described how there's a  very high amount of, I believe,  

theta brainwave production in the morning. So  you almost like wake up in a meditative state.

Chiti Parikh: Exactly. So if you wake up at that time,  

your cortisol changes throughout the day, your  pineal gland changes, your melatonin, your growth  

hormone, everything changes if you wake up during  that time and maximize theta brainwave state. So  

that's sort of the golden hour for pre-creativity.  And then the idea is then you go about your daily  

business in the sense the first thing you do  is drink a big glass of warm water to activate  

your GI tract. That should instigate, you know,  that should stimulate your bowels. You have your  

bowel movement. After that, you exercise some  physical activity. Then you eat your breakfast.

Chiti Parikh: And then between  

breakfast and lunch is your pre-productivity  when it comes to your work, right. This is when  

you don't want to be in a boring Zoom meeting.  This is when you actually want to get work done.  

And then lunch should be your biggest meal  of the day. This is when your metabolism,  

your digestion is the strongest. This is  when you can metabolize some carbs. If  

you're eating carbs, this is when you  want to get bulk of your calories in.

Ben Greenfield: Can I ask you a question  

about lunch? Because I think there might be a  little bit of a nuance here between what's ideal  

and what results in more life satisfaction and  happiness. Like what's ideal and healthy and life  

satisfaction and happiness. What I mean by that  is if I make lunch my biggest meal of the day,  

I'm a little bit tired, I'm a little bit sluggish,  I go to sleep, and then when the big time for a  

family gathering in the evening arrives and  family dinner, it's kind of like you've used  

up your calorie allotment earlier in the day.  And because of that, for me, even though it's,  

I've admitted this before on podcasts, like,  ideally, I'd stop eating earlier, I'd have a  

smaller meal in the evening, but that's the time  when everybody gathers, and that happens to a lot  

of people. Like, all the social stuff happens in  the evening. So do you ever adjust that at all?

Chiti Parikh: So what I always say that you  

can still partake, you can still enjoy evening  meal. Just make it something easy to digest.  

Right. So don't even think about the calories. Is  it easy for me to digest? Because the last thing  

you want your body to do as you're going to bed  is still working on your last meal because that  

will affect whether you go into ketosis at  night, whether you go into that detox phase.

Ben Greenfield: Okay, so would it be fair to say then,  

if you were going to have a bunch of, like,  heavy fats, proteins, red meats, oils, etcetera,  

move those to lunch and then dinner could be more  like berries, fish, rice, sweet potatoes, roasted  

vegetables, things like that, and you could  still enjoy what seems like a big family dinner  

or social outing, but you're not doing spicy,  heavy, super high protein, or high fat foods.

Chiti Parikh: You got it. Exactly.  

So this is where you can still enjoy a plate  full of food but not weigh you down in a way.

Ben Greenfield: That makes sense. I should try that. Okay, got it.

Chiti Parikh: And it's a little bit of a different concept  

because we're so used to thinking about calories  and carbs, but in Ayurveda, it's all about what's  

easy to digest and what's going to take a lot  of energy to digest. Right. So that's how you  

time it. It's like a big piece of meat I'm better  off doing at lunch. That's when my digestion is  

strongest. I can break it down much more easily  than at like 09:00 p.m. right. So it's all about  

the timing and kind of capitalizing on when your  digestion, your metabolism is the strongest.

Ben Greenfield: So on the clock, what happens after lunch?

Chiti Parikh: So after lunch,  

it's your siesta time. So they actually  recommend because it's your biggest meal,  

you do need to give your body a  little bit of break and rest to  

optimize digestion. And then comes the peak  time for actually coordination organizing.

Ben Greenfield: What do you say to patients who have,  

like a job or they have a lunch break from like  noon to one and you tell them to eat the biggest  

meal of the day, but they can't like, climb  under their desk in a sleeping bag after lunch?

Chiti Parikh: I know that would be the ideal,  

right. If we were in Spain, we would  all be having a siesta, but we're not.

Ben Greenfield: That's true. There are  

areas of the world where you don't even have  any stores, restaurants, anything open from  

like 2 up to sometimes 04:00 p.m. i've seen that  in Spain before. When I toured northern Spain,  

I set up my own protocol, actually, to where I  tell my team, I don't take any calls between two  

and four because that allows me to get reactive  time, emails, work done before I jump back into  

more creative work or connecting with people after  04:00 p.m. but it also allows me time for like 30  

to 45 minutes of downtime after lunch. So I just  program that in. But, you know, I own my company,  

so I'm kind of in control of that. I would  imagine there are some employees who just aren't.

Chiti Parikh: No, exactly.  

And this is where you try to control your  schedule to best of your ability. Right. So  

this is where you might not want to  schedule a super important meeting,  

but just keep that in mind that this just,  you just know that your productivity,  

your focus is going to take a little bit of a hit  after lunch. So schedule your day as best as you  

can around that and respect that. If the companies  were smart, they will actually give you a longer  

lunch break because guess what? You actually can  be more productive after that than trying to make  

it work through your lunch break. So. But like  you said, a lot of other countries follow that.

Chiti Parikh: And guess what? They're healthier,  

right? They're healthier for it. So, but that's  sort of the ideal. That's how our body works and  

we try to fit that into our schedule the best  we can. And I'm glad you mentioned socializing  

because in Ayurveda there is a time for a happy  hour. And that's right around four or 05:00.

Ben Greenfield: Oh, it's early. I like it.

Chiti Parikh: Yeah. So it starts around four or five, but  

ideally that late afternoon, early evening is a  great time for socializing and getting out there,  

meeting your friends, connecting with your  family, and then comes dinner and then again,  

bonding with your family time. And then you  hit the sack around between ten and midnight.  

That's sort of the ideal time to go to bed  to capitalize on the growth hormone surge.  

So that's what a typical day would look  like in the Eastern and Western clocks.

Ben Greenfield: It's really interesting.  

Maybe it's because I've interviewed so many  Ayurvedic practitioners. My own protocol,  

besides probably breaking that lunch is the  biggest meal. Dinner, as a lighter meal rule,  

kind of closely simulates what you've described. I  wake up, I've got meditation, prayer, journaling,  

I drink a huge glass of water, I move around  and bounce and shake a little bit. Then we  

have family meditation, then I go do my poo,  and then I work out and then I have my first  

meal. And then I jump into my most productive work  of the day. I have lunch, I siesta, I work more.

Ben Greenfield: We break for family  

social time around 6:30 or  so. We have dinner at seven,  

and then we wind down with songs and games and  hit the sack. So I feel like I'm kind of close.

Chiti Parikh: And you know what? When we  

follow that, it feels so natural. Right? You're  not like swimming upstream. So when we listen to  

our body and synchronize our clock with that,  what our body is entrained to do over hundreds  

of thousands of years of evolution, it works  effortlessly. So what you did intuitively is  

exactly what we should be doing is listening  to our body and work with it, not against it.

Ben Greenfield: Yeah, I don't know if I  

did it intuitively. I just talked to a lot of  smart people like you who have the science behind  

this stuff. There's some interesting things that  you said when you were describing the 28-Day Reset  

and the Panchakarma that I want to ask a couple of  quick questions about the oil massage. I also read  

about this in your book. It sounds fantastic.  I've never done it, but can you describe that?

Chiti Parikh: It's the most relaxing and sort of invigorating  

at the same time. So the idea in Ayurveda we use  skin as a way to deliver herbs because skin is our  

biggest organ, right? And the beauty of delivering  anything to the skin is that it bypasses the gut,  

because remember I said the gut has to do a lot  of work, digest food, digest toxins. So the idea  

is, during detoxification, we're using skin as a  way to get some of the herbs in and mobilize more  

fat-based toxins. So use certain oils, especially  something like sesame oil, almond oil, and then  

you infuse them with certain herbs, depending on  your constitution, and by doing the oil massage,  

you, a, increasing circulation. Lymphatic  drainage, very important for your immune  

system. Two, delivering these herbs to the skin,  and three, getting ready to sweat out the toxins  

the same way the herbs are going in. So that's  the overall purpose and the medicinal benefit  

of actually doing the oil massage. Besides,  obviously it makes you feel good and relaxed.

Ben Greenfield: So you're doing this on  

your own. You're not going to a massage therapist  and giving them the oil you're able to self apply.

Chiti Parikh: Exactly. So I  

teach most of my patients to do it on their  own. So there's certain ways of doing it,  

like head to toe, certain strokes just for  the direction of lymphatic drainage you want  

to keep in mind. But I sometimes treat myself,  so I'm lucky I'm in New York. I have a really  

good Panchakarma clinic here. So when I'm  doing Panchakarma for three or five days,  

I'll just go every day for the massage there.  And it's just one of the most relaxing, calming  

things. But the rest of the times, I typically do  this on my own at least two, three times a week.

Chiti Parikh: But I find it  

to be a very grounding practice in itself.

Ben Greenfield: Yeah. I've never actually given  

myself an oil massage, but I did do three weeks  in India a few months ago, and I think I got some  

kind of an herbal oil massage almost every day,  and it was fantastic. I hadn't read your book yet.  

I didn't realize these medicinal benefits. But the  company you mentioned earlier, Banyan Botanicals,  

I think they have oils that are already  infused with some of these herbs, don't they?

Chiti Parikh: They do, yeah. And they're  

also dosha specific. So you can actually take a  quiz in the book or online on their website to  

figure out which dosha, which body type you are,  and you can pick the right oil to match yourself  

and then you can use that. And sometimes I even  tell people, like some of my patients have anxiety  

and insomnia issues. So I'll say, before you go  to bed, take some time to do some deep breathing,  

some meditation, put some of the oil on your  feet and your hand, just massage. And that in  

itself stimulates the nervous system beautifully,  activates the vagus nerve and really helps them  

fall asleep. So you can also pick an oil that has  some of these herbs infused in them that promotes  

sleep and relaxation. So I'm telling you, the oil  massage is a great tool that is often overlooked  

to infuse yourself with those medicinal properties  without having to just pop pills all the time.

Ben Greenfield: That's awesome. I actually  

do massage rose or lavender essential oil onto my  feet and on either side of my neck, kind of by the  

vagus nerve before I go to bed. So I guess maybe  I do kind of do a baby miniature oil massage.

Chiti Parikh: Yeah. And it really works. And  

if you do the traditional Abhyanga, which is the  oil massage, because of the lymphatic drainage.  

You know, when I was doing Panchakarma, the last  time I did it, just a few months ago, I probably  

lost about four or five pounds in the three days I  was doing it. And it was all water weight. Right.

Chiti Parikh: I was just peeing nonstop,  

so I know it wasn't, like, fat or anything like  that. The amount of lymphatic fluid that just sits  

there because of inflammation, oxidative stress,  environmental, you know, toxins and everything  

we're exposed to, this is a great way to dump all  of that. And you can feel it. I'm telling you,  

three to five pounds, and I'm pretty thin, so,  like, three to five pounds is a significant  

amount for me. And I know it's all of that  water weight that I'm just weighing me down.

Ben Greenfield: Speaking of drainage,  

the other question I was going to ask you  is about these enemas. Believe it or not,  

I have a pretty motivated audience. Maybe not  Kayakalpa stock, but they're willing to do quite  

a few things to get healthier or live longer.  And I've talked about coffee enemas before,  

even written articles about them, and I  actually do a coffee enema once a week. But  

you mentioned these other herbal enemas. What  are some of those? And how do you do those?

Chiti Parikh: In Panchakarma,  

they say 50% of the therapeutic benefit is  actually from the enemas, because ultimately what  

you're doing is you're pulling all the toxins into  the gut and dumping them out. But then the enemas  

reset the gut, repopulate the gut microbiome, and  create a strong gut barrier so it protects you for  

months and years to come. That's the whole idea  behind enema, and the way it's traditionally done  

is you start out with an oil enema to actually  lubricate the colon so it doesn't dry out. And  

then you alternate that. So day one, you do an  oil enema. Day two, you do an herbal tea enema.

Ben Greenfield: Wait, I'm gonna. I'm gonna  

stop you there for a second. What's  an oil enema? How do you do that?

Chiti Parikh: So oil enema is basically,  

usually, traditionally sesame oil. So it's just  sesame oil, about 50 to 75 cc. You start with,  

and you typically do it after you eat,  usually after dinner. And then you insert  

the oil in the rectum, and then you should  be able to retain it. So most of the times,  

what I suggest is you just go to bed with  it, and then the oil would just get absorbed.

Ben Greenfield: What delivery  

mechanism are you using for  something like an oil enema?  

Is it the same bucket that you hang  or are you using just an enema? Bulb?

Chiti Parikh: Yeah, you can use a bulb. That's probably  

the easiest because the quantity is very little.  So bulb is probably the easiest way to do it.

Ben Greenfield: Yeah, it's a very small amount.

Chiti Parikh: Yeah. It can be messy, but with the  

syringe or the bulb, it's much easier. And then  the second day, you do the tea enema. So the tea  

is customized to your constitution. So you'll  pick three or four different types of herbs,  

boil it, reduce it down to about half the amount  so it's concentrated, strain it, and then you  

put that in like a traditional enema bag. And  just, you know, that one you typically retain  

for about 20 to 30 minutes. Most people can't go  that long. Most people, after ten minutes, you  

might have the urge to empty, but with practice,  you're able to retain it for 20, 30 minutes.

Chiti Parikh: So oil rejuvenates the colon  

lining and the tea detoxifies. So you kind of go  alternate this, one day oil, one day tea for about  

seven days. And for some patients, depending on  what you're doing it for, if you have underlying  

conditions, sometimes the Ayurvedic doctor might  even recommend for about 15 days, especially if  

there's severe gut microbiome disruption or gut  health issues or autoimmune issues or things like  

that. But it is a profound, has a profound,  long lasting impact on your gut microbiome.

Ben Greenfield: Some enema critics, yes,  

those exist, will say that enemas could strip  the body of minerals or dehydrate you and,  

or strip the, I believe the way it's described,  is somehow remove good colonic flora or reduce  

the bacterial population in the colon. Do  you think there's anything to those ideas?

Chiti Parikh: I personally don't think  

so. I think enema therapy has been around for  thousands of years, and it's been used to deliver  

the benefits of many herbs. So I don't think as  long as you're doing it in the right way with some  

medical oversight and understanding, too much of a  good thing cannot be a good thing. I'm not saying  

you do these enemas every single day. Right. We're  doing it in a certain setting by preparing your  

body coming in and out of it very gently. That  has a tremendous therapeutic benefit. I don't want  

people to put enemas, all enemas, no pun intended,  in the same bucket, because you literally have  

to understand that this is a treatment  that's been around for thousands of years.

Ben Greenfield: Well, this is not based  

on science. This is based on intuition and the my  knowledge about the existence of butyric acid and  

flora in the colon. I put a big dollop of homemade  yogurt and a couple capsules of butyric acid in my  

enema. So when I do a coffee enema, there's  also probiotics and butyric acid in there.

Chiti Parikh: Extremely important. So,  

in Ayurveda, they always say some sort of fat  is very important when you're doing enemas to  

help you absorb some of the nutrients, because,  you know, some herbs and some nutrients are fat  

soluble, whereas some are water soluble. So  having that balance is key. And you're not  

stripping your gut microbiome. You're actually  enhancing it with the yogurt. The butyrate does  

wonders for your colon lining. That's why  sesame oil, ghee. You know, these things.

Chiti Parikh: Ghee is one of the highest,  

richest amounts of butyrate. Butyric acid. And  that's the reason when Ayurveda, we use ghee as  

part of Panchakarma. You drink ghee on an empty  stomach to coat the entire inside of your GI  

tract. So. And we're actually using butyrate  enemas for treating, as part of treatment for  

inflammatory bowel disease with Crohn's disease,  with ulcerative colitis. Tomatoes, tomatoes.

Chiti Parikh: We're doing the  

same exact thing thousands of years later. Right?

Ben Greenfield: Yeah. I'm prone to IBD, and I rarely  

get any issues as long as I maintain that weekly  coffee enema. I do sometimes add, not to overload  

people with too many recipes. I do sometimes add  a little bit of olive oil to it as well. I don't  

use ghee or butter for the butyric acid because  this is just practical experience. It can kind of,  

like, afterwards harden up in the enema tube, or  I use a stainless steel bucket because I don't  

want to use plastic. But then you got to figure  out a way to melt the butter or the ghee out of  

there before the next enema. So that's why I use  the butyric acid capsules that I just break open.

Chiti Parikh: Yeah. And that's why  

butyric acid or even sesame oil has, you  know, sesame oil, especially if it's so  

bending botanical does this where they cure the  oil a little bit for enemas. So some of their oil  

is cured and that makes it much more absorbable.  So that's why ghee is traditionally ingested. We  

don't usually add ghee in the enema. Sometimes  we'll actually add honey in the enemas too,  

depending on certain doshas. But you're absolutely  right. The reason why we don't use coconut oil,  

ghee in the enemas because it can  harden depending on the temperature.

Chiti Parikh: Whereas sesame  

oil has very similar therapeutic  benefits, but much easier to work with.

Ben Greenfield: Okay, another important  

question moving on from enemas. This is related to  water temperature. By the way, do make sure your  

enema is at the correct water temperature. Don't  make no mistake. But the thing about water, you  

see this a lot in Ayurvedic books. I think yours  was the third book where I read this. Don't drink  

excessively cold water with meals, and preferably  don't drink water with meals, period. Why is that?

Chiti Parikh: So? In order for  

food to be digested properly, remember, food  that is not digested properly becomes toxin.  

Right. We want the food to be digested properly,  so it becomes nutrition. And the best way your  

body can digest food that you're eating is  with acid and enzymes. Right. The pH of your  

stomach has to be below four to activate  enzymes to break down the proteins, fat,  

carbs and fiber in your diet. When I drink a big  glass of water with my meal, the pH of water is  

seven and the acid is two to four. So the more  water I drink, the more it dilutes the acid.

Chiti Parikh: And once you get above a pH of five,  

those enzymes don't work properly. So when you do  that, the food does not get broken down properly,  

which will lead to gas bloating. Guess  what? That partially digested food,  

as it's making its way down, the bacteria  in your gut will start fermenting it and  

cause even more gas and bloating. So then we are  feeding the bad bacteria, not the good bacteria.

Ben Greenfield: Does the volume of the water matter,  

though? Because a lot of times, like, I'll have  some apple cider vinegar in water before a meal  

for blood glucose management or digestion,  or I'll even have, like, fluid in the form  

of a glass of wine with dinner. Like. Like,  how much water are we talking about to avoid?

Chiti Parikh: So usually about,  

you know, if you're just doing like,  say, 8oz of water with some apple cider  

vinegar. That's not a big deal. I'm talking  about, like, the traditional american, like,  

giant bucket of ice water that you get served when  you sit down to eat. Most people are like, oh,  

shit, I didn't drink any water. I got to drink  all of that now. Right? So that's the problem,  

is a little bit of water not a problem, especially  if you're doing something with apple cider vinegar  

or like an herbal or digestive tea. So when  you go to an Asian restaurant, you sit down,  

they give you those tiny little cups, like a  little ginger tea, right? So if you hydrate with  

some of these herbs, like ginger, it will actually  stimulate your digestion. So that's sort of.

Chiti Parikh: And one of the teas I mentioned  

in the book is CCF Tea, cumin, coriander,  fennel. That's your digestion powerhouse.

Ben Greenfield: Those three herbs,  

I love those herbs and ginger you've got on page  78. I have this page folded over. Key Ayurvedic  

tips for digestion. Aside from avoiding  excess water and especially cold water,  

and also considering herbs like fennel, coriander,  cumin, or something like ginger with a meal,  

are there any other big wins in  the digestive enhancing department?

Chiti Parikh: Yeah. Mindful eating.  

I cannot stress that enough. You gotta chew  your food. Your stomach does not have teeth.  

Right. The easier you make for your body to  digest the food, the slower you eat. Right.

Chiti Parikh: It won't spike your blood sugar as much. It will  

digest the food better, allow for better insulin  management. So the list goes on when it comes to  

just chewing your food, slowing down when you're  eating. And the third thing I'll say, always eat  

to about two-thirds of your capacity. Right.  Your stomach needs about a third of it to be  

empty to allow for all these gastric juices to do  its magic. If there's not enough space, the food  

gets pushed out of the stomach prematurely without  getting digested. It's like a washing machine.

Chiti Parikh: Like when you're throwing your load of laundry,  

you don't fill it up completely with clothes.  Right. The water's got to go somewhere. The  

detergents got to go somewhere. Same thing with  the stomach. I would say about 50% of a lot of  

health ailments can be fixed if we just eat about  half of we normally do. So that's why it's very,  

we have to be very mindful about how slowly  we eat and how much we eat at any given time.

Ben Greenfield: Let's say I'm at work and  

I'm ordering in and I'm pretty good. Maybe I've  got, I don't know, some vegan Mexican seed oil  

free restaurant. I've got a salad with some salmon  or whatever, but I don't necessarily have, like,  

an herb closet full of cumin and coriander and  fennel and ginger. Is there a case to be made for  

enzymes, or do you have any hacks for travel  using Ayurvedic digestion enhancing tactics?

Chiti Parikh: Absolutely. So I typically tell my patients  

to keep some of these teas or capsules. So one of  my go-to is actually by company called Gaia. They  

make this gas and bloating capsule. So I never  travel without those, especially if you're on  

a plane travel. Those work like magic. So some of  my patients who have digestive issues, I typically  

have them travel with that. I might have them take  apple cider vinegar capsules or gummies with them.

Chiti Parikh: Digestive enzymes are very,  

very helpful. So when you're on the go or when  you're struggling to digest certain foods,  

then it's so important you take some of  these digestive aids so that that food gets  

processed properly, metabolized properly,  and doesn't cause issues down the road.

Ben Greenfield: Okay, that's helpful. Another  

question that's related to Ayurvedic medicine that  I'm very curious about, because I hear all sorts  

of different opinions on this. Is there something  to the idea that when you wake up at different  

times during the night, that that relates  to a specific organ or part of your biology?

Chiti Parikh: Yes, it's fascinating stuff. So  

when I talk to my patients, I typically ask them,  okay, are you sleeping through the night? If not,  

when are you waking up? What time are you waking  up? What kind of dreams you're having? All of that  

can actually give us an insight as to which  dosha might be out of balance. So, typically,  

if you're waking up around, say, between  midnight and two, that's when pitta dosha  

is very active. So this is when the liver is sort  of detoxing and purging. There's a lot of heat in  

the body. There's a lot of inflammation in the  body. That's typically the time when you would  

wake up. And the types of dreams you might have  are more anger, frustration, those type of dreams.

Chiti Parikh: If you have something called  

vata imbalance, you typically wake up. And this is  very common when women go through perimenopause,  

menopause, they enter a vata stage of life.  So vata imbalance typically manifests those  

wee hours in the morning. So between three  and five, like, if you're waking up around,  

like, three or 04:00 and having dreams that are  more like anxiety written. You're trying to,  

you know, someone's chasing you.  That's typically indicative of, like,  

more of a vata imbalance. So when you wake  up can definitely give us an insight as to  

which dosha is your body trying to process  or having a slightly harder time doing so.

Ben Greenfield: So you described the doshas, or doshas. Are those  

different than being hot, cold, damp, or dry,  the other constitutions you describe in the book?

Chiti Parikh: Yeah. So doshas are  

very similar. So in Chinese medicine, we often  categorize a constitution as, like, hot, cold,  

damp, or dry. In Ayurveda, it's like vata pitta  Kapha. It's very similar concepts. So the idea  

is that we are made up of the five elements as  everything else in nature. So some of us have more  

of one element versus the others, where sometimes  in our lives, one element could be out of balance  

compared to the other. So if we recognize those  signs, we can bring it back to balance mindfully.

Chiti Parikh: So, for instance,  

it's middle of summer, right? And I love spicy  food. So if it's summertime and I'm indulging in  

all this spicy food, there's going to be a lot  of heat in my body. So that might manifest as  

some oral ulcers, some acid reflux, some diarrhea,  some rashes on my skin. That's the sign of a lot  

of heat in the body. So I'm like, oh, too much  heat in the body. It's also summer. I need to  

ease off on the spicy food. Maybe I need to have  some watermelon, some cucumbers, some cooling  

foods that are in season to balance off the heat  that's in the environment, that's in my body.

Chiti Parikh: So a lot of this is an intuitive  

process. More, we understand how nature works,  how seasons work. We can kind of work with it.

Ben Greenfield: So in very simplistic terms,  

this could make a case for, say, eggs  and bacon and avocado off the skillet  

for breakfast in the winter and a  nice, cool smoothie in the summer.

Chiti Parikh: Exactly. And intuitively,  

that's what we crave, right. So if it's middle  of the winter, I want a big bowl of porridge,  

something warm, right? I don't want, like,  a green juice in the middle of winter.

Chiti Parikh: But in July right now, I want to start my day with  

a nice fruit, whatever freshest fruits I can get  my hands on. I don't want a hot bowl of oatmeal.  

So listening to your intuition is also going to  very much mimic what nature intends us to do.

Ben Greenfield: And I could be  

mistaken here. But if hot, cold, damp,  and dry comes from Chinese medicine and  

some of these other clocks and doshas that  you described come from Ayurvedic medicine,  

you've kind of researched and  incorporate both Chinese and Ayurvedic.

Chiti Parikh: Exactly. So I'm  

trained in acupuncture. I've studied Chinese  medicine extensively, as I have Ayurveda,  

and they are very, very similar. It's just  they're using slightly different words. Like,  

they might talk about meridians  versus doshas. Right. So it's saying  

the same thing using different words. So  that's what I love about the work I do.

Chiti Parikh: It's like I get  

to learn all these ancient sciences and figure  out the connection with Western medicine. I can  

interpret it in the Western terms. So I'll just  give you one quick example. In Chinese medicine,  

the kidney meridian is responsible for your bones.  And it was just fascinating to me that only now,  

in the last 30, 40 years, we recognize the kidney  actually produces a hormone that helps your body  

metabolize vitamin D better. So the kidneys are  actually responsible for mineral management,  

for vitamin D and calcium, especially.  So in Chinese medicine, they knew kidney  

meridian very important for bone health. And  now we're like, oh, okay, that makes sense.

Chiti Parikh: So it's just fascinating  

to find these correlations and say, wow, they  really kind of figured that out a long time ago.

Ben Greenfield: That's really interesting. Has the landscape  

changed as far as acceptance of these principles?  Because I still get a sense that Western medicine  

kind of frowns on these ancient Eastern principles  steeped in thousands of years of blah, blah, blah,  

without double blinded humanity, clinical  research. Do you still run into that?

Chiti Parikh: I still do, definitely. Things have  

changed a lot in the last ten years because of,  you know, people like you spreading the message,  

getting it to the folks who are really wanting to  take their health into their own hands. Right. And  

be proactive versus the traditional Western model.  Like, you know, the Dr. says this, you do that,  

right. We're kind of moving past that. And this  is where I'm really seeing an interest from.

Chiti Parikh: From general population and understanding  

their body from both Eastern and Western medicine.  I think Western medicine has to open its eyes,  

and I am seeing the change because one of the big  components of NIH is NCCIH, National Center for  

Complementary Integrative Health. Their budget  in the nineties was 2 million, and as of 2021,  

I believe their budget is $130 million to  research things like acupuncture, to herbs, herbal  

medicine, things like tai chi, yoga, qigong.  And that's the reason why Medicare actually  

two years ago or three years ago now approved  coverage for acupuncture for low back pain.

Ben Greenfield: Oh, wow. Incredible.

Chiti Parikh: So in our practice,  

we see Medicare patients, we treat them with  acupuncture. So tide is definitely turning.  

Not fast enough, in my opinion. But who would  have thought that acupuncture was going to be  

first line treatment for low back pain  and Medicare was going to pay for it.

Ben Greenfield: I've seen it  

completely eliminate seasonal allergies in my  teenage son, like literally almost overnight.

Chiti Parikh: It is such a powerful medicine that right  

now we think that it's only for musculoskeletal  stuff. No, it's a complete medicine. Acupuncture  

is there to treat pretty much everything.  We're starting with back pain. Fine. That's  

a good place to start. But I hope we recognize the  true potential of these ancient healing methods.

Ben Greenfield: What I'm going to  

do is I'll link to the book everything else  we talked about. I'm going to hunt down some  

of that fantastic gooseberry jams. Go to  bengreenfieldlife.com/intentionalhealth.  

Bengreenfieldlife.com/intentionalhealth. Check  out the book, this book right here. Detoxify,  

Nourish, and Rejuvenate Your Body into Balance  because obviously Dr. Parikh gave an overview.  

But if you actually want it all laid out there in  front of you, to just follow the program and see  

the steps of each day of that 28-day protocol,  highly recommend it. I just got to find a time  

to actually do it and maybe a cave to climb  into when I decide to upgrade to the Kayakalpa.

Ben Greenfield: But Dr. Parikh, thank you so much.

Chiti Parikh: Thank you so much for having me.

Ben Greenfield: All right, folks, I'm  

Ben Greenfield and Dr. Chiti Parikh signing out  from bengeenfieldlife.com/intentionalhealth.  

Have an incredible week.

Ben Greenfield: Do you want free  

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Ben Greenfield: 

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