Tongue Scraping and its benefits
Tongue scraping (Jivha nirlekhana) is a part of Ayurvedic self-care and also a great method to check your body each morning. The next important regimen comes after teeth brushing. Regular tongue scraping will active the taste buds and your mouth feels fresher.
Scraping tongue improves the communication between food (phytonutrients) and body, by removing the tongue coating which interferes with this connection. Also, many herbs have their beneficial effects from the initial contact with the tongue receptors.
Why tongue scraping?
The main reason for the formation of ama (toxins) in the body is improper digestion which can notice on your tongue in the form of a coating. The coating on the tongue affects the transmission of the proper signals from the taste receptors to the brain lead to the improper release of stomach acids and enzymes. Scrapping tongue clears the toxins from the tongue and prevents the reabsorption of the toxins to the body. Also improves taste perception, thereby enhances digestion and metabolism.
What to notice:
Notice the color, smell, and quantity of the coating. The color and smell indicate the dosha imbalance and the quantity indicates whether your body digests the food properly which you had the previous day. When you eat a heavy and large meal the previous night, then the coating on the tongue can be relatively more the next day morning. More coating on tongue indicates more ama (toxins) in the body.
How to scrape your tongue?
- Scrape your tongue in the morning on empty stomach, after teeth brushing.
- Stick your tongue out. Relax your tongue, gently reach the back of your tongue with the scraper, as much as comfortable.
- Scrape gently the tongue from back to front for 3 to 5 times.
- Rinse the tongue scraper after each scrape.
- Finally, rinse your mouth with water.
Benefits of Tongue scraping:
- Removes foul smell and coating
- Improves digestion and taste perception
- Removes toxins and bacteria from the oral cavity
- Promotes oral hygiene
Tongue scraper or Tongue cleaner:
A device designed to clean the coating on the tongue. A tongue scraper should not be too sharp and uneven edge, made out of metals like gold, silver, copper, stainless steel, brass, etc.
Why copper tongue scraper:
Copper has antiseptic and bacterial resistant property, also stimulates important enzymes that are needed for the healthy microbes in the oral cavity.