Modern science now believes that the cause of degeneration, decay and premature ageing lies in free radicals in the body. This overrules the earlier concept of germ theory. But yoga fallow it since thousands year ago. According to this yogic theory, this can result in various health disorders and life threatening diseases. In fact, most of the degenerative diseases such as hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, immunity disorders, strokes, and arteriosclerosis and heart ailments can be traced to this one reason.
The accumulation of toxins in our body is, therefore, natural. We cannot escape from this completely. With the kind of food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and our emotional pulls and pressures, certain hormones are secreted that have a tendency to leave behind toxins.
But nature has given lot of source in our physical body to expel out these toxins naturally. Tears (eyes), sneezing (nostril), mucus (nostril), sweat (skin), menstrual blood (vagina), urine (urinal track) and faeces (rectum) are all nature's way of detoxification. And in mental body; positive thoughts are there to detoxify mental toxins. Most of us believe on only physical level of toxins. But in my case studies; I found, one of the major sources of physical toxins are mind because it governs your life style. Untrained mind cannot know what you have to eat or what you have to think. If mind is trained, they can decide their better things.
It is surprising that ancient yogis knew of these effects thousands of years ago and have practiced methods that help to keep optimum health.
Hatha Yoga fulfils detoxification through the practices of Asanas (shankh prakchalana, neti, kunjal, nauli), Pranayamas (kapalbhanti, agnisar etc), Mudras and Bandhas (mool bandh, ujjai bandh). While Pranayamas create the right vibration in the cells by working on energy flows, Asanas free up blocks and obstacles in the flow of this energy. It not only detoxify physical toxins only, mental and spiritual toxins also. It helps to purify mind and brain.
yoga has techniques which help in detoxification at all levels including mental and spiritual. Techniques such as 'Kapalbhati' help in increased oxygenated blood flow to the brain and help in 'purifying' the mind.