What is the Panchakarma cleanse that Aaron Rodgers just completed after the season?

Charles Curtis
·3 min read
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As he’s done for the last few years, Aaron Rodgers spoke to "The Pat McAfee Show" as what could be a chaotic offseason for him and the Green Bay Packers continues, hours after he posted a lengthy Instagram message to Shailene Woodley, his teammates and fans.

It was during that conversation that he mentioned he had just finished a Panchakarma cleanse after the end of the season.

And now, you’re probably wondering what the heck that is.

We have answers for you:

He went into some detail:

To recap: It’s a 12-day cleanse, you don’t do anything else but follow a specific diet that helps him with “recentering” and that gave him a sense of “intense gratitude” after he came out of it.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates as he walks off the field following the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates as he walks off the field following the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.

So ... what is it?

According to the first page I found when Googling — yes, I know, the first page isn’t always the most reliable source but let’s run through it — says this:

Panchakarma is a method of cleansing the body of all the unwanted waste after lubricating it. Panchakarma are 5 (five) in number; hence the term PANCHA (five) – KARMA (procedures). Panchakarma treatment is unique in the sense that it includes preventive, curative and promotive actions for various diseases.

And what are those five procedures? This is where I’ll deliver a WARNING: THIS IS GRAPHIC. I’ll sum it up for you: There’s “induced vomiting,” use of lubrication around your backside, clearly out of nasal passages and … something else to cleanse your backside.

What does this all mean?

This is connected to Ayurveda, a holistic approach to healing. The lubrication you hear about above? That’s to purify the body. Per the Ayurvedic Institute, the idea is then to eliminate to toxins all throughout the body.

He also mentioned a special diet. What's that about?

More from the Ayurvedic Institute:

A mono-diet of kitchari and ghee is recommended, as well as essential restrictions on cold drinks, cold food, caffeine, white sugar, recreational drugs or alcohol and dairy products—all substances which should not be resumed (if at all) until sometime after panchakarma is completed. The reason for this diet is that during the cleansing process the digestive fire (agni) takes a rest. Also, as toxins move back into the gastrointestinal tract, the power of digestion is further slowed. Kitchari will provide adequate nourishment, is very easy to digest, nourishes all the tissues of the body, is excellent for de-aging of cells and assists in the detoxification and cleansing process. Kitchari is a seasoned mixture of rice and mung dal, and is basic to the Ayurvedic way of life. Basmati rice and mung dal both have the qualities of being sweet and cooling with a sweet aftertaste. Together they create a balanced food; an excellent protein combination that is tridoshic.

And that's what led him to post that long Instagram message?

Yes.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Rodgers discusses the 12-day Panchakarma cleanse he went on