A Health Revolution: Bridging Ancient Science and Modern Health + Week 1 of my Panchakarma

Wisdom from Ayurveda that can help improve the medical system

White sterile walls, bland processed food, prescriptions, long line ups, stressed and exhausted doctors … This is what health care looks like in the western world.

The West knows best, right?

Right?!?…

Allopathic medicine is effective and crucial for emergency care but for chronic disease and prevention its missing some important elements.

The CDC states that 6 in 10 Americans are struggling with chronic disease.

What is the mode of treatment? Ask someone you know who is struggling and they will tell you. Drugs. Surgery. Drugs.

There’s Another Way

Currently, I am in South India staying at an Ayurvedic Healing Center, it is a health clinic that is based on the ancient Vedic science of Ayurveda. I have come here to do my Ayurvedic Practitioner internship but also to experience the healing power of Ayurveda on my own body, mind and spirit.

Ayurveda excels at prevention, managing and/or healing chronic disease and rejuvenation. People from all over have come here to heal, naturally. Some people have severe back injuries, slipped disks, spondylitis, hypothyroidism, arthritis, skin diseases, chronic fatigue, infertility, anxiety, depression, obesity etc.

What makes this way of healing different?

First of all, the food. The food is made fresh every meal. It is organic, natural, vegetarian, easy to digest and delicious. My meals are specifically made for me and my imbalance. Nothing processed, nothing artificial, nothing dead… All the food is full of prana (energy).

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food” - Hippocrates

Here is one of my lunches. Full of vegetables, nourishing and fresh.

Second, yoga and pranayama are a part of the plan. Moving the body, calming the nervous system help to create a balanced nervous system state so that the body can heal. If we don’t move, if we don’t breathe we are close to death. Every morning at 6:30am there is yoga and every afternoon at 5:30 there is pranayama and meditation.

Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash

The body knows what it needs to do. We need to get out of the way and support it, so the body can do its magic and heal.

Third, my room is a pleasant space to be in, it has large windows and is not lit by fluorescent lighting. My room faces the East, the rising sun so I can get the healing morning rays. I can look out and see the beauty of nature all around me.

The view from my room - a sunset one day. The beauty of nature has the power to uplift the soul and heal.

Fourth, they care. My doctors check in on me in the morning and before bed to see how I am doing, how the therapies went and how I feel. They do not act rushed or hush me off if I have too many questions. They are patient, they have time for me and they treat me as though I am their child, they care and I feel it.

Fifth, the therapies are non invasive, relaxing and holistic. Ayurvedic therapies in general are relaxing; think lots of oil and herbal powders, massage, moving the lymphatics etc. They are highly effective and not painful. The therapies work on all parts of the person including the body, mind and spirit. Highly effective at healing because the mind is cleansed and rejuvenated as much as the body. Although, there can be discomfort when one has to do the purging therapies, it passes quickly and the result are obvious with how much better you feel afterwards.

Sixth, only natural medicines are used. Herbs, oils, powders, jams etc. These healing plants and substances help to cleanse and rejuvenate the body. No intense drug reactions or life threatening side effects. Also, a pleasant benefit you may take a herbal formula for one problem and it ends up healing a few other issues as well! Bonus:)

Hibiscus flower - known for its cooling properties, heart health and wonderful for the hair amongst many other uses.

Sounds too good to be true? Sounds like heaven?

Honestly, it feels like another planet.

In the West xenophobia is common, especially in regards to the medical system. However, some ancient cultures like wise grandparents know more.

There is another way to heal, another way to have health care. One that is nurturing, holistic, natural and human.

Surrounded by wild beauty and the cooling river.

My Experience - Week 1

The first day I arrived I met with my Ayurvedic Doctor to go over my intake form and the concerns I had. He addressed all of my imbalances and created a plan that would encompass everything.

The first week was various therapies to prepare my body for panchakarma (a deep cleanse). The focus at this stage is to burn ama (toxins that have accumulated in the system and are disrupting cell communication and cell function), increase digestive power and to lubricate the entire body - in and out.

I was given a full body massage with herbal oils to help calm my nervous system and to re-lubricate my body after 3 days of travel. I received 4 handed massage, head massage and neck massage. The oils help to ease pain and stiffness, ground me and reduce vata in my system.

Photo by Ale Romo on Unsplash

I received herbal powdered bolus bag therapy which helps to remove inflammation, swelling, improve circulation and relieve pain.

My moon cycle came then so therapies had to stop but I still received a daily foot massage to calm my nervous system and to help a bunion I had on my foot. To my surprise after 4 foot massages and the bolus bags the bunion has 75% improved! I wish I had taken a before photo. Incredible.

Then I did a herbal leaf bolus bag with medicated oils that are heated and pounded all over the body. This helps the medicine go deeper, lubricate the tissues, reduce stiffness and pain, increase circulation, reduce inflammation and move the lymphatics. Because it is a mild sudation the heat helps to loosen toxins and increase the digestive power; getting the body ready for the next step. Internal oiliation to further loosen toxins in the body- think drinking a bunch of ghee….. it works like soap cleaning the cells, I’ll explain in week 2.

This is all preparing the body for panchakarma.

Panchakarma means the 5 karmas or 5 actions. It is 5 different ways to cleanse and purify the body from excess doshas (Vata, pitta and kapha) that have accumulated in the body that contribute to disease and degeneration. By eliminating the excess doshas, we come back to our natural balanced state and thrive with health.

Stay tuned for how my oilation went.

Heaven on Earth - the view of the river where the Ayurvedic Healing Center is

Thank you for reading. If you enjoy my writing please subscribe if you havent already. There is also a paid option, if you would like to give a gift to me. Feel free to comment and share.

Much love,

Thalita