Ayurvedamagazine

Category: Ayurveda Stories

  • Himachal CM Seeks Ayurveda Treatment in Kerala

    The 83-year-old Himachal Pradesh chief minister, Virbhadra Singh along with his wife Pratibha Singh arrived at Athreya Ayurvedic Centre in Pallom near Kottayam on December 1; 2017. According to the chief physician of the centre, Dr. Girish, the CM will spend over 10 days at the centre. The seasoned politician, who is also a long time diabetic patient agreed to follow the hospital protocol when it comes to food preferences. The only demand made by the CM was that he wanted to stay at a hospital with the ambience of a resort and run by a traditional family of Ayurveda practitioners. He had earlier stayed at this centre in 2008 for three weeks as part of treatment.

    Since the CM comes under the Z plus category, the state police is providing security at the resort.

  • P.K. Warrier is 96

    Aryavaidyan P K Warrier, the doyen of Ayurveda, who took Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala to global fame celeberated his 96th birthday on May 25th at Kottakkal. In commemoration of Dr. Warrier’s birthday, his disciple Dr K Muraleedharan released a book on Ayurveda. The book, Ayurvedam: Arivum Anubhavavum is a collection of essays by Dr. Muraleedharan. Warrier spent an hour at a special function held at Kottackal Arya Vaidya Sala attented by an elite crowd.

    Dr. Warrier shared many interesting anecdotes in which practitioners of this traditional medicine made remarkable achievements in their treatments. He called upon doctors to treat patients with their heart.

  • Home Care Ayurveda- Germany

    In India, Kerala is known as the home to Ayurveda. But, today we can no longer restrict Ayurveda to this wedge-shaped state of Kerala. Globally, Germany is known to many as the home to Ayurveda. Dr. Jeevan’s Ayurveda academy in Germany is the reason for this status. Now, Germany is also known as the second home of Ayurveda. This crown that Germany wears today did not come easy. A lot of effort and homework has gone behind this and effort needs to be done continuously to keep it going this way. Despite the high number of academies, research programs and private clinics in Germany it can be seen that many institutions and individuals in Germany practice Yoga therapy along with Ayurveda.  Yoga here is often reimbursed if practiced under a qualified Yoga instructor who is registered under BDY(Berufsverband der Yogalehrenden in Deutschland e.V).  It can be presumed that in future Ayurveda may also be reimbursed if one undergoes treatment under a registered medical doctor too. And when that happens, Germany also becomes the first home of Ayurveda.

    About ‘Ayurveda Care’

    This is a German based private academy and treatment center that will be 20 years this year in 2016. It is run by Dr. Jeevan, who is an experienced Ayurveda physician. This center has witnessed several students who have done basic and advanced course in Ayurveda medicine here and are practicing it in several parts of Germany in a traditional Kerala style. This means that they use Ama Pachana with decoctions, Purva and Panchakarma with traditional oils and Rasayana with herbal Ghees and Elixirs for their treatment procedures.  Ayurveda is practiced here considering the nutritional guideline that suits the climate of Germany and the availability of local organic foods, Yoga asana & Yoga dhyana that is suitable to the specific individual. Dr. Jeevan is said to be the motivating force behind this 20 year-old academy in Germany.

    Apart from his Academy, Dr. Jeevan also manages an Ayurveda Panchakarma center at Germany. Various treatments including treatments for multiple sclerosis, poly arthritis, burn out, infertility are practiced at this center. Dr. Jeevan also owns a network of small clinics at Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Ingolstadt etc. His main center or a referral center is at Pelham, Bad Endorf- an hour drive from Munich, which is the Final Destination of Ayurveda in Germany.

    What is more special in Ayurveda Care at Pelham is: It is not just an Ayurveda clinic or hospital, it is a Home where Ayurveda Care is done. This is why Dr. Jeevan calls it ‘Home Care Ayurveda’. He only treats 5 patients per month and thus gives them the most of Ayurveda care. Yoga in the morning and Dhyana in the evening is regularly practiced here. Food is cooked based on Ayurveda principles using organic substances that are locally obtained. Panchakarma treatments, conferences on self-care and daily care are part of this Special Home Care. One can understand the Ayurveda principles by living with this Indian family. The patients who are treated here not only experience a good Panchakarma but also a healthy Living. Here, a patient diagnosed with a disease is easily cured due to the lifestyle practiced here which is that of living close to nature. Here, the reason for the basic cause of a disease is expounded to be due to the erratic nature of  lives that people practice with no space for love. It is understood here that a disease cannot be cured by just doing a Panchakarma or consuming some herbal capsules or tablets diseases. This home care center focuses on living with the rhythm of nature and respecting the laws of nature. The proximity to the beautiful Alps and the Pelhamer sea at the Chiemsee region helps one escape from the concrete jungles of Munich & Frankfurt for a while and nourish not only the body but also the mind.

    What should one focus on for a healthy living in Ayurveda? If you consider the first element ether or space: This place is absolutely free from sound pollution.

    The second element air: Chemsee region of Bayern is a smoke free light air and very good for asthmatic patients. If you come from Berlin or Frankfurt you can actually feel this. Fire element: No Wireless LAN which makes the atmosphere Electro smoke free. The center faces the east and also to the Alps. So you see different colors in the sky during the sunrise and sun set. Pelhamer sea is stamped as healing water and is just 5 KM away from the Healing thermal water where people can go for bath or swim. The earth: Pollution free, plastic free ground. Most of the organic plantations from different companies have their seats in Chiemgau region. The vegetables are locally grown and not imported.

    Milk is from the farmer in the neighbor.  Mineral water is just 5 KM away but provided in glass bottles. They also prepare oils and ghee with locally available medicinal plants. So the five-elements concepts is well kept as much as possible in this Home Care Ayurveda.

    This opportunity is utilized by many of the Germans for the prevention and cure of diseases and also to understand the Indian way of life.

    Dr. Jeevan is an Ayurveda physician with more than 26 years of experience in both teaching and consulting. He graduated as an Ayurveda physician from Coimbatore Ayurveda College. He is an expert in providing Ayurveda consultation to find out dosha imbalance in a person. With the help of Ayurvedic principles he can understand the disease process in a person and thus guide them to select the best nutrition and life style management with the Ancient healing methods of India.

    More than that, you can spend a day with Dr. Jeevan to understand Ayurvedic way of cooking, individual Yoga practice and a consultation. If you are interested to do something more to detox your body and mind there is also customized Panchakrma packages after the consultation. If you are tired of long flights to Kerala, or not young enough for a flight to Kerala, India A small Kerala is in at Pelham!    

    For more information, you can check at www.Ayurveda-care.de or call directly to Ayurveda team +49 8053 3Article written by Laura Kauther, [email protected]

  • Contributions of Susruta, the Father of Indian Surgery

    The existence of Ayurveda has been recognized since time immemorial. Vivid descriptions about this form of medicine are seen in Rig Veda and Atharva Veda. It is believed that Lord Brahma was the originator of Ayurveda, the Science of Life, which had two different schools i.e. the Atreya School, which deals with Kayachikitsa (General Medicine) and the Dhanwantari School ,which deals with Shalya (surgery). Susruta was regarded as one of the most intelligent disciples of Divodas Dhanwantari, therefore, he preached his scientific knowledge of Shalya to his disciples, particularly addressing to Susruta. There is difference of opinion among scholars about the age in which Susruta lived. Some scholars put him quite early in BC while others take him in the Medical Period.

    The most outstanding performances of Indian surgery, however, were in the domains of transplantation of organs, plastic surgery, Lithotomy, Laparotomy etc.

    There had been several instances where the severed parts of the body were transplanted with great success. Implantation of artificial metal leg, restoration of broken teeth, eye- enucleating and corneal grafting to restore vision etc. were carried out by Indian surgeons in the past. Moreover, plastic surgery was on high peak during the ancient era. Susruta, the father of Indian surgery, has described the scientific technique of Rhinoplasty and Otoplasty (repairing of severed nose and lobes of the ear) in his Treatise of Susruta Samhita. It is evidently true that modern surgery throughout the world has got inspiration from the ancient surgery of Susruta and it has been quoted by Hershberg of Germany that ‘our entire knowledge of plastic surgery took a new turn when these surgical techniques of India became known to us.”

    However it indicates that Indian surgeons were highly trained and proficient in performing the major and complicated surgeries. In brief, these contributions by Susruta have inspired the scientists of the 20th century to realise the significance of transplantation as well as plastic surgery practices in the 6th century BC or even before.

    Thus the objective and its importance to deal with the present object is to trace the most valuable 4hidden treasures of surgery practised in the past. An attempt will also be made to investigate the valuable materials of immense importance pertaining to surgical literature available in Vedic and Post- Vedic periods. Indians believe the science of Indian medicine to be divine as Lord Brahma was the patron of the leading art, Ayurveda. It has always been a matter of speculation how the ancient surgeons ever carried out major surgeries successfully in the absence of anaesthesia, haemostatics, antiseptics and antibiotics. However, knowledge of anatomy was requisite to Indian surgeons as evidenced by the concept of Marmas (Vital points) 107 in number mentioned by Susruta based on regional anatomy so critical to any intelligent surgeon and this needs further exploration. Indian surgeons were quite aware of the infections following surgical operations and they accorded top priority to prevent infections in such cases. It was surprising how they used to prevent and manage the infection in the absence of antiseptics and antibiotics. It is to be further highlighted and explored with regard to the ways and means adopted by the surgeons in the old days of Susruta. Shalya is the name applied to the art of surgery in Ayurveda. The foreign bodies of all kinds were denoted ‘shalya’. But it specially refers to the arrow which was the commonest and the most dangerous foreign body causing wounds and requiring immediate surgical interference during the Aryan invaders. Thus in Rig Veda, amputation of legs and fitting with artificial metal limbs, extraction of arrow from the wounds, corneal grafting to restore vision etc. have been elaborately described. The clinical approach and major surgical operations of certain serious abdominal diseases i.e. peptic ulcers, perforations etc. mentioned by Susruta have provided a new light to modern surgery. Moreover, Susruta has described various means of blood-letting (Rakta Moksha) employing several methods for the treatment of critical diseases, i.e. blood pressure, sciatica and several nervous disorders. It was most common during the ancient era and more than 50% of the diseases were cured by Siravedha (venesection), cupping and application of leeches which have been quoted in the ancient book of surgery- Susruta Samhita.

    Similarly, Agnikarma (cauterisation) was considered even more efficacious than caustic. It was mostly employed to eradicate tumors, fistula, haemorrhoids, elephantiasis and several nervous disorders and requires further explanation in view of modern light.

    The most exciting surgery of transplantation of organs was highly prevalent and practised in the past. Transplantation of head, kidney and other vital organs were successfully carried out in the past by Indian surgeons, Aswini brothers and others. However, the ancient technique, methodology and immunesuppressive agents to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs etc. need further explanation and investigation available in the Vedic and Post- Vedic periods in Sutra form. In addition to the above noted details, the scientific approach to perform Rhinoplasty and Otoplasty in the 6th century BC will be explored and highlighted considering the significance and importance of the subject in modern perspective.

    Susruta has emphasised on the clinical application of Kshara- Sutra in patients suffering from fistula, haemorrhoids with great success. Even at present, alkali prepared threads (Kshara Sutra) are widely used by the Indian surgeons. The details of the technique as well as the scientific approach need to be studied further as it is less time consuming compared to modern surgery.

    The fundamental concepts and contribution of Susruta on the management of fractures and dislocations have covered all aspects in such a scientific way that even modern surgery has adopted almost the same principles without much alteration. It does indicate that Indian surgeons in the past had supremacy pertaining to orthopaedic surgery. The emphasis will be given on most of the outstanding contributions of Susruta on ancient surgery practised in the past

  • The Bid to Save the Greens


    “ Alungal Farm, spread over an acre and half right in the midst of the hectic area of Thammanam, houses a wide range of plants, some of which are highly medicinal and academic reserves and some that are endangered. “

    greensPreserving around 1800 varieties of medicinal plants and 300 fruit varieties, A.V. Purushothama Kamath of ‘Gurukulam’ has made his home a green abode.

    What began as an effort to protect the flora later turned out to be a passion for this former bank officer who is now a familiar face among the horticulturists in the State.

    His ‘Alungal Farm’, spread over an acre and half right in the midst of the hectic area of Thammanam, houses a wide range of plants, some of which are highly medicinal and academic reserves and some that are endangered. “Once you earnestly start investing your heart in this field, money ceases to matter. The sense of satisfaction these plants give is immense, ” says Kamath who has as his visitors, students of Botany, Ayurveda and Ecology and numerous others interested in protecting greenery.

    “Last time a group from a hospital in Bangalore came and collected plants from us. Students from Goa and Odisha too have come here to see the place and to do projects, ” he said. Occasionally, he also gets surprise visits from people like CPI state secretary Pannyan Raveendran, and renowned environmentalists and some of the High Court judges.

    A regular participant of the flower shows, Kamath always has surprises for the people who come to see his collection. The most recent one was the show organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi in January where he displayed 102 varieties. Apart from the Navagrahasasyangal corresponding to the nine planets, he also show-cased Sri Lankan Shimshipa, Cherupunna, Vishappola, Mayilellu, Muluvenga, Kilikkulachethi, Koena, Chuvanna Akil, Vella Akil, Kaara Akil, Ganapati Naarakam, Vankadalaadi, Doorstenia, Avalppori, Kaarthotti, Vetti, Kadukka, Brownia, Ven notchi, Bodhi, Chora pine, Kochikkoova, Malaveppu, Darbha, Malathaangi, Garudapatcha, Thaathiri, Nelli, Ithi, Vanni, Peraal, Kaakkathudali, Karingotta, Maramanjal, Ekanayakam, Kaattukarppooram, Nonji, Pazhuthaarakkolli, Aanaviratti, Safed Musli, Lakshmi Taru, Asokam, Eluppa, Samudrapatcha, Njarambodal, Kokkampuli, Manimaruthu, Vayola, Mothirakkanni, Veezhaal, Athi, Manjakaantham, Bhoothakkarandivalli, Pushkaramulla, Cheruthekku, Kamandalu, Plaashu, Aanathaandi, Keerikkizhangu and others.greens1

    He now looks forward to taking part in the next flower event at Hill Palace, Tripunithura, soon. “It feels great when people come and tell me that they never knew the plants which grew in their courtyard had such great value, ” says Kamath who is used to getting such appreciation.

    Besides the individual herbs, he also has a collection of what he calls the plant sets, like the Nakshatravruksham, Dashamoolam, Dashapushpam, Trikadu, Triphala, Trigandha, Trijaatham, Panjavalkam, Naalpaamaram etc. “Next time we will have the Raashimarangal too, ” he feels optimistic about the collection that is in the pipeline. This set corresponds to the Malayalam birth chart (horoscope).

    Yet another attraction in the farm is the incredible varieties of fruits, most of which have never seen the indigenous markets. Israel Athi, Star apple, Egg fruit, Butter fruit, Velvet apple, Elephant apple, Wood apple, Beypore apple, Singapore Cherry, Bell apple, West Indian cherry, Baraba, Jamaican fruit, Maramunthiri, Kumkumat, Odichukuthinaarakam and others from the lemon family, Longan, Chaampa varieties, figs, mulberries, Jabuticaba, miracle fruit, olives, mango varieties like Moovandan, Chandrakkaran, Muttippazham, Poochappazham, seedless jackfruits, seedless Jamun fruit (njaaval pazham), Ramputan, Valliplaavu, Munthirippera, Peach, Star fruit etc.

    Kamath’s efforts to preserve the plants have been widely applauded and won him laurels. The Krishi Bhavan Karshakottama Award thrice (1995, 98, 2006), the Coconut Development Board award for the best farmer are a few of them. He was also one among the best 15 farmers chosen by the Biodiversity Board last year. “My dream is to convert the farm into a herbal village, ” he says. He is also collecting the plants describedin Hortus Malabaricus, the most comprehensive treatise of medicinal herbs. “It has been a long-time dream to have an exhibition exclusively for the plants seen in this and I am sure my effort will see its result by the end of this year, ” says the 65-year- old impassioned horticulturist.

    The most in demand are the Nakshatavrikshams, Lakshmi Taru, Amukkuram that is used to treat AIDS, Mullatha that treats cancer, Abheeyu, Jabuticaba, Miracle fruit etc. The farmer and his family are now equally particular about collecting the local fruits that are in the process of getting endangered. The Njettukuzhiyan manga for instance. “You don’t see them anymore in cities,” says Chitra, Kamath’s daughter. Hiswife, Ashalatha, and other children, Vinaya and Anand, too, are active participants in the green greens3mission.

    “ “The workers , even if hired, may not love the plants as we do and I cannot afford to see these being mistreated” “

    “We use only vermin compost and biogas, no chemical fertilizer or pesticide, ” says the preserver who is particular about watering and nurturing the farm all alone.
    “The workers , even if hired, may not love the plants as we do and I cannot afford to see these being mistreated, ” he says

    greens4Considering the herbs as no different from his own children, Kamath eels they share a sort of telepathy. “There is a rapport indeed. We talk to each other and understand”. It was this sense of fulfillment that kept him going even when people around tagged him insane for giving up a decent job and turning to a profession so less remunerative as this. “Today even they take in the oxygen given by these plants, ” he smiles with gratification.

    An avid reader of books that give information about plants, Kamath also has to his credit a wide range of them. Sasyashabhavali, Vanavrikshangal, Ayurveda Patchamarunnukal, Vishasasyangal etc. help him in the process. A book that he is writing is in progress and Kammath hopes to impart his knowledge about plant lives to the rest of the world. His articles about five endangered species have already been published in Krishi Bhavan’s journal. He takes classes for ATMA, co-ordinated by the Krishi Bhavan.

    “It is not always about money. Lucrative the profession may not be. But you get to take in pure air, healthy food and feel gratified that the earth is protected and you are a part of the process. For me that is most important, ” says the man who has been protecting them for the past 40 years and never once regretted.

  • came, saw, conquered,

    When she came to India for the first time, Carina Miorin had no clue her life would take such a different turn in the coming years. It was in 2005 that she visited Tamil Nadu and Kerala for voluntary service as part of her studies. A student of Cultural Anthropology and Indological studies then, Carina went back to Germany, her homeland, only to return in 2007 and pursue studies in Ayurveda. “It was obviously a tough call, especially convincing the family,” says the German national who completed Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course from Sree Narayana Institute of Ayurveda Studies and Research in Puthur, Kollam.“I kept reading books in Ayurveda, particularly the ones written by Dr. Robert Svaboda, the American author and Ayurvedic doctor.”

    Traditional medicine, however, wasn’t new to the family as they have always resorted to alternative healing methods. “We do not go to doctors that early. I have never seen my dad go to the doctor,” she recounts with a smile. Nevertheless, dropping out of the university (Hamburg University) to proceed with academics and a career in Ayurveda did stoke apprehensions, she adds.

    Ask her how and why she chose Ayurveda, Miorin has a mouthful of reasons , and she has no regrets.
    “This science is amazing. There is no answer that you cannot find in these texts. I never imagined it was this vast, ” she replies. Yet the syllabus, she finds disagreeable. “I was overwhelmed initially. There is so very much to memorize.
    It gets to a point where you may not know what something is, but you may have already studied it.” says Carina who, in spite of unfriendly academic situations, topped the Sanskrit exam.

    “Well I had to give my heart there, working day and night over the portions,” she laughs while recollecting how tough it was to learn. “Often I had this worry whether I would really pass the exam but somehow I managed,” she says.
    Introduction to Sanskrit, what she had studied along with Indological studies, did help much, with the letter and grammar. While Ayurveda has mostly been taken abroad for the possible revenue it could gross, Carina feels it is the idea that has to be exported, not the medicine. “Life should start healthy and this field offers much there,” she says. “It can make an individual blooming and as well remove the illnesses”.

    But when it comes to practicing in Germany, one is expected to cross hurdles. “I am afraid I am going to lose what I learnt here because of the restrictions, especially being in a field where you learn as you practice. BAMS isn’t enough, but an equivalent course to get the license has to be cleared. And the health insurance there does not cover the treatment costs. Moreover, importing the medicine seems to be quite a task,” says she who feels dutiful about spreading the importance of Ayurveda. “It has to be taken across as it is worth it”.

    Ayurveda!Kerala: Vegetation, the flora-fauna, climate, lush greenery and people! “I have always felt close to the culture, people and climate. However, living here is very different from the ‘idea’ of living here. It was initially impossible to remember the place names but now that I have been here for quite some time, it is fine.” After the one -year internship, she now stays in Tripunithura, one of her favourite places, near an Aaryavaidyasala.

    Malayalam, again, was yet another constraint but five years ‘ intermingling has taught Miorin enough to communicate. “I know the basics of the language, to talk. It depends on who is on the other end. With the ones I know, it is pretty manageable but if it is an old man with no teeth, I can’t!,” laughs the Ravensburg-native who, incidentally, loves to eat Puttu and Idiyappam the most.

    Although her love for studies took her all the way across the continent, Carina feels what is important is the experience than any formal education, hence had no grievances after she had to repeat a year in school following a foreign exchange program to the US.

    Apart from the unorthodox passion, Carina has conceived love for music and travel as well. She had surprised the lot after winning the first prize for a flute rendition in the Western music category at the Ayur Youth Festival in Cherthala. “I had wanted to go for music therapy after high school but dropped the idea of music as a profession as it isn’t really the best way of choosing a livelihood”. Carina’s brother is a drummer, based in London.

    Yet another craze, travelling, had taken her to Europe, the US, Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Nepal and other places . “This time I went for the Kumbh Mela. An incredible experience it was, ” says Miorin who prefers travelling alone. Pursuing a dream is indeed industrious, especially in an otherwise inhospitable terrain. So for all the ones who would like to go far with their passions, Carina Miorin is a lesson.

    As of now, the thirty-year old is busy with the yoga teacher training course in Thiruvananthapuram, preparing herself for a profession that she would like to undertake after getting back. “It is important to do what you love,” she says.

  • It’s nature that cures


    “ Life is fast, and we need everything quicker, even if diseased, we need quicker relief. Anyhow we need to come back to the pace of nature, we need to follow a healthy routine and we need to be careful, not to break the golden laws of nature. “

    It is just 8 months passed, since I came to know the word ‘Ayurveda’. Believe it or not, I have changed tremendously after that moment!

    In this note I just wish to share my journey, started from my motherland to the land of Ayurveda. I am from Indonesia, my name is Kadek Dwi Muras Mei Permata Sari, or simply call me ‘Kadek’ ! Now I am 19 years old, doing my BAMS course in Aroor Laxmi Narayana Rao Memorial Ayurvedic Medical College in Koppa, Chickmagalor district, Karnataka.

    Ayurveda is not so popular In Indonesia. Thank God, If I haven’t reached here, me also won’t be much aware about this amazing science of healing.

    It was my parents , who decided to send me here to learn Ayurveda. But after my schooling, I had a feeling deep inside me that I have to go abroad to learn something, but I didn’t know what exactly was that to learn. Besides, it was so difficult for me to live away from my loved ones. Now I am so thankful to my parents, because, without their support I will never be able to come here and learn Ayurveda.

    First 4 months in the college was of difficulties. Basic Ayurveda lessons were in Sanskrit, a language which was totally alien to me! But now, I understand the depth and beauty of this language. Even though I am not an expert in it, and even though I am not able to understand actual pronunciation of many words, I can assure you one thing. Just start by hearting the slokas! For a beginner, it may be difficult, but when you are on track, it will be so easy for you, and moreover, if you could remember at least a single word of the verse, the whole will suddenly flash into your mind. I think this is the peculiarity of Sanskrit. Words in a verse have an unseen connection, an uninterrupted flow, which makes it easy to imprint the whole text into your mind. (I have experienced this many times in examination hall!) I think big theories/ philosophy expressed in small, accurate verses are so intelligent a method to keep the whole knowledge in your mind without failing to remember. For an Ayurveda practitioner, this is much helpful.

    In Indonesia we have traditional medicine, but we don’t have special colleges to learn traditional health science. There is one such Institution in Bali started in 2007: Universitas Hindu Indonesia (UNHI), Denpasar. One such traditional medicine which I use is Antangin JRG (Indonesian herbal medicine), good for stomach related problems. This medicine contains zingiberis rhizome, ginseng, and honey.

    (It is so funny to remember now that before coming to India, Ibelieved that Ayurveda cures people using mantras only)!

    Kadek Dwi Muras

    This verse which I learned in the beginning changed my whole ideas about Ayurveda: “svastasya svastya raksanam aathurasya vikara prasamanam” – Which means the aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the health (svastya) of healthyperson(svastya) and remove disease(vikara) of the diseased person (atura). It shows how broad a vision this science has!

    It is so unfortunate to see that, despite all these technical advancements today, we have diseases increasing in number and impact, day by day! Now I can say that, the main reason is we have not a single drop of faith in nature’s power. Life is fast, and we need everything quicker, even if diseased, we need quicker relief. Anyhow we need to come back to the pace of nature, we need to follow a healthy routine and we need to be careful, not to break the golden laws of nature.

    On food

    I like this lesson of Ayurveda very much: ”Never eat when you are not hungry”. Man is the only animal lacking proper sense to control eating when he is sick. Ayurveda teaches that ‘food need to be fresh, natural, whole and simple(pathya food)’. Food as nature made it, not as man mucks about with it. Every other creature on earth is satisfied with water to quench its thirst. Man is not so! (The most important food is oxygen, without it we die in three minutes). The best way to increase oxygen intake is to exercise in fresh air (Pranayama).

    Ayurveda has another dimension, it considers our ‘whole’ self, and Ayurveda teaches us ways leading to peace. Peace comes from thoughts of love , faith, and forgiveness , and that is the way to be in harmony with nature . The secret of health lies in what we eat, the physical work we give to our body, and the thoughts we hold in our minds. The human body is an incredibly marvelous instrument, if we give it the respect it deserves. It will repay us with good health. This is the wisdom Ayurveda shares with us: how to maintain health with proper lifestyle.

    It is good to see that our Government is stepping forward to institute Ayurvedic hospitals in Indonesia. My friend Komang from Indonesia is now on her fourth year of BAMS in an Ayurveda college in Chennai. Last year, it was me and my friend Arcci, (we both study in same college) got opportunity to visit India from our country to learn Ayurveda. And for this year also our country will be sending 3 students for studying Ayurveda.

    And the kind support from our country reminds me of my responsibilities. Indonesia started sending more students to India than previous year, which indicates the bright future of Ayurvedic practices in our country. I am so grateful  for getting this opportunity to learn Ayurveda and I wish to become a lecturer of Ayurveda in our country.

  • Ayurveda: The Art of Being


    ” In Ayurveda…they have said that the first factors that can create a disease are related with human intelligence. How did they know, two thousand years ago … that stress was going to be such a factor in our life? “

    Dr. Nicolos Kostopoulos

    It is around 11 years passed since the release of ‘AYURVEDA: THE ART OF BEING’, an exceptional movie, probably the first of its kind, which was written, edited and directed by Pan Nalin. The movie celebrates Ayurveda that went almost unrecognized during two centuries of British colonial rule in India, and examines some of the reasons why Ayurveda

    has become incredibly popular all over the world. Ten years back, from Paris, Pan Nalin wrote:” During the three long years while preparing the film I have been surprised to discover how scientific Ayurveda is. I personally believe that our world of today, into a new millennium, is going to need natural arts of healing like it never did ever before. Spirituality and natural balances will play a vital role in governing our happiness in near future”. After a decade, his intuitive words claim more relevance than before.

    Ayurveda: The Art of BeingPan Nalin is an Indian film director, screenwriter and documentary maker. Nalin is best known for directing award-winning films like Samsara, Valley of Flowers, and Ayurveda: Art of Being. His debut film, Samsara went on to win awards like “Grand Jury Prize Special Mention” at AFI Fest and “Most Popular Feature Film” at Melbourne International Film Festival in 2002. Pan Nalin (Nalin Kumar Pandya), a self-taught film maker, was born in a remote village in Gujarat, India. As a child, Nalin disliked schools; instead he used to paint and draw. His mind was wandering through the world of colors, light and shade. He actively staged mythological dramas and folk plays. But it was until he was nine years old, that Pan Nalin saw a film for the first time. He always had dreamed of making movies himself!Ayurveda: The Art of Being

    At teenage, he left his village in pursuit of cinema. He got a chance to study Fine Arts at the M. S. University of Baroda and eventually got an opportunity to learn Design at the prestigious National Institute of Design. He made four animation films and twenty short silent films before moving to Mumbai where he worked as production runner until directors realized his potential and started to give him opportunities to direct commercials and corporate films. Pan Nalin, came into global limelight with his debut feature Samsara (2001).

    Nalin lived in USA and UK for a short period and then set out for six-month long nomadic existence in Europe. On returning to India, he roamed the Himalayas deep and wide -in search of his voice. After a long process of unlearning, he developed ideas for several feature films -and started writing.

    Ayurveda: The Art of Being

    In the year 2001, Pan Nalin made a movie on Ayurveda featuring five elements, earth, water, fire, air and ether in visible and invisible form. The movie was 102 minutes long. It travels nearly 15,000 kilometers through landscapes of exceptional beauty and geographical variety in India, Greece and USA. Pan Nalin and his research team constantly searched out people and places inorder to voice the story of Ayurveda through exceptional ‘Vaidyas’, patients and experts. His words pictures that wonderful journey: “Some of the Vaidyas have revealed their secrets and open their home and clinics to us. Plant searching tribes took us into a dark corner of jungle where a rare endangered plant still grows wild. Ancient Palm-leaf manuscripts locked away for three to five centuries were in front of us. Ancient ‘Mud-Scanning’ method of Diagnosis has been considered extinct and lost but our months long efforts managed to track down the last surviving place.

    A rarely seen lost science of Marma, vital points, and how it can kill or cure; was demonstrated on a goat for the first time revealing vital points which can paralyze”. AYURVEDA: ART OF BEING was theatrically released worldwide with major success. The film celebrated a yearlong theatrical run in Spain and record-breaking three-year long run in France. The film met with similar success in USA, Canada, Germany and Holland.

    “No single film can do justice to the vast science of Ayurveda but for me the film is just a sharing, but the sharing that inspires, naturally” says Pan Nalin. Presently, this well-known film director lives in India & France.

  • When Ayurveda Beckoned Me – Debi Mingus

    “ As the seasons change so do I… I must embrace the temple that is my mind and body and know that if I take the time to listen, Nature will guide me; and if I ask I will receive. That health and happiness is not in a bottle or pill form but in the spirit to which I am “

    My journey into Ayurveda started purely as a spiritual quest. After quitting my job I studied and did many things. But what I found was my life flowed smoothly when I had started experiencing the divine and listening to it without question. So what was it I wanted to do? Many told me I have a lot to do in the field of healing and teaching.

    When Ayurveda beckoned me

    Ms Debi Mingus lights the traditional lamp at a medical camp organised by Pattarumadom Clinic and Ayurveda Nursing Home at Kariyad, Ernakulam

    I need a subject to teach that others do not in US. For 12 years I searched and studied subjects of a spiritual nature and anything that related to healing. I joined a company that allowed volunteers to do healing work on dying patients. I found I could read the “signs” of death simply by feeling the pranic energy of the patient. Not giving it much thought I went onto do other programmes. But I felt that I have to learn and teach Eastern philosophy. I happened to mention it to a neighbour who for the last 14 years had been living the Vedic practices. He gave me Bhaghavad Gita to read. Shortly thereafter my life moved very quickly. I was introduced to a product formulated by some Ayurvedic doctors. One of whom was a director of an Ayurvedic Institute in California. When I starte reading about Ayurveda and how it incorporated the healing of the body, mind and spirit I had to learn more.

    There was now a fire within me and I knew I was on the right path. I believe spirit was guiding me in the right direction. During the programme a classmate informed me of a trip occurring in a couple of month to India and asked whether I would be interested in joining. I could not wait to go On my first trip to India some of the time was spent in the school in Aluva where I met a nice person, one of my best friends in Kerala, who extended his hand and helped me in my search for making connections with a doctor who would agree to teach me more on Ayurveda on my subsequent returns. On returning to US, I realised that my education and spiritual experience had only just begun in India.

    During my studies of Ayurveda in the US, I was introduced to diagnosing using the pulse, tongue,eyes and marma points, plus many others not mentioned. That combined with my understanding of reading ‘pranic’ energy I now feel I have a field of understanding that I may teach others in an area most do not desire to delve into but is greatly needed. So what is Ayurveda teaching me now? As the seasons change so do I… I must embrace the temple that is my mind and body and know that if I take the time to listen nature will guide me and if I ask I will receive. That health and happiness is not in a bottle or pill form but in the spirit to which I am. I am now in the process of partaking in the treatment programme panchakarma, a 21-day process in Ayurveda to release the toxins in my body (that I hold on to so dearly) so that I may become fuller and can embrace that, for what I came to India to do.

  • In the name of Ayurveda

    Since the days of Charaka and Susruta, India has been blessed with a glorious code on medical ethics. An Ayurvedic master and his student were always being reminded that their profession aims only at the welfare of the patient. At the same time, fair compensation was not frowned upon. Acharyas said thus: “Patients trust their physicians implicitly to the extent of placing their lives unhesitatingly under his care. This is true even of patients who have no trust in their own relations, parents and sons. Hence a physician should take as much care of each and every patient as he would of his own family.”

    There were some basic principles followed by all who had chosen their profession as a ‘vaidya’. A passage in the Charaka Samhita sums up the ethical injunctions of that time: “He who practises medicine out of compassion for all creatures rather than for gain or for gratification of the senses surpasses all.” But now, in this modern period, one can see a slow but progressive decay of character in many members of the medical profession. Some are forgetting its glory and responsibility. Indian Medical Council Regulations (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) states: ‘The prime object of the medical profession is to render service to humanity; reward or financial gain is a subordinate consideration. Who-so-ever chooses his profession assumes the obligation to conduct himself in accordance with its ideals.’

    The relevant rules bans advertisements of all kinds. Unfortunately, very often advertisements which are quite against the above said norms appear. It can be said as clearly against the medical ethics. Though being given in the name of ‘authentic Ayurveda’, some of the advertisements are really confusing and are even against the fundamental principles of Ayurveda! Some of them argue that the regular usage of certain products for a particular problem (sometimes single product for a number of problems) will cure you easily. They sell the product in the name of Ayurveda, and they don’t want to know the patient, his body constitution, digestive capacity etc.! The basic diagnostic method of Ayurveda is simply being ignored, and still they all claim them as ‘100 per cent Ayurveda’. Treatment in Ayurveda is a positive, long-lasting relationship between the patient and the physician.

    For any problem, the physician has to see the patient and through proper diagnostic methods, he understands the patient’s problem and helps him cure that with proper lifestyle and medications. The term Ayurvedic cure never means ‘over the counter cure’. Some advertisements are being decorated with a photograph of certain ‘vaidya’ who claims generations of Ayurvedic treatment and ‘research’ experience, though, in fact, there would be none. These kinds of advertisements are smearing the pristine purity of Ayurveda with faulty, misleading claims. All those money motivated individuals and companies, who are playing behind these kind of negative trends, should step back from their activities which are harmful to authentic Ayurveda. There are advertisements which may inspire drunkards by claiming all-cure for lever problems. Some advertisements are on ‘Vajikarana’, the ‘ideal therapy’ for the enhancement of male vigour. Their much-indemand product will be ‘hassle free’ and with ‘no side-effects’.

    They offer great relief to the men who lead a hectic stressful life. These medicines are said to give one the strength and potency of a horse and enhance erection for a longer duration! There is no magical cure in Ayurveda. These advertisers are sure that, those who buy these medicines, just by seeing the advertisement, will be silent, even if they couldn’t get the expected result! Recently, there was an advertisement given in some main news papers and magazines claiming that their newly found medicine can cure diabetes completely! These tendencies should be removed as soon as possible from the field of Ayurveda. Faulty and misleading advertisements on over the counter products attract a number of ignorant public and they misunderstand these fake claims as of Authentic Ayurveda.

    This demoralises Ayurveda and its genuine followers. Moreover, as it is against rules and regulations, authorities should take action against those people who are making Ayurveda a cash cow.