Wednesday, October 03, 2007 All about Ayurveda By Nelia G. Neri
AYURVEDA was farthest from my mind when I accepted an invitation from SilkAir for a trip to the state of Kerala (our port of entry was Cochin) on the southwestern part of India. I’ve heard about this ancient Indian science of healing, but was never interested in learning more about it, not until I came face to face with the Ayurvedic doctor in Spice Village and heard her talk.
That did it for me and shortly afterwards, I arranged for a consultation regarding my chronic sinusitis problem. (Yes, I ended up lugging home Ayuverdic medications for sinusitis.)
Ayurveda literally means “knowledge of life” in Sanskrit, and therefore its main concern is the promotion of perfect health of body, mind and soul. It is a system of healing believed to originate from the creator Brahma (who then revealed the secret to the sages) that goes as far back as 3000 BC. Yes, Ayurveda is indigenous to India, and the state of Kerala is its Ayurvedic capital.
The Ayurveda theory maintains that every individual is made up of five elements: air, fire, water, earth and ether (space) which, in different combinations (called the doshas), are responsible for the biological, physiological, and physio- pathological functions of the body and mind.
There are three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata, a combination of ether and air, is the force that directs motor and sensory functions. Pitta is the equilibrium between fire and water, and controls the metabolic process; while Kapha, the combination of water and earth elements, is responsible for growth and immune resistance. Any imbalance among these three can lead to health problems.
Treatment to reduce the doshas that have become excessive come in the form of Ayurvedic medicines (tablet, liquid or paste) which are based exclusively on herbs, leaves, barks, roots and stems of certain shrubs. Also used as ingredients are spices, and occasionally precious metals like silver and gold in purified powdered form. In addition, Ayurvedic doctors prescribe a strict diet and daily medicated oil massages to complement the intake of the natural drugs.
But of course, a trip to Kerala warranted a series of Ayurvedic experiences. I took three different kinds of Ayurvedic massages for three successive days in three different resorts!
My first experience was a general body massage at the Spice Village up the hills of Thekkady. It was the kind of massage meant to relieve stress and ease minor aches and pains as well as to improve the radiance of the skin and tone the tissues of the body.
The one-hour session started with a little mantra from the masseuse, after which she poured medicated oil on my head and ever so gently massaged it.
All this time I was in a sitting position. This went on for about 10 minutes and then she led me to a wooden bed made from a single piece of wood. (An Ayurvedic massage is best done on a wooden bed.) Warm medicated oil (extracts of herbs) was generously poured on my back and suddenly I felt like a lechon oozing with oil. She then glided her hands up and down my back soothingly...more oil to the arms and legs and stomach followed by a rub down using two heated cotton pouches full of herbs. No, there was no hard kneading. When it was over I was led to the shower and given an herbal rub to wash away the oil.
Ayurveda massage No. 2 was at the Coconut Lagoon by the bank of the huge Vembanad Lake at Kumarakom. This time around I tried the rejuvenation therapy, which lasted for almost two hours. The treatment began with warm coconut oil poured on my head, and with it a lulling head and face massage.
Then came the body massage with two masseuses rhythmically rubbing my back using medicated oil. It felt so-o-o good having those four hands in synchronized movement. A steam bath was next and I felt funny being trapped in a wooden box with only my head sticking out. Just like the first massage, I ended up with an herbal rub. The rejuvenation therapy massage aims to prevent the destructive effects of ageing by reviving tired muscles and promoting general vitality.
My final Ayurveda massage was at the Marari Beach Resort in the fishing village of Mararikulam. The Ayurvedic doctor instructed the masseuse to give me Nasyam (massage that involves taking medicines through the nose to help clear up the sinuses). It was basically the same four-hands massage using warm medicated oil, but towards the end I got two drops of Ayurvedic medicine in each nostril. It was biting and made some facial muscles twitch but it worked.
Kerala is definitley the place to go for an Ayurvedic experience. All the beautiful sprawling resorts (by the sea, by the lake, or up the hills) have Ayurvedic Centers which address all kinds of body ailments as well as beauty concerns. And for those who want to go one step further, there are Ayurvedic Hospitals with complete facilities in Cochin, the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala.
