So, just a wee bit of background about this Ayurveda thing love so much and why I’ve been traveling to India almost every year since 2016.
Ayurveda is known as the “Science of Life,” the study of longevity and how to have a vibrant and balanced health-span. Broken down, the components of the word AYUR + VEDA mean: LIFE + STUDY, and its wisdom predates all other organized medical systems on the planet. It dates back over 5,000 years before Western medicine was formally organized in the 5th century BCE, and we know Ayurveda was in full bloom at least 2,000 years before Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was systemized. Tibetan Medicine, and even Unani (the ancient medicine of Greece shared by Hippocrates) are new medical systems by comparison.
Here are some similarities in Ayurveda and TCM:
It has long been thought that much of the wisdom and established practices in Ayurveda traveled to China via the Silk Road, adding significantly to TCM. Despite numerous overlaps: both indigenous, both plant based, both include 5 elemental energies, both focused on healing the patient by treating the whole person (and that’s just a few of their similarities), they remain distinct. I love that these two ancient systems of medicine are deeply rooted in the miracle of plant medicine and the philosophy that we can balance our bodily energies to promote health and well being. Both use a 5-element system and highlight the movement of energy in the body (Qi in TCM and Prana in Ayurveda) as a way to clear what is stagnant, stale, or putrified, and move us back toward harmony in body, mind, and spirit.
Back to Ayurveda. I love coming to India to practice this medicine where it was born and shared with the world. It is said that the ancient Rishis received the wisdom directly from the plants when they went to the forest to meditate. At the time, these sages were distressed at the imbalances they saw on the earth and sought to restore balance. (Can you imagine how these sages would view today’s world and it’s chaos?) By sitting in Nature for long periods of time, they achieved profound states of spiritual connection (samadhi), receiving the eternal truths regarding the laws of nature, including the properties of all the plants and herbs, coming to understand the intricacies of human physiology, and understanding how to apply the medicine to humanity and the planet. They understood inherently about living life in harmony with all of Nature. I think this is why I love this science so much. Ayurveda is a system deeply rooted and rich in plant-based medicine, and one that is based on principles rather than rules. It is focused on treating systemic issues in the body rather than on treating symptoms like Western Medicine. It is a system that asks us to be more responsible for what we are putting into our bodies and taking into our minds, rather than seeing our body’s ailments as inconvenient and separate from our habits, diet, or emotional stress, for example, and that which we can treat with a simple pill.
On the mountain where I study Ayurveda and indulge in a month-long Panchakarma retreat each year, we are surrounded by indigenous plants. Thousands of herbs and flowers grow here in the Nilgiri Mountains, and it is well-known for its flora and fauna. It is literally an herbalist’s (and bird watcher’s) paradise. Ashwaganda grows wild along the roadside here, and all I can think of is how this herb is on practically every shelf at home: powders, capsules, and teas abound. No one really knows how to use it, but because it’s a buzz word in the health world, every company has its concoction to sell. Here, by contrast, the Doctor can point it out to us in the forest and collect it to make an herbal preparation straight out of the earth. I asked him the other day if I should use it, and he said “not right now,” reminding me that just because it’s a popular herb, doesn’t mean I should be taking it. Other herbs are more broadly beneficial with few contraindications. Here’s a picture of Dr. Sundara Raman telling us about the benefits of the poinsettia plant on skin ailments and dark spots. You can literally squeeze a drop of its milky white liquid and apply directly to your skin!
Some of the indigenous tribes of the Nilgiris actually rely on these plants for primary healthcare, with studies “indicating over 188 plant species are traditionally used in the region.” The biodiversity of the area where we practice Ayurveda during our retreat includes endemic species that are crucial for the survival of this traditional knowledge and which are regularly used by our physician, Dr. Sundara Raman. When your doctor can point to a flower or a leaf and tell you precisely how that plant can be used internally, topically, or aromatically, that inspires my confidence https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11933110/
There is so much more to share about Ayurveda, but you’ll just have to wait for another post! I hope this gave you a taste to peak your interest and help you understand why I am so enamored by this medicine!
If you are interested in joining me on this deep dive into plant medicine, your health, and your longevity, I invite you to join my friend John de Kadt and I in February of 2027. Details available here: www.ayurvedaindiaretreat.com
Until the next time,
Much love and many blessings,
Katie
