Holistic approach to healing

HE PUT on his headphones. The warm hands of the masseur, who sussed out the damaged ligaments of his right calf, bit-by-bit shore up a sort of pleasure Raju has never experienced.

Raju decided to try his luck with Ayurveda when nothing else worked, with the help of an institution called 'Prakriti'.

With a group of committed doctors and expert masseurs, Prakriti Ayurvedic Natural Rejuvenation Centre is committed to spruce up the mind, the body and the soul of Chennaiities.

You can feel the warmth of a home even as you step in to the clinic in Anna Nagar. The posh interiors, artistically designed are cool, save for the low humming of the air conditioners. The three spacious rooms with the sweet aroma of natural oils and perfumes, are earmarked for healing purposes.

For an experienced Ayurvedic doctor, an affected organ is the manifestation of some internal trouble. No information about the illness is left out as he seeks answers from the patient. He knows that every bit and shred will add up in the final picture.

"No two individuals are the same. A particular combination of energy (vata, pitta, kapha) is present in the body when we are born, and this kind of energy is known as 'Prakriti' in Ayurveda. A disease manifests in different constitutions and in different ways, and treatment also varies from person to person," says Dr. K. Jayachandran, who works in 'Prakriti'.

According to the principles of Ayurveda, most people are born in a state of equipoise; they quickly lose it through bad food habits, bad treatment or moving away from the physical location most conducive to their natural constitution and temperament.

Once the diagnosis is over and the reason for the malady is understood, the doctors decide on the kind of treatment.

The approach is more or less holistic, taking the whole individual into consideration. The treatment provides lasting healing, instead of merely relieving the symptoms.

"I've been down with this back ache for the last five years. I've already consulted a number of surgeons, but in vain. All those tablets I've taken... they could only damage the system... now I know. I spent just 14 days here and I feel I have regained my youth," says a septuagenarian businessman settled in Chennai.

The doctors after seeking details from the patient, decide on the type of oil to be applied for the purpose.

The medicines and the oils used are specially brought from Arya Vaidyasala, Kottakkal, an institution that pioneered the modern and scientific method of bottling Ayurvedic medicines.

The forty-five minute bliss experienced when the masseurs work up the exhausted muscles and ligaments of the body, applying warm oil all over, is the real selling point of this institution.

Applying the oil is a skilful art. "A massage is one of the finest ways of rubbing away your physical and mental injury," says Dr. Monica Chitnavas.

The massage is followed by a bath in hot medicated water. Time to sip the warm herbal drink spiced with a variety of natural medicines.

Prakriti has attractive cleansing packages like the total cleansing programme. The de-stress package is ideal for the workaholic and the treatment would continue for seven days. The rejuvenative and therapeutic aspects of various treatments in Ayurveda are given importance. Dhara, Njavarakkizhi, thalam tharpanam, panchakarma and other kinds of treatment are carried out here.

Swedana, or sweating, is an important aspect of Ayurvedic treatment and it is achieved in a sauna.

In the last four months, Prakriti has effectively treated many cases of arthritis, spondylosis, low back pain, sports injuries, insomnia, obesity and various skin ailments.

Prakriti's branch in Chennai, Sowparnika, is located in Ashok Nagar.

LEKSHMY RAJEEV

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