For many people in the Western world, an Ayurvedic treatment is something you would expect to find on the spa menu. Warm oils swept over the body... the heady aroma of Asian spices and the hint of delicate exotic flowers…. I’m relaxed just thinking about it.
Ask someone in Asia what Ayurveda means, and the response would be very different:
“Ayurveda has two main aims: It treats the symptoms of a disease and helps individuals strengthen their immune system. Ayurveda treats a person's body, mind and spirit as a whole entity and works on the basis that the mind and body affect each other, and together can overcome disease”.
The whole treatment philosophy is so grounded in Sri Lanka’s belief system that many choose to use it instead of modern medicine. Developed over many thousands of years and with a deep connection to the Buddhist and Hindu faiths, the idea of messing with nature and only working on the physical symptoms is considered by many to be the weaker of the two available options. It may seem ludicrous to us, but it is not uncommon in Sri Lanka to meet patients who would never visit a modern hospital even if they were at death's door.
With so many people championing the approach, are we too quick in this country to discount the power of Ayurveda? A little research would probably alert us to our first shock of the day - in Sri Lanka, you must be university-trained before practising. Each medicine used is subjected to lab tests and certification – just like modern medicine drugs - and the country adheres to World Health Organisation policies that regulate herbal products, hospital services, and research and professional councils of the practitioners. It is serious business in Asia! Compare that to a 5-day course in the UK accredited by the Complementary Medical Association (C.M.A), and it is no wonder why India, the home of the principle, has long fought against the misuse of the term Ayurveda worldwide!
Behind the scenes, there is evidence to suggest that Ayurveda is beginning to be taken more seriously in the UK. NCAM, the National Centre for Complementary Medicine, and EFCAM, the European Federation for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, believe that over 100 million EU citizens now use alternative medicine alongside modern health services. They campaign to develop a more holistic and integrated European healthcare approach. 3-year university courses are available at Thames College, London, and many clinics are run by people who have trained overseas. It is only a matter of time before the myths of Ayurveda are expelled, and the oil massage at the spa will be just that. An Ayurvedic treatment will be offered as in Sri Lanka, where a proper patient assessment lasts up to 90 minute,s and a thorough assessment of the tongue, lips, skin, nails and eyes is made before the practitioner embarks on a treatment plan to correct imbalances.
There are many forums and reports on the successes of the practice - from Ayurveda drug companies documenting the case of a woman with uterine prolapse who was told she needed a hysterectomy, only to be pain-free after fifteen days of treatment, to a UK practice that offers case studies on infertile couples who conceived, eczema and psoriasis that was eradicated and arthritic pain that went from all-consuming to barely mentionable. Even though there are as many cases where it has not worked, or there were side effects from the toxic herbs, there is no doubt that it does the job for some people. If we think about how little we know about the uses of plants or the human body's complexities, perhaps that isn't so surprising.
It seems to me that if we continue to believe it does nothing, we are just as misinformed as the Asians who flatly refuse to gain medical help when they need it. Ayurveda may not be a complete alternative to modern medicine, but it is a complementary therapy that can be used alongside modern medicine in Sri Lanka.
Work the World offers a one-week Ayurvedic Medicine Experience as an option for our Sri Lankan students. The week is designed to give you insight into the approach and to introduce you to the theory, treatment and practices within an Ayurvedic hospital. It gives healthcare students an amazing opportunity to understand more about Sri Lankan healthcare.
