Kapha is a dosha that consists of Water & Earth and governs energy, stability and strength.

Community Healing In Pune

By Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A. Sc. (FOA Newsletter: May 2008)

In the last five years of the Gurukula program in Pune, India, local villagers have been benefiting from free Ayurvedic medical services. The clinic has been financed by the students' tuition and generous donations. Patients received three medical treatments, including medical check-ups, assessment of prakruti/vikruti, proper guidelines for diet and herbal medicines. Due to over population and poverty, people in the village do not have access to proper medical facilities, hospitalization and treatments.

The Gurukula Program helped those impoverished patients gain medical assistance and at the same time provided advanced Ayurvedic medical training to the students that were caring for them. There were many cases whereby the patients could not even afford to buy the milk necessary to take with their prescribed Ayurvedic herbal medicines. This humanitarian symmetry between patient and student proved to be so positive and productive that we realized we needed a larger facility.

On an average, students see 60-100 patients per day, which is quite an exposure to enhance the clinical horizon of understanding the pathological condition. It was discovered that some of the patients visiting the clinic and receiving free treatment were classical case studies and pathological conditions that are rarely seen in the U.S.. These rare cases provided clinical research and information to the advanced student and physician.

This information can be utilized by both Ayurvedic and Allopathic physicians. Extreme poverty exists in India and providing this free medical care serves a very vital role in the local community. Changing the course of someone's life, whether it's the patient or student, is everlasting and memorable. Less fortunate children and adults are truly benefited by those generous donations that are supporting this humanitarian effort.

Unique Panchakarma

By Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A. Sc. (FOA Newsletter: Oct 2008)

Since the body is in a continuous aging process due to accumulation of toxic metabolic wastes, it is very important to eliminate these toxins out of the body by panchakarma. Panchakarma is an ancient method of detoxification for longevity of life. There are five procedures in panchakarma that help restore balance in the body, mind and consciousness. They are as follows: vaman (vomiting), virechan (purgation), basti (enema), nasya (nasal administration), rakta moksha (blood-letting) along with an internal herbal cleansing program. The Ganesha Ayurveda Medical Center in Pune, India will provide students with authentic knowledge of panchakarma due to the availability of special herbal products in India. Students will receive practical experience of panchakarma and Ayurvedic therapeutic measures in order to enhance their horizon of knowledge.

Some panchakarma measures e.g. basti, vaman and rakta moksha need licenses to practice and are rather difficult to administer due to non-availability of specific herbs. Students will have a great opportunity to see the efficacy of Ayurvedic products and special panchakarma treatment in the Ganesha Ayurveda Medical Center. Those who are interested in the Ganesha Ayurveda Medical Center should contact the Ayurvedic Institute. Panchakarma at the Ganesha Ayurveda Medical Center should be available in two to three years.