During the past week, I have received the news that 4 women who I know very well have been diagnosed with breast cancer. In honour of them, and also to nurture the possibility of holistic healing for anyone who has cancer or knows someone with cancer,
I recommend this brilliant documentary on Ayurveda, the natural healing method from India that is thousands of years old and as relevant today as it was then.

Ayurveda: Art of Being by Pan Nalin

In Ayurveda all aspects of health are considered

Ayurveda is not only for people with Cancer of course. It is truly the science of ‘right living’, encompassing diet, emotional, physical and mental states and bringing all of these into equilibrium and health. Ayurveda is designed as a form of preventative medicine. With annual or bi-annual Pancha Karma Retreats, by following Ayurvedic dietary protocols, we can maintain tip top health on an ongoing basis. However, if someone does find themselves in a state of ill health, whatever that may be, Ayurveda also has treatments for these conditions.

This documentary is fascinating, as it shows a wide range of Ayurvedic doctors at work and an equally wide range of methodology being used. We witness the prayerful way the medicinal herbs are grown and gathered, and we learn an amazing amount about how Ayurveda actually heals. We see doctors treating many varied conditions. One doctor laughingly points out the fact that while cancer is proving to be very difficult to heal with Western allopathic medicine, in India, they have been treating it with Ayurveda for thousands of years and consider it to be no big deal to cure.

In Ayurveda, there are certain mysteries which our rational mind may not be able to fathom. For example, how is it that an Ayurvedic doctor gifted in pulse reading, can touch the pulse for a few seconds and through this, can say accurately everything there is to know about this person’s state of health or illness and not only that, but about their entire life’s experience?

Some of the remedies appear bizarre to the rational mind as well, but the fact is, they work! This film is so wonderful that it awakened in me a thirst to know and experience more of Ayurveda. Since that time, I have read extensively on the subject and have also immersed myself in the experience of regular Pancha Karma Retreats. At the time of writing, I am in Kerala, going through a 3 week Pancha Karma Retreat. It is a great cleansing, purging and renewal on all levels. This is such a sane way to approach health and well being. Just as we take our car to the garage for a regular tune up, it is wise to take our body to an Ayurvedic clinic for a regular tune up, lube change, spark plug change, tyre change, etc!

Please see this film and share with friends. Your life or the life of someone you love may be greatly benefitted by watching it and taking positive action in the direction of Ayurveda.