What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda literally means ‘the science or knowledge of life’ and is the oldest documented system of medicine in the world, dating over 5000 years. It is native to India and takes 5.5 years of study to become an Ayurvedic doctor (longer than it takes to be a General Practitioner of Western medicine).
Treatments are found in the natural world, which bodies are grateful for, and includes a range of treatments from herbal medicine, appropriate diet and lifestyle changes, meditation, massage and yoga.
Ayurveda takes a unique and personalized approach to healthcare, focusing on the individual as a whole rather than just treating specific symptoms. This includes preventative health, health maintenance, health improvement and treatment of disease. It not only addresses specific health concerns but also offers explanations as to why one person responds differently to another, both physically and psychologically, in similar circumstances.
It’s about creating harmony between the mind, body and soul. We are, after all, whole beings and not just body parts.
“AYURVEDA IS AN ELEGANT SYSTEM OF HEALING, FIRST DESCRIBED AROUND 5,000 YEARS AGO IN ANCIENT VEDIC TEXTS AS COMPREHENSIVE TEACHINGS ON PRESERVING AND MAINTAINING HEALTH. THE FACT THAT THIS ANCIENT MEDICINE IS STILL IN USE TODAY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE WISDOM IT HOLDS WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THE HUMAN POTENTIAL TO ACHIEVE A HAPPY AND WHOLESOME LIFE”
Panchakarma
At the end of my time in Bangalore, I underwent Panchakarma treatment which absolutely deserves a special mention.
It’s essentially a personally tailored detox taking into account individual constitutions and any specific disorders. It left me feeling better than I had in many years…I felt energetic, revived, clean, healthy! It corrected my gut issues (no more bloat and sporadic nausea), sped up my sluggish metabolism, my overall appearance was clearer, as was my mind. It was truly an exceptional experience and an excellent way to end my time in India.
‘Pancha’ in Sanskrit means five and ‘karma’ means action. This is symbolic of the 5 treatment methods used in Panchakarma:
Vamana – this involves inducing vomiting to rid the body of mucous and toxins
Virechana – uses herbs to encourage bowel movements and eradicate toxins
Basti – herbal enemas used to eliminate toxins from the colon (excellent for digestive disorders)
Nasya – uses herbal nasal drops/spray to rid the sinuses and respiratory system of toxins
Raktamokshan – involves cleansing toxic blood from the body
Panchakarma takes anywhere from 2 weeks to a month to complete, and can be challenging mentally. There are specific requirements for diet throughout the course of the treatment, as well as rules around maintaining a warm body temperature (ie no AC/wind).
Honestly, it is far more detailed than I could explain and well worth the research in itself. With endless detox options available in this current time, it’s hard to know what is ideal for our bodies. I was drawn to Panchakarma because of its personalised approach and its absolute thoroughness. These treatments are available in Australia.
I have since returned to Bangalore for Panchakarma 3 years later and created a blog entry outlining my treatments: https://laraflara.blogspot.com/2026/05/panchakarma-detox-therapy.html)
