Prajna Kuteera Ayurveda Centre, Mysore - ayurveda http://ayurprajna.com/tags/ayurveda en Ayurveda - An enabler for Medical Tourism http://ayurprajna.com/blog/ayurveda-enabler-medical-tourism <div class="field field-name-field-featured-blog-image field-type-image field-label-hidden img-responsive"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog/ayurveda-enabler-medical-tourism"><img class="img-responsive" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://ayurprajna.com/sites/default/files/medical-tourism.jpg" width="970" height="350" alt="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p class="rtejustify"> </p> <p class="rtejustify"><strong>Over 25 years ago, we had set a bold aspiration for health in India.</strong></p> <p class="rtejustify">India was a signatory to the Alma-Ata Declaration 1978, to attain the global objective of “Health for All by year 2000”.</p> <p class="rtejustify">Inspite of all the improvements we have made so far, we are still well behind many of the developing / developed countries.</p> <p class="rtejustify"><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="http://www.ayurprajna.com/sites/default/files/blog/1.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-large" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/blog/1.jpg?itok=59tvsxLK" style="height:298px; width:480px" /></a></p> <p class="rtejustify"> </p> <p class="rtejustify"><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="http://www.ayurprajna.com/sites/default/files/blog/2.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-large" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/blog/2.jpg?itok=TCuUUR5r" style="height:298px; width:480px" /></a></p> <p class="rtejustify"><strong>Macro economic factors … aiding Healthcare growth</strong></p> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">CII-McKinsey study on healthcare says that Medical Tourism alone can contribute $ 2 Bn by 2012 against an estimated $ 0.34 Bn currently</li> <li class="rtejustify">Healthcare industry is growing at 30% CAGR. Ayurveda, as an integral part, will drive this growth. India needs to fine tune this hospitality into an art</li> <li class="rtejustify">Estimated 150,000 medical tourists visited India last year recording a 20% growth. Of this 60% account for Ayurvedic treatment</li> <li class="rtejustify">Ayurveda has been a big revenue earner. Ayurveda treatment earned  $1.2 Bn in 2006</li> <li class="rtejustify">Global herbal market is a $ 110 Billion industry and Ayurveda represents almost 50% of this segment. India is a big time player in this area and it is now an opportunity to consolidate itself even further.</li> <li class="rtejustify">NHS has begun sending patients for treatment to Europe to cope with its backlog of cases. At present the NHS restricts referrals to hospitals within 3 hours flying time, but Indian hospitals say this barrier will eventually be lifted.</li> <li class="rtejustify">The move towards Ayurveda is inevitable. The West has problems of rising health care costs and an ageing population coupled with the deficits that the governments are facing due to large healthcare spends Deficit Reduction Act, as an example</li> <li class="rtejustify">International standard treatment available in India with English as a common language</li> </ul> <p class="rtejustify">Now let’s delve into Ayurveda and its merits :</p> <p class="rtejustify"><strong>Ayurveda </strong>is a collection of principles of healthy living that evolved from the time of appearance of man on earth. This is the one healing system that has been practiced in daily living in India for more than 5000 years. Ayurveda first recorded in the Vedas, the world’s oldest collection of knowledge is still the most favored health care practices of millions of Indians and has influenced the ancient Chinese system of medicine, Unani and Humoral medicine practiced by Hippocrates in Greece. Though Ayurveda is referred to as the “<strong>MOTHER OF ALL HEALING</strong>”, it took a back seat probably during the British rule, when in, the western medical education became dominant. This led Ayurveda to become the second option used primarily by traditional spiritual practitioners and the poor. After 1947, Ayurveda gained ground and several schools were established. Although Ayurveda remains a secondary system of health care in India, the trend towards complementary care is emerging and western and Ayurvedic physicians often work side by side. Today Ayurveda colleges are opening throughout Europe, USA and Australia and is being regarded as “<strong>NEW AGE MEDICINE</strong>”. The potential for tourism through Ayurveda should now be looked into. Now that Ayurveda has been given a <strong>Heritage status</strong> and is being talked about under <strong>Health tourism</strong>, its time we start to attract and capture tourists from world over to promote tourism in India especially in Karnataka.</p> <p class="rtejustify">As can be seen from above, Ayurveda is</p> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">Science of Life</li> <li class="rtejustify">paveda of Rugveda and Atharvanaveda</li> <li class="rtejustify">Helps attain liberation through healthy living </li> </ul> <p class="rtejustify"><strong>Aim of Ayurveda</strong></p> <p class="rtejustify">The ultimate aim of Ayurveda is to “Attain Moksha (Liberation) through Healthy Living”</p> <blockquote><p class="rtejustify"><strong>Dharmartha Kamamokshanam<br />   Arogyam Moolamuthamam</strong></p> </blockquote> <p class="rtejustify"><strong>Definition of Health According to Ayurveda</strong></p> <blockquote><p class="rtejustify"><strong>Samadosha Samagnishcha<br /> Samadhatu malakriyaha<br /> Prasannathmendriya Manaha<br /> Swastha Ithyabhidheeyathe</strong></p> </blockquote> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">Equilibrium of Tridoshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)</li> <li class="rtejustify">Proper functioning of Agni (13 types)</li> <li class="rtejustify">Balanced state of Dhatus (7 Body Tissues)</li> <li class="rtejustify">Proper evacuation of Trimalas (Urine, Feaces &amp; Sweat)</li> <li class="rtejustify">Balanced state of Mind – Indriyas (10) and Atma</li> </ul> <p class="rtejustify">Ayurveda is a preventive as also a Curative Measure. It is a complete philosophy of life as it provides guidance on lifestyles and designed specifically to achieve and maintain internal and external stability</p> <p class="rtejustify">Ayurveda is becoming increasingly popular because it addresses the elementary concepts of re-establishing contact with nature and gives us the guidelines to lead a healthy balanced life.</p> <p class="rtejustify"><strong>Acceptance of Ayurveda by practitioners of main stream medicine</strong></p> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">Doctors across the globe are advising their patients to explore the world of holistic health.</li> <li class="rtejustify">Western doctors and patients are getting increasingly frustrated with tremendous side-effects and spiraling costs of allopathic medicine.</li> <li class="rtejustify">Ayurveda is growing most rapidly as one of the important systems of mind-body medicine in the world.</li> </ul> <p class="rtejustify">Most foreign patients who come to the sub continent for allopathic healthcare are from other developing countries. But tourists who come for Ayurveda treatment are from developed countries as USA, UK, Germany, Japan etc. The new sleek ayurvedic medical centers of excellence offer developed world treatment at developing world prices.</p> <p class="rtejustify"><strong>The emergence of Ayurvedic centers</strong></p> <p class="rtejustify"> </p> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">Service sector growth is being driven by Ayurveda. Ayurvedic massages &amp; Ayurvedic rejuvenation packages are very lucrative and provide a terrific value added service.</li> <li class="rtejustify">Large pool of well trained doctors coupled with low treatment prices will help Ayurveda emulate the Indian software sector’s success.</li> <li class="rtejustify">Customized packages are now being designed to attract wealthy foreign patients, with airport-to-hospital bed car service, in-room internet access and private chefs.</li> <li class="rtejustify">Emerging trend is to combine surgery in India with an Ayurveda rejuvenation holiday.</li> <li class="rtejustify">The move towards Ayurveda is inevitable. The west has problems of rising health care costs and an ageing population.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Kerala …. A success story</strong></p> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">Kerala and Ayurveda are now synonymous with each other. Ayurvedic treatment has been a tradition in vogue for centuries</li> <li class="rtejustify">Kerala, with a population of over three crores, boasts of 727 dispensaries and 115 Ayurveda hospitals having 2644 beds</li> <li class="rtejustify">In 2006, 52,000 in-patients were treated along with and 3.8 Million out-patient treatments.</li> <li class="rtejustify">In 2006 - 8 Million tourists visited Kerala, a large percentage for ayurvedic treatment</li> <li class="rtejustify">Health Tourism has been a substantial contributor to the state exchequer</li> <li class="rtejustify">Growth in this area has provided employment opportunity to over a million people – in turn pushing secondary &amp; tertiary growth</li> </ul> <p><strong>Karnataka …. Opportunity beckons</strong></p> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">Bestowed with high altitude regions, Karnataka provides climatic conditions that are stimulating and invigorating</li> <li class="rtejustify">North Karnataka has been a major source of all herbs used in Ayurveda</li> <li class="rtejustify">Karnataka has 45 Ayurveda Medical colleges, thereby generating a pool of highly talented doctors</li> <li class="rtejustify">Annually, 300,000 tourists undergo ayurvedic treatment. There is always a  room for participation for all states</li> <li class="rtejustify">Being culturally &amp; traditionally rich, it is possible for the patients to combine Ayurveda treatment with visits to places of religious / tourist interest.</li> </ul> <p><strong>The Takers …</strong></p> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">Foreign tourist, more so from the developed world are looking towards ayurveda as a form of holistic treatment</li> <li class="rtejustify">Gulf neighbors, due to close geographical proximity</li> <li class="rtejustify">Domestic tourists keen on wellness</li> <li class="rtejustify">IT Professionals for stress busting</li> <li class="rtejustify">More than 70% of the American population prefers a natural approach to health. They spend around $ 25bn on non-traditional medical therapies and products</li> <li class="rtejustify">Ayurveda’s popularity is rising since it addresses elementary concept of re-establishing contact with nature</li> </ul> <p><strong>Government ..…. Strategic Imperatives</strong></p> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">Health tourism is now being actively promoted by private entrepreneurs. Government needs to step in and support Private Public equity participation</li> <li class="rtejustify">Coastal Regulatory Zone regulations to be worked on by the State / Central Government</li> <li class="rtejustify">Govt should support showcasing of Ayurvedic benefits in International conferences</li> <li class="rtejustify">Medical Tourism council to spell out a policy to prevent proliferation</li> <li class="rtejustify">Accreditation of service providers to ensure consistency of deliverables</li> <li class="rtejustify">Offer tax and subsidies to Ayurvedic / related services</li> <li class="rtejustify">Indian government needs to strengthen basic infrastructure like airports, roads, power, transportation etc to support the growth sectors</li> <li class="rtejustify">Visa on arrival to incentivise foreign tourists thereby easing the visiting process</li> </ul> <p>To conclude, Ayurveda has been one of the greatest treasures that we have inherited over generations. Let’s conserve this sacred science and share with the rest of the world &amp;help mankind benefit from its goodness.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/tags/ayurveda" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ayurveda</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1"><a href="/tags/medical-tourism" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">medical tourism</a></li></ul></div> Tue, 03 Apr 2018 11:00:44 +0000 prajna-ad 61 at http://ayurprajna.com http://ayurprajna.com/blog/ayurveda-enabler-medical-tourism#comments Ayurveda, the Mother of all Wisdom http://ayurprajna.com/blog/ayurveda-mother-all-wisdom <div class="field field-name-field-featured-blog-image field-type-image field-label-hidden img-responsive"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog/ayurveda-mother-all-wisdom"><img class="img-responsive" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://ayurprajna.com/sites/default/files/default_images/blog-default.jpg" alt="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p class="rtejustify">Ayurveda is the science of life. The linking of the two Sanskrit words, Ayu - life and veda – knowledge or wisdom aptly describes the essence of the ancient system of medicine from India. The ancient Vedic tradition, cognized by the great Indian seers, offers a wealth of knowledge for a healthy and meaningful life.</p> <p class="rtejustify">Ayurveda is a 5000 year old healing tradition which teaches us how our lives can be enriched, enhanced and extended without interference from disease and ageing. It propounds that good health is not simply the absence of disease, but a state of harmonious and dynamic balance on all levels encompassing environment.</p> <p class="rtejustify">As Ayurveda, part of Atharvaveda, (the last of the four Vedas) is timeless and unbounded, it has relevance even to the present day. Dating back to 5000-10,000 years it is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world and has influenced the other systems of medicines and, it is often referred to as the <strong>‘Mother of all medicine</strong>’. It came to the earth through Lord Brahma and down to us through the sages.</p> <h5 class="rtejustify">Ayurveda is eternal</h5> <p class="rtejustify">Ayurveda is a collection of principles of healthy living that evolved from the time of appearance of man on earth. It is not liable to change at any point or any time in the world. This healing system has been practiced in daily living in India for eons and is still the most favored health care practices of millions of Indians. A system older than the Greek and Egyptian medicine it is known to the wider world as ‘New age medicine’.</p> <h5 class="rtejustify"><strong>Aim of Ayurveda </strong></h5> <blockquote><p class="rtejustify"> <strong><span style="color:#800000">Dharmaartha Kaama Mokshaanaan Arogyam moolamuthamam.</span></strong></p> </blockquote> <p class="rtejustify">The ultimate aim of Ayurveda is attain moksha (liberation) through a healthy living. The philosophy of Ayurveda believes that everything in this universe is composed of 5 elements, the panchamaha bhootas. They in turn constitute the three doshas or bio-energetic forces that govern our constitution. The trigunas – satwa, rajas and Tamas or the psychic forces determine our mental and spiritual health. Ayurveda teaches us to balance all these to live a healthy, happy and contented life.</p> <p class="rtejustify">Hence it is quoted in the texts in the context of ‘SWASTHA’ that he whose doshas are in a balance, appetite good, all the body tissues and all the natural urges are functioning properly and whose mind, body and spirit (self) are blissful, he is a healthy person.</p> <p class="rtejustify"><strong>To complement this Ayurveda says, life is a combination of</strong></p> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">Physical body</li> <li class="rtejustify">Five senses, five functions</li> <li class="rtejustify">Mind</li> <li class="rtejustify">Consciousness</li> </ul> <p class="rtejustify">All these four faculties in good harmony is life. Ayurveda recognises that the mind and the body are but the two manifestations of the same consciousness-Mind as the field of ideas and the body as the field of molecules and organs. Each tries to help keep the other working and healthy extracting nourishment from the environment.</p> <p class="rtejustify">Elimination of impurities of the emotional wounds are as important as the elimination of the waste matter from the body to have true, physical emotional and spiritual health.</p> <p class="rtejustify">Modern risk factor hypothesis pales into insignificance in view of the most elaborate knowledge in Ayurveda. Some of the recent additions to the modern medical list like hostility form the basis of the Ayurveda risk factors viz., Anger, depression and sorrow, extreme fear exhaustion, in-compatible foods, sedentary living and too much salt and spices lead to most major killer diseases. The solution is also simple.</p> <p class="rtejustify">Have food in moderation and that which pleases the mind. Do not cheat or tell lies. work very hard. Forgive others even of they hurt you. Treat all as your own kith and kin. Health would be yours always.</p> <p class="rtejustify">Vedic wisdom follows non-linear mathematics (Vedic mathematics) and the laws akin to modern quantum physics. It is therefore the right approach for holistic assessment of health and disease. Its aims are not only to heal the sick, but also to preserve life by preventing illness. Hence is it the most complete system of health care known.</p> <p class="rtejustify">Ayurvedic treatment is based on restoring the disturbed balance of the 3 doshas – Vata – Pitta and Kapha and the treatment is tailored to individual needs and could be broadly classified into</p> <ul> <li class="rtejustify">Detoxification - Panchakarma</li> <li class="rtejustify">Diet</li> <li class="rtejustify">Yoga</li> <li class="rtejustify">Herbal medications</li> <li class="rtejustify">Meditation and prayer</li> </ul> <p class="rtejustify">There are 8 branches of Ayurveda integrated at all levels. Surgery, medicine gynecology, pediatrics, toxicology, Otorhinolaryngology, rejuvenation and virilification therapy. Medical ethics were discussed in great details as early as the Vedic period itself. History has enough data to show how the ancient Indian texts and pundits were taken to Greece by the army of Alexander the great. The myriad cultures, languages and beliefs, as diverse as Indian philosophy and religion are all intertwined encompassing her vast history with Ayurveda getting mentioned everywhere as an inseparable part of human life in India, show the greatness of Ayurveda.</p> <p class="rtejustify">There is an awareness of the growing importance of this system of sustaining life in various parts of Europe, North America, S.E Asia and Japan, where they have started medical schools in Ayurvedic system. Many of the ancient methods could be studied using the modern methods of inquiry. Thousands of medicinal plants mentioned in the ancient texts could hold the key to future inexpensive pharmacology. In all Ayurveda is Authentic, Scientific and highly beneficial.</p> <p class="rtejustify">It is a preventive as well as a curative science. It is a mind body healthcare system evolved to help human beings get the maximum out of their lives in a perfectly natural and healthy way through daily and seasonal regimen, good conduct, yoga and spirituality. The timeless principles of Ayurveda can helps one to live a healthier life, in tune with oneself and Nature…  That way Ayurveda instills , a view of life that is holistic and congenial to enjoy the pleasures of life in a sustainable way, without disturbing the rhythm of life!</p> <p class="rtejustify">People from abroad traveling to India have found spiritual depth and have committed themselves to exploring their own spirituality as an alternative life style in their own country. It is significant that despite the cultural distance to India, western populations develop a strong link to Ayurvedic values which they adapt into an alternative lifestyle. It appears that the west finds something in Ayurveda that compensates for the separation from its own spiritual values.</p> <p class="rtejustify">Ayurveda appeals as it awakens the ability inside the individuals to initiate the healing processes. People recognize the need for a paradigm shift to move from a fear based perspective to a love based holistic approach.</p> <p class="rtejustify">Individuals who have been intensely searching for something that evokes their insight into the deeper connections of the web of life have embarked on a serious journey to find out what is that they are searching for. Their enquiries found a fertile ground in Ayurveda which they have taken on board as a path of life, hungry to be exposed to the wonderful wisdom and living practices of Ayurveda. Kudos to the Jewel of India ‘AYURVEDA’.</p> <p class="rtejustify"> </p> <p class="rtejustify"> </p> <p class="rtejustify"> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/tags/ayurveda" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ayurveda</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1"><a href="/tags/healthy-living" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">healthy living</a></li></ul></div> Sat, 20 Jan 2018 12:01:13 +0000 prajna-ad 43 at http://ayurprajna.com http://ayurprajna.com/blog/ayurveda-mother-all-wisdom#comments