Vedic Wellness

Two of the more important elemets in Indian ancient medicine have been immunity and hygiene. Today, these are common words used in the fight against COVID-19. Susan Philip takes a look at some of the interesting medicinal aspects with Indian roots in this global pandemic.

- Susan Philip

The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. - Thomas Edison

Actually, that’s what Indian doctors of the distant past did too! Ancient physicians, who evolved the indigenous system of medicine known as Ayurveda or the Science of Life, were concerned not so much with curing specific ailments as with maintaining overall wellbeing, paying attention to diet, exercise, rest and mental resilience, as a means of helping people to ideally stay safe from ailments, and, in the event of contracting an infection, to fight it effectively.

Today, while the world searches for preventives and cures for COVID-19, the two concepts that have emerged as key are immunity and hygiene. In a situation where personal protective equipment (PPE) is in alarmingly short supply, allopathic drugs and medical equipment to tide patients over the worst are scarce, and sanitisation products are being sold at a premium, it’s worth harking back to what Ayurveda and traditional Indian practices teach us about preventive health care.

Wellness, in the Ayurvedic scheme of things, is the sum of physical, mental and environmental well-being.

Fire and smoke