Ayurvedaonline enters 5th Year today

[Guest guest]

This group completes four years and enters fifth today. On birthday,

the sky sun passes over the position it occupied at the time of

birth. Indian astrology predicts what happens on such a day.

 

"The achieveements during entire last year, was it

progress or loss? Clear picture of your limits, and

difference in your progress with reference to others will

emerge during this period. Strong self-confedence,

philosophy of life and plans for future will get set in your

mind in this period and is ideal for the assessment of your

entire life so far. The way businessmen and industrialists

prepare the balance sheet every year, in the same manner

your sincere and honest assessment of entire past 'karma'

will help you avoid the repentance on future 'karma'."

 

In the same spirit, author wishes to assess the achievements,

difficulties, frustrations of the entire group. This post is

devoted to entire ayurveda group.

 

This group was started by cybervaidya in 2001 on a very auspicious

day of 'Ganesh Chaturthi'. The Indians on this group very well know

the importance of auspicious starting dates. Ganesha is the lord of

knowledge, to be worshipped in the beginning of every work or

project. And what matters more, even the first message time was

perhaps chosen by a master Indian astrologer. The birth star and

natal chart of the group is very progressive. The progress of the

group in last four years proves the auntheticity of Indian astrology,

the sibling of ayurveda.

 

The group was started with aims at sharing and obtaining information

on ayurveda, panchakarma, ayurvedic massage, traditional medicines,

herbal medicine, yoga and related topics. Perhaps it was expected

that many doctors and vaidyas would meet together to discuss Sanhitas

and clinical experience. However, the beginning members were only

curious to know what ayurveda really means. Most of the members who

joined turned out to be curious to know whether ayurveda had

something to cure their chronic diseases.

 

Many members had perhaps visited other ayurveda related sites and

knew their Prakruti or Vikruti based on online questionaires. Many

wanted to learn ayurveda. Opportunities in India to take formal

degrees in ayurveda were conveyed to such members.

 

The group experienced teething troubles due to difficulties in

posting messages, inappropriate line breaks and formatting characters

in messages, etc. These difficulties were noted by and quickly

solved.

 

The number of members crossed 50 in less than two months. A file

tiltled graph2001-5.jpg has been stored in 'files' section of group

website, in folder 'articles'. This shows how number of monthly

messages has grown over last five years. Since August 2005 is yet to

end, the number of posts for the current month is estimate only. If

you look at the graph, one can easily note that Nov 2003 onward the

discussions accelerated. Those accustomed to statistics, can pick up

trends in this chart. In March we are very much in discussion mood

and so in July-Aug., Oct-Nov. This is not a coincidence, but it is

related to planetary pulls on our minds!

 

In 2002, the ball was set in motion by Maharshi Ayurved, when the

Vaidyas at mapi.com posted several articles on common health

problems, food, lifestyle etc. Message # 350-635 (July 2002 to Feb.

2003) cover several such articles. These articles were very simple to

understand, remember and even practice in your daily routine. The

group, today, acknowledges the push given by them. Many members have

put these articles in their computers for permanent reference. They

were so much appreciated by all members that when the articles

stopped, many members enquired why they were stopped. New members

trying to understand ayurveda in simple terms may read these articles

numbering nearly one hundred.

 

Today the group has nearly 1800 members, growing slowly but surely,

and enjoys the uniqueness of largest group dealing with ayurveda.

 

This group has attracted discussions on procedures of making

medicines (e.g. Msg# 79 onwards), Yoga (Msg 89 onwards), Home

remedies, Herbs, etc. Amongst few querries/answers on understanding

ayurveda, author picks up one paragraph from message 94 that he liked:

 

"What is the need for us to prove ayurvedic products on modern

parameters(Dignostic tests of modern science). Why can't we establish

ayurvedic parameters on

which our drugs can be tested indigeniouly. Also why

not expect that modern medicine should be proven

according to ayurvedic parameters. After all the qualities

of the son are expected to confirm with those of the

father, not the way round."

 

This paragraph brings out essense of ayurveda, as a science of health

and longevity rather than simply the science of dealing with dis-

ease. "Ayurveda is not analysis, but useful and hormonious

synthesis". "We do not need to know the chemical contents of gralic

or anyother herb to use it as a medicine. Do we know the chemicals in

rice or food items which make our cells?" these questions aptly

describe funhdamental difference between ayurvedic approach and that

of other sciences.

 

In a separate post author would like to give a test (which takes only

30 minutes and no equipment or chemical needed) for not only

medicines, but also food items to be tested for suitability to each

individual.

 

One of the major difficulties experienced by Indian members was the

western names of diseases which members used to mention in the posts

and finding equivalents in ayurveda. Similarly, ayurveda cannot

discuss or understand the action of alkaloids, flavonoids, Omega-3,6

etc. On the other hand, western members were facing difficulties in

understanding herb names used by Indian members. The ayurvedic terms

such as Guna, Vipaka, Dravya etc were difficult to understand. Soon

they realized that since ayurveda originates in east, they may have

to come to terms with original sanskrit names. Nowadays there are

several sites which provide translations, herb pictures, uses etc.

Search for those sites, seeing many plants/herbal parts in photos

would not have been possible for us without ayurveda demanding!

Further, for indian members, the modrn science names for our common

disease names also would not have been possible to know without

ayurveda discussions. So ayurveda has achieved some

integration in wiping off the national boundaries and making ayurveda

truly global (Msg #94). Disregarding the countries, members have

freely discussed ayurveda and related topics.

 

One major difficulty that members have experienced is that Ayurvedic

herbs, medicines, patent formulations etc are not available freely in

countries outside India, and hence the suggestion to take certain

tablets/powders/lehyas etc does not become practical if member

resides in a remote place. Sending medicines by normal routes has

become difficult due to regulations. Moreover, the vested interests

sponsor research to malign herbal products. Due to these

difficulties, "Medical Tourism" is gaining momentum in last five

years or so. India is slowly emerging as the country of choice

whether you want fertility treatment or kidney transplant or

arthritis treatment. Uttaranchal, Kerala and Gujarat appear to be

developing ayurveda hub. Another growing area of interest is

PanchGavya therapy spread through entire North India and now making

inroads in south India slowly. Cancers of all kinds are being cured.

 

Food has been the subject discussed maximum on the group so far.

Oils, fats, vegetarian or non-vegetarian approach, fruits,

vegetables, almost nothing remains untouched. An interesting view

expressed: (Msg#673)

" There appear similarties in Western and Eastern approach to food in

character-building, personality formation, behavioural

patterns etc. A person is what a person eats but he

eats what he is chosen to eat- depending on the

constallation of stars at his birth"

 

The importance of food and also bias attached to food becomes obvious

when we note that the maximum messages in 2004 March were due to veg.

vs non-veg discussions. Food is almost like a religion to all of us.

Ayurvedaonline communicated Gunas of food such as Satva, Rajas, Tamas

to its members.

 

There have been many messages which suggest home remedies and simple

medication in even some of the most complex diseases. The suggestions

have been given by MD(ayurveda), Vaidyas and even entusiastic members

who wanted to help. And group is also encouraged by replies by

benificiaries thanking the suggestions. Since ayurveda depends on

looks, touch(pulse) and communication as only means of diagnosis, the

specific symptoms of several diseases and how they show their

presence may be a worthwhile knowledge if one reads group archives.

More than home remedies, lifestyle, food changes and Yogasananas

which can help in a specific condition have been recommended in many

mesages. This no medicine approach is what fetche a large following

to an ayurvedic practitioners.

 

We have had some diversions also in last one year. Falling of various

modern drugs in "recalled" list or "banned" list, or severe side

effects of modern drugs are being noted by group members and

circulated in the group for protections against "poison". Same

remarks also apply for unnecessary invasive procedures. When an

empire is about to fall, traitors are always within the empire

itself. Many alternative theory and practices run by coventional

healers were also subject matters of many posts last one year. Author

feels that this trend will continue, since some modern medicine

practitioners are now turning to ayurveda for self treatment and are

registering for ayurveda "condensed" courses (Banaras Hindu

University offers). Author recollects about 25 years ago,

a "condensed" MBBS course was introduced in Maharashtra, India for

those BAMS doctors who found that they had to have a MBBS degree if

they had to survive. The tide has turned now. In order to serve the

community better, a healer must take a proper stand, irrespective of

his field of study, religion. Humanitarian rules demand that a

woulded soldier must be provided proper treatment, even if he is a

prisoner of war. In army hospital it is often seen that a person from

one religion donating blood to a person of other religion. Healing

science must be guided by humanitarian considerations only.

 

Often a patient conditioned by modern medicine approach becomes

uneasy in ayurvedic consultations. The reason is, he does not have

any numbers or test reports to cling to! For instance, if your

fasting sugar is more than something, he must take anti-diabetic

medicine. He gets convinced. But if an ayurvedist tells him his

kidney is underfunctioning so he must take some diuretic, he starts

doubting how he was diagnosed. Some posts on Nadi Vigyan have been

there, but this is one area where ayurveda is lacking in

information. The Nadi Vigyan is not discussed much. Possible reason

could be that very few authentic books and those who know this well,

would like to keep the knowledge to limited fraternity for material

reasons. Similarly, not many messages on massage, physiotherapy are

seen. Otherwise messages related from cold/constipation to Cancer and

sex to childbirth are appearing in large number. The mesages on Peri

menopause and post-menopause problems also appear to be few. Those

related to mind (Manas Roga) and Children (Balroga) also appear very

few. Despite this, it appears that there is a growing interest

globally to know and follow ayurvda. Ayurveda is not a science of

providing cure or remedy. It is a religion of staying healthy by body

and mind.

 

In a message posted on Guru Pournima day (about a month back),

Cybervaidya has offered open appreciations to all those who posted

replies to many querries. What drives us to suggest remedies or

precautionary lifestyles to others who are suffering? It is the

satisfaction of being useful to someone. Today, this author wishes

that such a feeling should get kindled in every heart ticking on

ayurveda. Occasionally the group has been termed internet

chatroom, where prescriptions are getting doled out "free". One

should look at each post and see benifits derived by some members.

LIke Christian philosophy, if one sinner returs to right path, the

purpose of sermone is served. In the same manner, if one meber

regains health out of 100, or one meber starts learning ayurveda

instead of other sciences, the purpose of this group is served. If

any member has suffered by following any guideline, members may post

such experiences also. Moderators have never strangled any voice,

unless the intention of the message is "commercial interest" or

advertising a certain "product". The ayurvedic manufacturers have

been encouraged to keep their websites in "links" section of group

website.

 

The seed sown by Cybervaidya has grown in a seedling. It is up to all

of us to make it a Banyan tree. When a Banyan tree grows, the main

tree is difficult to find. Do you find some similarity here? As a

member, please contribute your share of knowledge, thoughts,

experiences with other good sites, books etc. You may enjoy the group

discussion better if you start posting. And in order to share the

well feeling and warmth, it is better if new members introduce

themselves. Our group has, in addition to Vaidyas and Doctors,

Professors, scientists, researchers, housewives, everyone. Though

some percentage of floating members join just to post their problems

and their interest ends in a few days, many members are with the

group since beginning. Moderators thank them for being active members.

Lastly, moderators will also like to apologise for any

misunderstanding/harm caused to any members, by the

attitude/philosophy of moderators. No one is perfect in the world.

Perfection is the result of removing deficiencies. If you feel group

can be improved further, please give your suggestions without any

hesitations. Last four years we have been together and shared our

minds amd thought resources. Let us keep doing so always.

 

With warm regards and apology for very long message

Dr Bhate

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Dr. Bhate, for your wonderful post. This is truly a very

interesting and educational group and I have learned a lot in the little

time I have been a member.

Darla Wells