Ayurveda, an ancient Indian way of healing, known as the oldest health system of the world, originally comes from Kerala/South India. Ayurveda has its origins in a collection of scripts (the „Samhitas“), which had been written in India between the 7th century B.C. and 1000 A.C. The scripts aggregated a wide medical knowledge of eight independent medical fields: internal medicine, toxicology, surgery, ophthalmology, paediatrics, ENT, gynaecology and obstetrics. The effects of healing plants, various therapies and illnesses, prostheses and operations were being documented in the form of rhymes and singings. The „Caraka Samhita“ for instance, which is named after its author „Caraka“, systematically compiles diseases by detailed diagnostics and describes more than 500 plants with medical properties. The healer Caraka lived between 1000 – 700 B.C.

Until the 13th century, Ayurveda has been the acknowledged medical wisdom of India with a remarkable high level of knowledge for that time. However, from the 13th century it has been prohibited by the emerging Islam and later by English colonisation. The English denounced Ayurveda as irrational superstition and replaced the ancient Indian knowledge with western medicine. However, Ayurveda has been further practised secretly and most of the ancient healing knowledge has been kept alive to present times.

In the eighties of the 20th century, a new consciousness developed for the old Indian heritage and the Indian scholar „Maharishi Mahesh Yogi“ initiated the revival of Ayurveda. Indian and western scientists were able to retrieve the original meaning of the old texts and transferred it into modern contexts.   

Ayurveda is not just a healing system for the sick. It is based on the understanding that the key for a long, healthy and fulfilled life lies in the balance between all powers within the human being - between body and soul. In this, Ayurveda is closely related to Yoga. 

According to the philosophy of Ayurveda, a disease emerges as soon as the powers within the human being are out of balance. The „doshas“ must be in balance for health, well-being, and physical and mental fitness. The „Doshas“ are the three energies „Vata“, „Pitta“ and „Kapha“, which regulate the important mental and physical functions of the human being. Due to negative impacts such as emotional trouble, unhealthy lifestyle, adverse climatic conditions etc. the natural balance of these energies gets disturbed and diseases are the consequence.  

Ayurveda offers various treatments to settle the original balance and heal diseases. These include massages and purification, nutrition and a balanced lifestyle. 

Massages are the main practical method for healing and invigorating the system of body and mind: Nerves and organs are being slackened, joints and the immune system strengthened, blockades and tensions eased. There is a variety of Ayurveda treatments for particular symptoms and complaints.

In Kerala/South India, the best Ayurveda physicians are trained and Dr. Giriraj for Fort Kochin is one of them. He is giving private and group lessons to Ayurveda beginners and advanced practitioners including different kinds of massages such as Uzhichil, Marma and Siro Dhara, Thakra Dhara, Pizhichil and Kizhi (massage using bundles of leaves), Njavara Kizhi (massage with bundles of rice), Nasyam and Udwarthanam, as well as the appropriate and traditional use of healing herbal steam bath.

 

Dr. Giriraj is running his own Ayurveda Centre. He has studied at the most renowned medical college of Kerala and has more than 30 years of experience as a practicioner and teacher of Ayurveda. In Cochin he has an excellent reputation for his Ayurveda skills.