Sumati Aryuved Clinic and PanchaKarma Centre

A little trivia:
The addresses here are interesting, and help demonstrate why it's so difficult for even taxi drivers to find places.  Current maps do not seem to be readily available.  Some streets don't have names.
Here is the address for the clinic: 
1st Floor, Sadhana Apartment, Opp.(osite) Ashtang Ayurved College
S.P. College Lane, Near Tilak Rd,  Pune


Our hotel's address is:  Near Bund Garden Signal
And it is down a block and around the corner from a very large intersection with a signal light on a major street called Bund Garden.


Also, the weather!  With the cloud cover in the sky almost all of the time, whether it's raining or not - the temperature is really mild and totally ideal.  Every day has been in the 70's or 80's - and for the past two days, we've had very little rain.  The evenings are in the 60's and 70's.  We're actually wishing we had brought more long pants and long sleeved shirts.  It is muggy, but not too hot.  We haven't used the air conditioning yet - just have the fan on all the time and window with the screen open.  Since we're supposed to avoid extremes in temperature, this is perfect - just what the doctor wanted - moist air and mild temps for our time here.


Before describing my treatments, I forgot to say previously that we've each been given herbal medications in the form of pills from the beginning - 3 different ones, a dark, brown liquid that is challenging to drink (for cleaning out toxins), and a couple of powders that we can mix with honey in order to get them down.  We take most of these three times/day and a new powdered herb to take at 9:30 or 10:00pm so that we get a better night's sleep.  Cloud and I have been waking up at about 1:30am and not falling back to sleep.  We have fun talking and watching weird stuff on TV, but this activity has been frowned upon.  Sleeping all night is important.  I took the powder last night.  I still woke up at 1:30, but was able to fall asleep for the rest of the night.  In the morning, I woke up without any grogginess, in fact I felt no side effect whatsoever. 
Cloud was so tired after going out to the clinic twice and not sleeping during the day - he fell asleep at 9:30 and slept all night.

Clinic Door: Vaidya. Narendra Pendse, Vaidya Aruna Pendse

Laurie's Treatments:


My treatments have not changed from the beginning.


1)  Oil is dripped into my navel and then massaged in a clockwise direction all around around my abdomen - gently - for a minute or two.  Then I get a full body massage with the herbally infused oil - Sneha and Anjali on each side of me.  The massage has become deeper and more whole handed.  They both have wonderful hands and it's fun to visit with them while they massage, or to listen to them speak in Hindi and  laugh                          together.                                                                                             Vaidya means Doctor


2)  The Steam:  Again, front and back.  Sneha holds the steam hose close to my spine- upper and lower.  It feels great and it opens the pores so that the herbal oil can go into the skin.


3)  Rice Fomentations - the massage with the soft rice wrapped in cotton and continually dipped in hot milk with herbs is still the most amazing part of the process.  It's hot and the women are applying more pressure. There is a lot of emphasis on my legs - rubbing up and down, and my lower back, spine and upper back.  The pain in my upper back has been aggravated, but Anjali said this is part of the process to bringing it into balance.  The heated balls are held on my feet for awhile too.


4)  And last but not least - The Busti - otherwise known as The Enema.  For some reason I forgot to mention this last time.  I was surprised to hear that I would be getting one of those every one of the 21 days - not my favorite thing.  An oil infused with a herbs - about a cup of it is inserted with a large plastic syringe.  


The purpose of the busti is not just to clean out - that's only a short term, temporary fix.  Eventually Anjali says the cup or so of the oil will stay in my body and not be released.  (That certainly is not true now).  The purpose is to help me get rid of the toxins that the massage and herbs are getting out of my body.  Dr Pendse said this treatment will give me long term, permanent change for a much healthier elimination system.  Oh, boy!  I'm sure there are many of you out there wishing you too could have a busti 21 days in a row.


More Notes About Treatment

This is the Sadhnah Apt. Bldg.   The white windows on first floor is where the clinic is located.

I haven't had any caffeine or Tramadol now for days.  I've had no negative reaction.  We've been told to take it easy - no more long walks for now.  Tramadol will be considered completely out of my system after 8 days, and in 8 days after that it will become clear as to whether the treatments will be able to root out the problem that is causing the nerve pain in my feet.  Dr. Pendse says it is possible that I will not have pain anymore in my feet at all.  Or - it will be diminished by a good percentage.  Anjali has explained that the healing that occurs with the 21 day panchakarma is permanent - not temporary.  


Our progress is being watched closely.  The practitioners give notes and phone calls to Dr. Pendse and he is seeing us every 3 - 4 days to take pulses and alter treatments as needed.  The nuanced, individualized prescribed care and ongoing close observation is something we don't see much of - or should I say - we never see, in the states.  Dr. Pendse explained that he and the practioners are providing treatments that will allow nature to do the healing.  He emphasized that it is NATURE that will do the healing.  Their herbs and treatments are helping us come more into balance, so that nature can heal.


Dr. Pendse also emphasized again how well qualified Anjali is to give me panchakarma.  She has tremendous clinical experience, teaches post-graduate students and is sought after.  She is quite possibly the best qualified panchakarma practitioner/doctor in all of Pune.

Drs. Sneha and Anjali

I asked Anjali one day why she chose to specialize in panchakarma.  "Chose?" she said.  "I did not choose it, it was determined by my high marks at school on exams."  Paraphrasing:  "Going through school, I made the best marks in this area and was able to take more and more classes.  Eventually I got into the university and did so well that now I am a teacher at the same university as Dr. Pendse.  He is a visiting lecturer (2 days/week) and I teach four days/week.  I also teach at the hospital so that students get plenty of clinical experience.  Sneha is a graduate of that program."

The dedicated young docs who work on Cloud:  Gajanan and Vikrant

The modest treament room

Picture of the god for healing - doctors and patients pray to this god.

The Pharmacy

The Waiting Room on Sunday Evening - closed except for panchakarma patients (like me)

The watchman for the clinic building - friendly guy - Shinde KaKa  (meaning  Uncle Shinde)

Evening Ride back to the hotel:

The Ricksha meter to show how much is owed, and typical traffic scene. 

Tomorrow: 
Cloud's treatment changes and continued progress!