Where were you 6 - 7,000 years ago?

Laurie here:

As I mentioned before, during the pouring of the maroon syrupy oil on the feet, Anjali kindly answers my questions about all things Indian.   I hold back - because I don't think she wants to be a teacher all day and during the evening too (with me) but she does share some priceless knowledge which I appreciate.

My rather rudimentary, unstudied, quite ignorant understanding of the origins of Ayurveda are that there were 6 main developers, practitioners, teachers of the original wisdom of Ayurveda.  These 6 (men?) lived during the same time - 6 - 7,000 years ago.  Many believe that the gods taught them Ayurveda principals, philosophy, methods, herbs, etc.  Then again, trial and error works well too, if you have plenty of time. . . and patients.  These practices were handed down in the oral tradition and eventually written down.  As I mentioned before, the oils used are from a recipe in a book that is 3,000 years old.  Only one of the six "schools" of knowledge has survived through the ages - and that is the one we are fortunate enough to experience.


Last night and the night before, I was given a "new" treatment.  It was prescribed using the ancient and phenomenal method of "listening" to the pulses (remember, we've heard there are 15 separate pulses), and a method we're all familiar with -listening to the patient talk (one that many doctors don't actually do very well).


I had been telling Anjali for a couple of days that I was very discouraged about my feet getting healed.  Ever since getting Tramadol out of my system, the pain was back as it had always been.   At the same time, all of my leg, arm, etc. muscles have become smooth and supple like they were when I was much, much, younger.  Bye bye tightness and toxins!!  (Cloud's tight muscles have transformed from inhuman, iron-like material to tapioca pudding.)


I confessed that I was beginning to think that just like before, nothing would change the foot condition.   Anjali looked surprised and alarmed and told me "No, you will get better.  The pain will be reduced," and other encouraging things.  I tried to believe her but each day the feet were not improving.


Then on Friday we had our appt with Dr. Pendse.  He told me my pulses showed a marked improvement - and I was making good progress.  But I expressed doubt in the pain ever leaving my feet.  He also looked at me with alarm.  "Why would you think that?" I told him that perhaps what I have is not systemic, but a physical impingement on the nerves and that is why I'm not getting better.  I also expressed the same idea about the pain in my upper back.  In a round about way he told me not to focus so much on what was bothering me.  He agreed that the foot ailment is not systemic (like Cloud's condition) and that my feet would get better.

Anjali taking Cloud's pulses

The Young Docs: Gajanan, Sneha, Anu Radha, & Anjali

The previous time I had seen him he said that from listening to the pulses he could see that I carried the pain in my feet and the grief of losing Judy, but that I was keeping it at bay.  After he heard me speak and read Anjali's notes regarding my progress over the past three days, he must have changed his mind on this because he said that I was to come at 4:30 the next day and a new treatment would begin.  Anjali would be pouring oil on my forehead.


From the little I've read about the wide range of panchakarma treatments, I know this one is used to help the patient with distress in the mind and a whole host of other ailments.  Gajanan said it would have analgesic effects and due to the loss in the family and my worries about my feet - it would be administered because these thoughts/feelings can interfere with healing.  


Dr. Pendse said I was to come in the next morning as well and get a chiropractic treatment and assessment from Aruna, his wife and she would assess whether the back pain is due to something that required a physical manipulation.   (She did treat my spine.  This has helped, and I'll go again on Tues for another adjustment.  At that time she may look at my feet.)

This is a one-stop medical clinic - they are doing all they can to provide us with the best service they can offer.  I love how there is always something else to prescribe, how all parts of a person are taken into account.


But back to the oil on the forehead:


After the massages and foot oil pourings and yes, the daily busti - the table is moved so that my head will be underneath this chain that hangs from the ceiling.  A pot is attached to the chain that has a small hole in the bottom of it and a large opening in the top for pouring in the oil.  I lay down on a soft vinyl mat that has a neck rest on it and an extension of vinyl beyond that. This extension goes beyond the table and can be pushed down gently to send oil from my scalp and hair into a pot or bowl.  I'm not sure because Sneha puts wet cotton on my eyes as soon as I lay back.  When everything is set up, the light is turned off - a wonderful respite from the bright light.  Anjali put on some Indian music on a transistor radio, and the oil pouring begins.


For about 20 mins, Anjali moves the pot of pouring oil like a pendulum across my forehead from side to side, fairly close to the scalp.  The neck rest causes my head to tilt back.  The oil stays about an inch above the bridge of my nose and pours into my scalp.  It's warm and lukewarm and rhythmic and VERY soothing.  Along with moving the oil vessel back and forth, she somehow refills the pot with oil so that the chopstick thin pour is never interrupted. Both times now I have peacefully dozed off during the treatment.  If I awaken I fall back to sleep pretty quickly.  Another genius method.  


I slept better after that first shirodhara treatment than I have since I arrived.  And in the morning I felt more elated and my foot felt better.  I thought - "Wow, I've just had the miracle treatment and I get it five more times!"  I went on the aforementioned shopping spree with Aruna and her sister and another friend.  Aruna and I expected that I would sit in chairs and people would bring things over to me to look at - but I ended up standing and walking quite a bit.  We were both very surprised and I was delighted.  The fabrics here are truly astoundingly beautiful - and some of the workmanship on hand-made textiles from the countryside is unique and very colorful.  I even saw gorgeous fabric that was tie dyed - treated as very special (known by a different name of course), an inspiration to hippies past and present. 


Then we went to another shop with thousands of scarves piled high in every color and fabric.  We walked on the streets amongst the jackfruit and other food stands, taxis, motorcycles, and loads of people shopping on the Sunday "holiday," a day when the vast majority of folks don't work.  It felt so great to walk on the asphalt - just to be out and walk!  The hotel room is fabulous, but being in the hustle and bustle quite fun.  Our wonderful Nan de Kumar drove us everywhere we needed to go and then took me back here to the hotel. 

Shopping Partners - The Sisters

Jackfruit - not your typical fruit

After lunch and a short rest, Nan de Kumar returned and it was off to the clinic again for another heavenly, healing interlude.  


As you may be able to tell from Cloud's postings - he is a miracle of ancient medicine.  It's like the world (or most of it) has lifted off his shoulders and his goofiest, silliest and sweetest self is swimming in a mostly pain-free pool of that delicious lemony-sugary syrup of gulab jamun.  


I go again in another half-hour.  After so much walking, my feet have had to recover all day and we've laid low.  I wish I could say I'm as elated as Cloud - but I'm still working through the feelings and the pain - feeling a bit stuck again today.  But those are the ups and downs of the healing process.  Cloud is sleeping again.  Not only are the doctors and treatments amazing and effective - the enforced rest, relaxation, and sleep that he's getting here has been worth the long, long journey to India.  I can truly say he is getting what he needs - 'cause if you try sometimes, you just might find - . . . .

It's pomegranate season!