Dr Anjali Rajeevan, an Ayurvedic practitioner at Holistic Arogya in Kuala Lumpur, says the practice draws on Vedic philosophy, which is based on the body of religious texts originating in ancient India known as the Vedas.
According to the philosophy, “the universe is made up of five elements: space, air, earth, fire and water”, she tells FMT.
“Likewise, human bodies are made of the same components, and we categorise them into three ‘life forces’, or ‘doshas’, which are ‘vata’, ‘pitta’ and ‘kapha’.
“To achieve a healthy mind, body and spirit, one needs to achieve balance in the three dosha.”
It is believed that leading a poor lifestyle and eating the wrong foods will result in an imbalance, which will inevitably lead to various health problems and diseases.
The 34-year-old, who was born and bred in Kerala, India, was inspired to study Ayurvedic medicine upon witnessing her aunt – who was also an Ayurvedic practitioner – heal patients.
Contrary to popular belief, she says, Ayurveda did not originate in Kerala.
“Because of the Mughal and British invasion of North India, many Ayurvedic practitioners settled in Kerala and developed the practice to another level. That’s how Ayurveda became part of the lifestyle there,” she explains.
The principles were initially passed down orally before being recorded in the Vedas, which are the oldest texts in Hinduism.
Ayurveda is divided into eight branches, which includes, among others, paediatrics, surgery, toxicology, and geriatrics.
To treat her patients, Anjali meticulously goes through the details of their lifestyles and diets from the day they were born.
It is, therefore, not surprising that each consultation lasts for anywhere between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours.
According to Anjali, Ayurveda looks at a person’s health and wellbeing as a whole, rather than focusing on a particular problem.
“Oftentimes people just need to change their eating habits and way of living,” she says.
When it comes to chronic diseases, however, herbs and therapies are required. Besides oil massage treatment, there are various other therapies available such as hot poultice treatment, oil dripping therapy, and medicated powder massage.
“We have hundreds of medicated oils, selected according to each individual’s health problem,” Anjali explains.
Most patients who go to Holistic Arogya have digestive issues, rheumatoid arthritis, and back and neck pain.
“We have even cured people of diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome,” she says, adding that medicines are prescribed in the short term only.
Some people also opt for Ayurveda massages even though they are in good health, as a preventive measure.
Anjali points out that a person’s diet plays a significant role in his or her overall health and wellbeing. Just because certain foods are said to be healthy, it doesn’t mean they are good for you.
“If a person can’t digest or metabolise the food, there’s no point consuming them,” she states, adding that every individual is different and, hence, general “rules” do not apply.
“It’s also crucial to bear in mind that not all herbs are safe; some can aggravate underlying health problems, especially when taken in excess over a long period of time.”
As there is no such thing as “quick fixes” when it comes to one’s diet, Anjali believes the best thing you can do is to cook your own meals.
She further cautions against following so-called “dietary experts” on the internet. “It’s always best to check with a person who is qualified to give nutritional advice,” she says.
‘Individualised approach’
While some may dismiss Ayurveda as unscientific, Anjali begs to differ.
“Modern medicine is based on statistical analysis, whereas in Ayurveda, we might prescribe 40 to 50 different treatments to every 100 people who have backaches because we employ an individualised approach,” she says.
“I am not against modern medicine at all, but there are definitely instances where Ayurveda can help better.”
For more information on its services, visit Holistic Arogya’s website.