I am currently on an internship at the SDM Ayurveda College and Hospital in Hassan, India. Being able to spend time with the doctors and students of the hospital is invaluable experience for anyone who has learnt Ayurveda outside of India. In my case I completed a three years diploma in Ayurveda Medicine in New Zealand in 2007 but as Ayurveda is new two NZ there is no opportunity to go into practice in an hospital to gain further practical experience. Hence this opportunity to be able to spend time at an Ayurvedic Hospital in India, to be able to experience first hand Ayurveda is an opportunity not to be missed.
One of the recent highlights of the stay has been to experience the immunization program that the SDM Hospital of Ayurveda organises here on a monthly basis. The Ayurveda approach to immunization is not the same as we see in the modern pharmacological approach. In Ayurveda the approach to countering most illnesses is to build up a strong metabolism and immune system which will not allow the bacteria or poison into the system. In the case of the immunization performed here, this is done through the use of a small handful of herbs that have been specially process along with a hint of gold.
Over 5,500 children up to the age of 18 received the immunization after having gone through a very well organised system where the persons weight, head and chest circumferences are measured, along with height and any details of illness are recorded by the staff of the hospital before receiving four drops of the nectar of the gods.
It was intriguing spending time with the doctors and clients at each stage of the process, where we had babies one month old come in for their first vaccination to children who had been coming since the inception of the program 12 months ago, on a monthly basis.
Talking to the children and their parents, it is clear that many of them feel this is a worthwhile program. They believe they are seeing benefits as respiratory disorders decrease and resistance of the child appears to increase as their immunity is strengthened. It was also a pleasure to be at the end of the queue and be able to administer the precious four drops to the children as they came forward. Most were keen to receive the drops, and those who had come for the first time were a little apprehensive. Some tried to re-enter the queue for a second time.
As I mention, this program has now been running for 12 months here in Hassan, where people come in from the town and many of the villages and farms around the area. There programs have now also been started at some of the other Ayurvedic Hospitals in the area, such as in Bangalore and Mysore, two very large cities in this part of India.
It will take time before any real research results are available to see how effective the program is, as each child finishes the 21 month course of the immunization strengthening herbs. However in the meantime it is encouraging to see the positive results that can be witnessed and through the processes making the people aware of the Ayurvedic Hospital and the services it can offer.
The hospital itself is remarkable, treating any and every ailment that they come across with the knowledge of a 5000 year old medical practice and the skill of the doctors after their five years training in the foundations of the ancient and time proven methods of natural healing. I have been fortunate to witness many of the cases that pass through the hospital since I have been here and can certainly testify to the benefit this ancient science has for the people her today.
