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AN AYURVEDA EXPLORATION continued from page 54 can increase the efficacy of certain herbs and even eliminate the toxicity of certain substances. These blending techniques were, Bhadran said, divined by rishis who "saw the light emanating from each herb or medicine, the energy around it." LESSONS FROM THE AYURVEDIC HOSPITAL I decided to undergo some Ayurvedic treatments, including: medicated steam inhalations, oil dripped into my nose, pow- ders and pastes rubbed into my scalp, extremely oily massages, medicated oil dripped on my head and body, exfoliation with cheesecloth-wrapped herbs soaked in hot oil and, finally, medi- cated enemas. I can certainly complain about some aspects of the treatments, but I can't deny their efficacy. Whatever health problems I had upon arrival had all but been forgotten. My usual (read: copious) amount of stress faded into an echo of itself. In between treatments, instead of working nonstop, I spent my time meditating, resting, eating delicious vegetarian food and drinking "herbal water" (a mildly spiced herbal decoction also known as karingali). I also listened to a number of lectures by mythologist Joseph Campbell and worked only as needed. Amazingly, the less time I focused on work, the more focused I was when I worked. After years of being obsessed with intellectual pursuits (particularly work), I was finally able to balance my mind, body and soul on a deep level. Still, I had a hard time defining "true" Ayurveda. Can it be found in a teapot? Or does it require a lifestyle alteration with high-maintenance daily routines and extreme treatments? I sat down with fellow patient Sudha Magan, who has taken six months of courses and treatments at seven Ayurveda centers in India. She explained that her treatments had been similar everywhere, but some focused on day-to-day activities that were highly spiritual while others were more commercial minded. However, she said, the core elements of true Ayurveda (routine, diet, cessation of bad habits and feeding the mind and soul) 56 Fresh Cup Magazine freshcup.com could be practiced anywhere. Ayurvedic centers, Magan added, all serve "herbal water" in lieu of regular water. A few, she said, serve herbal "teas," but most herbal blends are "prepared according to what Western countries want" and are not consumed in India. I also contacted Dr. Jay Apte, author of "You Are What You Eat," as well as the founder of California-based The Ayurvedic Institute of America and AyurFoods. Apte said that Ayurveda is an evolv- ing science and that cultural adaptations are necessary to make it work outside India. For example, she said, the Ayurvedic principle of incorporating six tastes and qualities in food can be applied to other cuisines: "American food, Mexican food, even Chinese food can be Ayurvedic food, if we implement Ayurvedic concepts." Ultimately, Apte said, the results of Ayurvedic practice depend on your efforts. She advised starting with gradual lifestyle chang- es such as drinking herbal "teas," eating cooling foods in summer and warming foods in winter, and following a daily routine that includes meditation, yoga, exercise and good sleep habits. Finally, I read "The Epistemological Carnival: Meditations On Disciplinary Intentionality and Ayurveda" by U.C. Berkeley pro- fessor Dr. Lawrence Cohen. In this brilliant essay, Cohen talks about the commoditization of Ayurveda in India and explores the pros and cons of cross-cultural practice. One claim of his spoke to me particularly strongly: that the esoteric practice of Ayurveda transcends Western constructs of knowledge, culture and the body. Recalling the Joseph Campbell lectures I'd listened to all week at the hospital, I saw the higher truth in the statement: "All is Ayurveda, and yet not all is Ayurveda." Can your Mexican dinner (prepared with Ayurvedic principles) be a part of true Ayurvedic practice? Maybe. Was my week of Ayurvedic treatments the true path to dosha balance? Yes, and also no. Exhibiting true dosha balance, I opted to stop worrying and to accept what is. Amid my quietude at Santhigiri, I chose to experi- ence the transcendence in my pitcher of herbal water—and to let the academics and healthcare practitioners fight out what makes Ayurveda "real."