Ayurvedic clinic is an establishment where outpatients are given ayurvedic consultation, ayurvedic treatment and panchakarma therapies. Sometimes, the ayurvedic clinic is also known as ‘Ayurvedic Wellness Centre’. It serves an important role in society by providing effective alternative treatment to patients, especially patients suffering from chronic diseases. It helps in the management of pain disorders, stress disorders, weight loss, male and female infertility, arthritic disorders (including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout) and other diseases.
The aim of Ayurvedic Clinic
The aim of the ayurvedic clinic is to help people to prevent diseases by dietary and lifestyle modification and to improve health by managing diseases and preventing their recurrence.
Ayurvedic clinic gives emphasis on removing the root cause of a disease. It also provides individualized consultation for a healthy and disease-free living. It teaches a person how to live longer and stay healthier during a whole lifetime. It also provides rejuvenation therapies, which helps to achieve this goal.
Head of Ayurvedic Clinic
The head of the ayurvedic clinic should be a qualified ayurvedic doctor or practitioner. A doctor who has a 5.5 years bachelor’s degree in Ayurveda i.e. BAMS is legally considered as a qualified ayurvedic doctor in India.
In Australia, it is recommended that one should be a member of the Australian Association of Ayurveda (AAA). Because AAA registration of an ayurvedic doctor or practitioner ensures that one maintains the highest standards of ayurvedic treatment and provides quality of service in ayurvedic consultation. Only AAA members can obtained TGA Schedule 1 Certification, which allows the practitioner to blend different herbs, to make specific doshas based herbal preparation for different health conditions.
Ayurvedic Clinic Requirements
Every establishment requires a basic infrastructure and equipment. It also applies to an ayurvedic clinic. Here is a detail of these requirements:
Ayurvedic Wellness Centre Infrastructure
Ayurvedic Wellness Centre should have a reception area, consultation room, medicine store, therapy room and bathroom. These are a basic requirement for an ayurvedic clinic.
In the therapy room, it should have complete set up for panchakarma detox procedures. Generally, a wooden bed is highly preferable for ayurvedic therapies. A special wooden bed made of Neem Tree and other medicinal plants is used for ayurvedic massage. It is also called Droni. It is an initial requirement for ayurvedic massage and other procedures. In addition to this, Shirodhara stand, Shirodhara vessel, Vashap Swedan Yantra (steam chamber), Nadi Swedan Yantra, etc. are other requirements.
Medicines & Herbal Blends
Ayurveda is a unique health science that depends on three dosha theory. In Ayurveda, medicine can be different for the same disease in different patients. It depends on the Vikriti Dosha Analysis, Prakriti Analysis and several other factors.
The recommendation and preparation of ayurvedic medicine and herbal combinations depend on the proportion and uniqueness of each dosha in the body, health condition (disease & symptoms) and even during different seasons. Therefore, the ayurvedic clinic should have a wide range of available options for herbs and ayurvedic medicines. It is the basic requirement for initiating ayurvedic treatment in a patient.
In addition, there should also be a wide range of medicines used in panchakarma detox and ayurvedic therapies. In each therapy, different oils or medicines are used according to dosha and suitability of medicines for the patient according to a specific health condition.
Ayurvedic Clinic Services
Ayurvedic wellness center offers a wide range of services including ayurvedic consultation, Prakriti analysis, panchakarma detox, ayurvedic treatment, rejuvenation and beauty therapies.
Ayurvedic Consultation
Ayurvedic consultation is a complete health assessment as per ayurvedic science. It is an initial step that requires before starting any ayurvedic treatment or panchakarma detox therapy. It helps the doctor to understand the health condition of the patient, interpreting body type and dosha. It also helps the patient to understand ayurvedic treatment and clear worries and doubts.
Read More: Ayurvedic Consultation
Prakriti & Vikriti Analysis
Prakriti means ayurvedic body type. It has huge importance in making a decision about ayurvedic treatment, dosage instruction and selecting suitable herbs and ayurvedic medicines.
In the ayurvedic clinic, your doctor will ask a series of questions for understanding your mental and physical characteristics. Based on various characteristics, your body type will be determined.
The determination of body type is followed by Vikriti Analysis. Vikriti means disease. In ayurveda, diagnosis of dosha in a specific disease is equally important as a diagnosis of a disease. A complete health examination and history taking help for the determination of dosha in a disease and diagnosis of a disease.
Panchakarma Therapy
Panchakarma therapy consists of five major therapeutic procedures and their subtypes. It also includes ‘Traditional Kerala Ayurvedic Therapies’. Before starting internal medicine for curing a disease, detoxification is very important in ayurveda. Because it boosts metabolic rate, improves absorption of medicine, strengthens the tissue’s functions, eliminates toxins and improves the efficacy of internal medicine to balance three doshas. It also brings the three doshas in harmony. In addition to these benefits, it also reduces stress, induces deep relaxation, slows down the process of aging, improves immunity, boosts endurance and increases vitality.
There are different procedures in Panchakarma, which helps in different diseases. For example, Shirodhara helps in stress management, headache, migraine, mental fatigue and insomnia. Ayurvedic body massage helps in pulling the body toxins from the skin and steam helps in their elimination from the skin.
In the ayurvedic clinic, all these therapeutic procedures are available. The ayurvedic doctor can recommend the most suitable therapy according to patient’s health condition and requirement for treating the disease.
Panchakarma is not only for detoxification, it also plays an important role in the management of several diseases. In several cases, patients start getting relief from his symptoms and disease during the panchakarma treatment. Therefore, it is a very important step in ayurvedic treatment.
Ayurvedic Medicine
After panchakarma therapy, internal medicine is prescribed to the patient for ayurvedic treatment of a disease. Each patient is considered unique in ayurveda. So, patients with the same disease may have a different experience with the disease depending on aggravated dosha in the body and mind. Ayurvedic medicines are decided according to dosha aggravation. The medicines decided in this way improve health, alleviate symptoms of the disease and ultimately treat the disease.
In the ayurvedic clinic, there is a wide range of ayurvedic medicines and their combinations available, which are prescribed according to dosha vitiation and health condition of the patient.
Rejuvenation
Rejuvenation therapy is called Rasayana Chikitsa in ayurveda. It is an anti-aging and immunity enhancer therapy. It delays the process of aging and increases non-specific immunity. So, it reduces the frequency of being sick and improves general well-being.
This therapy deals with the prevention of diseases and promotion of health. In some cases, it is also helpful for treating diseases. There are specific herbs and ayurvedic medicines are used in rejuvenation.
Before starting rejuvenation therapy, panchakarma is also very important. It improves the beneficial effects of rejuvenation therapy. Overall, rejuvenation therapy improves the functions of seven tissues (called Dhatus in ayurveda), strengthens the mind and tones the body.
Ayurvedic clinic also serves a role in the prevention of diseases and improving the immunity of the patient. Generally, patients suffering from recurrent diseases or infections or obstinate chronic diseases require rejuvenation therapy.
Ayurveda Dietary Advice
In ayurveda, food is used as first medicine. The famous quote “Food is Medicine” comes from ayurvedic literature. In ayurveda, food is advised according to Prakriti (body type), health condition and seasonal changes. A healthy person also requires modification in his/her dietary habits to prevent future diseases. Therefore, it is equally beneficial for healthy individuals as well as unhealthy people. Both should visit the ayurvedic clinic for dietary advice for prevention and improving the health.
Ayurveda clinic provides dietary advice after determination of ayurvedic body type in healthy individuals. In addition to this, it is also based on health condition in an unhealthy person.
The diet should also be different in different seasons, so people should also visit ayurvedic clinic during seasonal changes to keep themselves fit and healthy.
What should you check before visiting an ayurvedic clinic?
The most important question that comes in patient’s mind is – which ayurvedic clinic is the best. For this, you should check two important things about the ayurvedic clinic:
- Testimonials.
- Google Reviews.
Testimonials
Testimonials are a formal statement given by different people for the experience with a specific ayurvedic clinic. These are very helpful for patients deciding which clinic is good for them.
Google Reviews
Like testimonials, Google Reviews of an ayurvedic clinic are also very important. In the most cases, these reviews are given by real clients that wish to share good and bad experience with the clinic. The clinic with more good reviews is likely to maintain a high standard of ayurvedic treatment and provides excellent quality of service to its clients.
Dr. Pooja Saini.
Ayurvedic Consultant & Nurse Practitioner.
(Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), Master in Mental Health).
Working at Pure Herbal Ayurved Clinic in Melbourne, Australia.
References
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- Baghel, M. S. (2012). Ethical prescription writing in Ayurveda. Ayu, 33(1), 3–4. http://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8520.100290
- Shilpa, S., & Venkatesha Murthy, C. G. (2011). Understanding personality from Ayurvedic perspective for psychological assessment: A case. Ayu, 32(1), 12–19. http://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8520.85716
- Conboy, L. A., Edshteyn, I., & Garivaltis, H. (2009). Ayurveda and Panchakarma: Measuring the Effects of a Holistic Health Intervention. The Scientific World Journal, 9, 272–280. http://doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2009.35
- Chopra A, Doiphode VV. Ayurvedic medicine. Core concept, therapeutic principles, and current relevance. Med Clin North Am. 2002 Jan;86(1):75-89, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11795092
- Tripathi, J. S., & Singh, R. H. (1999). The Concept and Practice of Immunomodulation in Ayurveda and the Role of Rasayanas as Immunomodulators. Ancient Science of Life, 19(1-2), 59–63.
- Payyappallimana, U., & Venkatasubramanian, P. (2016). Exploring Ayurvedic Knowledge on Food and Health for Providing Innovative Solutions to Contemporary Healthcare. Frontiers in Public Health, 4, 57. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00057