India 2019: Ayurveda, Onam festival and New Herbal Discoveries
Southern India. Essentially Nirvana / porn for anyone who loves food, nature, dance, music and people. I have been lucky enough to be travelling around this beautiful place for the last 10 days; visiting Kochi, Mannur and Alleppey for the majority of the trip. In September, it’s still pretty hot in India so for once, the rain is actually welcome! The storms are breath taking and relatively short lived, with lots of sunshine in between and lush wildlife as a result. In my limited experience, it seems to be the best time to see India, during a period when the local nature and wildlife are at their most vibrant and the western tourists are few and far between. All positives. I was able to visit Ayurvedic clinics and herb plantations as well as the numerous and beautiful nature spots across the state. Hills, waterfalls, elephants, giant bees the size of birds (it takes a lot to pollinate the array of plants but those who know me know the fear is real!!) and herbs; some familiar and some unfamiliar to me. Lots of new information and learning to bring back with me to use with my work with clients in the UK. My travels also coincided with Onam festival; the largest and most celebrated state festival in Kerala.
Onam is an annual, harvest festival and public holiday celebrated by every household across Kerala. Running for 10 days, it falls in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam which corresponds to August / September. The festival culminates on the 10th day, the most important day known as Thiruvonam, meaning "Sacred Onam Day". This year it fell on 11th September whilst I was staying on Vypin Island, near Fort Kochi.
Onam is thought to be in commemoration of the King Mahabali, who was an Asura (demon) king who brought peace and prosperity to the land. Whilst it’s a Hindu festival, it is celebrated by non-Hindus too, namely Christians and Muslims in the area and all over India. Celebrations manifest in lots of different ways. Everything from martial arts to dances, food (a lot of food), flowers, boat races and music are offered up and available to experience. No shortage of noise, vibrancy, colour, smell and taste; all the things that are wonderful about India.
For me, Onam and the end of the monsoon season felt like pertinent timing to be in India. In some ways, a parallel to my own life as I recently made the move from full time marketing career to working for myself; finally reaping the years of study to do something I love. A celebration of life harvest so to speak!!
As so much of my study was based around Ayurvedic medicine and energetics, it was the perfect place to be. Experiencing it all first hand, getting to see the plants in real life and hearing from local experts as to how they are used therapeutically. One of the new herbs I was introduced to is known as Ayapana (Eupatorium ayapana), a plant that is mainly used in the Amazon regions of the world but also in the Ayurvedic medicinal system. Ayapana is a member of the Asteraceae family, one of the largest groups of plants. This famliy also consists of Daisy, Burdock and Chamomile to name a few. In India, Ayapana is a popular herbal remedy and a leaf infusion is considered a cardiotonic, diaphoretic, emetic, haemostat, laxative, stimulant, and tonic. Basically a fundamental “cure all” treatment here.
Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional and most prevalent health care system in Southern India; by contrast to the UK and other areas of Europe, the “English Medicine” outlets were seemingly the novelty. There are well established hospitals such as the Holy Cross Naturopathy & Yoga Center in Kerala as well as numerous other Ayurvedic treatment centres, herbal and spice stores and Ayurvedic spa facilities. The Holy Cross is a private naturopathy, yoga and acupuncture hospital established in 2001 that focuses on pioneering holistic and individualised healing. Aligned to my own practice, this is a place I plan to explore more next time I’m back in India. With all the nature to see, there was no time this time around sadly.
More to come on the plants and therapeutic information I learnt whilst I was there; some familiar but most completely new. Reassuring to know that the learning will never stop! For now, it’s back to London where I hear we’re having our own Indian summer….