PANCHA KARMA #4: A YEAR OF INTROSPECTION

There were eight of us signed up for our annual pancha Karma at Anjali in Kannur this year, 7 women and one man. This time around the atmosphere was mostly introspective. With our Vata and Pitta doshas relatively balanced levels and no illnesses, the main focus was to pass through minor discomforts without judgment, raise our blood pressure, quieten the mind and go within to discover the mysteries of our life and beauty.

Sand-scripting

Meditating on the beach before sunrise and receiving teachings from

Bhuvaneswari around dinner time certainly combined well with the treatments. We discovered the joys of “sand script”, writing our lessons in the sand. Communication organically switched from English, French and Spanish, but not a trace of Sanskrit despite the context.

Contrary to previous years, most of us had little energy or inclination to shop although knowing what we needed, what is available and where facilitated the little shopping we did. Pit stops for fresh coconut water, fruits and vegetables however was a common occurrence. Our social calendar was quieter than previous years although we again met delightfully friendly people.

Real resting

Having once again to deal with a painful pitta detoxing process through the skin meant an even more reclusive agenda than most for me. Resting was the main activity after meditation, treatments and meals. The Internet was inconsistent so emailing, facebooking and other such activities were limited. Not swimming in the salty Indian ocean,

Watching the action from our shaded balcony.

not going out in the sun and settling into a 7-day monodies proved to be less challenging than expected. Reading often felt too tiring. The process worked though; the fire subsided and my turkey neck-like skin eventually disappeared.

This of course does not make for an exciting blog… except for two very special  events, with nothing in common. Chronologically, the first one was the discovery of an incredible side dish. The second was the meeting with a saint, a very zen man who stayed with us for 3 days to impart his teachings on the simplicity of illumination.

Food as medicine

Ayurveda offers solutions from the simplest  to the most complex. For low blood pressure, we were offered a cup of warm rice water with salt, with efficient and quick results. 

A kadi vasti.

To lower high vata, patients are treated to oil treatments such as pizhichil, while pitta patients are given milk shirodaras and 4-hand massages/baths with complex recipes involving butter milk and herbs processed for 24 hours. Other treatments often include netra vasti (eye treatments). The kapha dosha can be treated with sweating, vigourour frictions, vastis and inhalations. Herbal capsules, pastes and ghee given to everyone to be take  internally everyday.

When a dosha resits these treatments, a monodiet can be called to the rescue. That was my case. The barely flavoured kichadee (mung dahl with rice) would have been quite depressing had it not been supplemented with an incredible cucumber looking vegetable: the bitter gourd. It is also called bitter melon. You may know it; I did not.

Actually, this member of the squash family, as all squash, is considered a fruit. It has amazing properties, especially the ability to clean the liver and clear skin inflammation. To my surprise, and that of my companions around the table, I thoroughly enjoyed the bitter taste for breakfast, lunch and dinner and kept eating it even after the 7-day diet ended. That being said, everyone around the table would eye it with curiosity and envy; some did not hesitate to dip in my side dish for a little taste.

Properties of bitter gourd

Bitter gourd stimulates digestion. It can help people with constipation. It is a mild inflammation modulator but in rare cases it can aggravate heartburn and ulcers. Note that the dark green gourd is more bitter and thick in texture than its paler green counterpart.

Ayurveda uses this gourd's powerful insulin-lowering effects to treat those with diabetes. Research has also shown it to be an effective treatment for viruses, the cold and flu, cancer and tumors, high cholesterol, HIV/AIDS, and psoriasis. The main preparation methods for medicinal doses include juice, capsules and tablets, leaf and vine powders, tinctures, and even enemas.

It is rich in vitamins with twice the beta-carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach and twice the potassium of bananas. It also contains vitamins A, C, B1 to B3, iron and phosphorus. At least 32 active chemicals have been identified in it so far. Many claim that this squash’s bitterness contains high concentration of quinine. Although little documented evidence supports this claim, Asians, Panamanians and Columbians use it to prevent and treat malaria.

I enjoyed two recipes available on http://thebookoftaste.blogspot.ca/2015/03/those-unexpected-skin-rushes-or.html. An option for those who do not care for the bitter taste is its tincture two to three times per day.

The best came last

Towards the end of our trip, we met Sri Baghavat, an enlightened master and saint, an elegant older gentleman with beautiful young looking skin. After retiring from a career in criminal law, he started teaching what he knows about illumination and true freedom. His whole demeanour talked of serenity, a sense of peace that spread to the group. What a great last touch to our rejuvenation process!

To book an ayurvedic treatment, take courses on inner and outer beauty or sign up for meditation evenings contact me at info@facetograce.com.