From Modern Medicine
TO ANCIENT AYURVEDA
I always thought the day when I finally received a diagnosis would be the solution to my physical and mental health problems. I hoped to magically have all the answers and something to blame for the struggles in my life. Of course, I didn’t.
I underwent a lot of different check-ups with various doctors, naturopaths and other practitioners in the months leading up to the final diagnosis. Several poop tests, blood tests, and urine tests —they examined my hormones, vitamins, nutrient levels, the state of my microbiome, and whether I had infections or parasites. Of course, they also tested for serious diseases such as Crohn’s, colon cancer, or ulcerative colitis.
Below, you can find a list of all the tests and treatments I tried without success.
Multiple check-ups identified abnormalities linked to several symptoms. Each practitioner had another treatment plan to manage my vitamin B12 deficiency, lack of serotonin, food intolerances, allergies, missing digestive enzymes, a bacterial infection of the gut, parasites, etc. — you name it, really.
After more than two years without seeing any success, I decided to consult a specialist. He was meant to be the best in my region — sounds promising, right?
By that point, I had accumulated a massive folder of different test results that I proudly presented to him at our first appointment. Yes, I was actually proud to have gathered so much medical information about my body.
He decided to perform a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy to thoroughly examine the inside of my body. They checked out my organs, my entire digestive tract, and took several samples. These rather uncomfortable but minor surgeries are very common nowadays, and I’m sure that some of you can relate.
I have to mention that a few of the tests went wrong at some points, and I had to redo them, which added significantly to my frustration. So, after all that effort, I couldn’t wait to get the results and find out what’s wrong with my body (or me).
I thought that having a name for my health issues would help me find the right treatment to alleviate the symptoms. And I’m sure that works with some diseases but, unfortunately, not for everyone.
Then, finally, I got a call from the hospital — my test results were there. I was so nervous and excited at the same time. I hoped that this was the end of all the suffering.
I sat down in front of the doctor, and this is what he said: ‘We couldn’t find anything, and everything looks good!’
Excuse me, what?!
Does this mean I’m a crazy person and all my health problems are nothing more than pure imagination? I didn’t know whether I should’ve cried, laughed, or just screamed in his face.
He did have a diagnosis for me, though, and it was something like this:
‘I think you have a severe case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and there is no one treatment for this, yet. You’ll have to accept it and find a way to live with it — after all, daily diarrhea is not that bad, right? I will prescribe you some antibiotics just to rule out any bacterial infections. Oh, and have you ever heard of the low FODMAP diet?’
I’m not going to go into the details of my quiet, inner swearing as a result of the huge frustration, anger, and sadness. Let’s just say that I wasn’t very zen at that point.
It was incredibly disappointing and crushed all my hopes into pieces. My desperation led me to try the antibiotics and a few more treatments, including a second attempt at the low FODMAP diet, before I completely ran out of ideas.
Tests
I Got Done
In my desperation, I’ve tried the majority of tests as well as treatments that our conventional healthcare system offers along with additional approaches that I’ve heard or read about. Once my ideas were exhausted I also had no motivation left. I started to live in regards to my doctor’s words:
I have to accept it and find a way to live with it — after all, daily diarrhea is not that bad, right?
My new approach was pretty simple: Ignoration along with a lifestyle that I believed to be healthy based on the things I’ve learned along the way. At the same time I also moved back to New Zealand together with my partner, which meant dropping out of the German healthcare system for good.
Clearly, my new approach of doing things the usual way along with ignoring what was happening didn’t magically fix the problems. Six months later I found myself in yet another episode of worsened symptoms and depression. The difference this time was that I didn’t have access to my German doctors, wasn’t familiar with the New Zealand healthcare system, and exhausted most conventional treatments.
I’m sure that some of you can relate to the feeling of complete helplessness and hopelessness (see what I did there?) after trying many different things without success. It feels like being stuck in an endless cycle of struggle and there’s no way out.
Treatments
I Undertook
Luckily, when you hit the point that feels like things can’t get any worse, rock bottom, there’s only one way to go -upwards.
And this was my turning point.
I only had little use for podcasts until I met my partner in late 2018. Nowadays, I enjoy mindlessly listening to other people’s stories and soaking up their knowledge. One Morning I tuned in to the Mahasoma Podcast to get out of my own negativity for a bit.
This episode introduced me to Myra Lewin, who was going to change my life tremendously. She’s a practitioner, therapist, healer, and teacher in Ayurveda and Yoga. The episode covers her journey with Ayurveda and Yoga along with our interconnectedness to the natural world.
Myra’s healing programs introduced me to the ancient teachings of Ayurveda and deepened my knowledge in Yoga. Since May 2021, her organisation, Hale Pule, has supported me to break free from the vicious cycle and rediscover my own healing power.
For those who are new to Ayurveda, it’s holistic traditions show a way to not only regain but also maintain our natural state of health in life according to one’s individual constitution. And yes, this includes a regular Yoga Asana (posture) practice. But it encompasses many more aspects way beyond that — diet, meditation, posture, breathwork, daily routines, habits etc. Like everyness, Ayurveda understands that everything in life is connected.
I’ve heard of Ayurveda before but got put off by all the rules it forces upon us — at least that’s what my mind had made of it in the beginning. A lifestyle of waking up and going to bed with the sun, earlier mealtimes, no snacking, daily selfcare routines, more simplicity, less screen time, and much more sounds impossible in our modern world, right?
After studying the practices more in depth, under Myra’s teachings, I’ve realised that it’s quite the opposite.
The traditions consider each person as a holistic being with individual needs. There’s no one fits all and it doesn’t confine us with a bunch of dogmatic rules. Instead, Ayurveda provides us with the tools we have lost over time to experience true health and balance in life. Rather than only managing symptoms, the practices of Ayurveda dig deep to their root cause, heal our underlying imbalances for good, and recreate harmony in our lives.
You can find a more detailed explanation about the meaning of Ayurveda here.
Only within a few days of making gradual adjustments towards an Ayurvedic lifestyle approach have I noticed changes in my body and mind. I started by following Hale Pule online before participating in their Agni Therapy Program. Now, almost 8 months later, it has transformed my life.
To me, Ayurveda and Yoga have opened a path that seemed invisible from the darkness I got stuck in before. Compared to all the treatments I’ve tried, the holistic healing traditions of Ayurveda and Yoga were the only successful solution. They have reduced my symptoms and reversed the disease process.
I’ve still got a long, challenging, and hopefully joyful journey ahead to rediscover my connection to mind, body, and spirit — to be at one with myself and life again.
I’ll be sharing more of what the ancient traditions of Ayurveda and Yoga are teaching me and how I implement them in day to day life.
