Trip to India 2018I was delighted and honoured to travel to India with a group of Australian Naturopaths and Nutritionists from Charles Sturt University in 2018. We were hosted by Beyond Borders for a Traditional Medicine Service and Learning Program as the overseas experience subject of the Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Medical Systems) Degree.
Whilst in India I attended Masterclasses on Ayurveda the Science of Life, facilitated by the very knowledgable, skillful and divinely lovely Academic Director Dr Prafu Rajput [pictured below]. Dr. Prafu is a Doctor of Medicine and Ayurveda in Southern Goa, India and also teaches Hatha Yoga which has asanas and pranayam learnt from Iyengar guruji's and other Hatha Yoga Practitioners. You can join an online Yoga Pranayama Class by booking through her website:
The masterclasses covered all the fundamental principles of Ayurvedic Medicine including the consultation and diagnostic process.
We observed Ayurvedic Doctors working with patients and visited hospitals, community health centres and local Practitioners of Naturopathy, Homeopathy and Allopathic Medicine.
We also assisted in a community health clinic run free of charge by Dr Prafu and Kundalini Clinic.
After observing health care in this region of India and learning Ayurvedic principles and techniques, we designed, prepared and implemented a community health project. Many of the patients were advised by all modality Practitioners to increase their intake of vegetables in order to prevent illness and to improve nutritional status. We created a cooking demonstration with locally sourced vegetables that incorporated vegetables into meals that were commonly prepared. Similar to Australian diets meals often revolve around meat and grains with little attention to vegetables and easy access to processed sugary treat food and beverages. A group of influential women in the community joined us to prepare and enjoy a luncheon of vegetables, chicken and coconut rice. The cooking demonstration was a success and the accompanying laminated recipes and health tips is an ongoing reference material within the communtiy.
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Incorporating Ayurvedic medicine into Naturopathic Health CareAs a Naturopath I draw knowledge from the Traditional Medicine practices of many cultures. I have always been drawn to the philosophy of Ancient India and can now integrate the Ayurvedic life science principles, diagnostics and a few therapeutics into your health care consultations.
The fundamentals are the same in Naturopathy as all Traditional Medicine: Eat well, Sleep well, Think well, Exercise, Contemplate and exist in harmony with the natural cycles of life. 
I also learnt two PanchaKarma - therapies that are gentle, soothing, nourishing, detoxiying and healing. Natural bodywork therapies for pain and relaxation.
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