Ayurveda - Traditional Medicine or Ancient Torture Practice?

 

So this past weekend, I tried for the first time an Ayurveda treatment. Rosie, a well-known specialist, comes to NYC once a month and my massage therapist suggested that I try it out.  The session began with a lengthy questionaire about my sleep and food habits as well as what time of day I was born and the state of my bowel movements.  I then sat down with Rosie for a consultation. She took my pulse and determined that I was a Vata Pitta (Air and Fire).  I don't quite understand how she determined this from my pulse but it was in line with what other ayurveda practioners have told me in the past.

She recommended that I only eat warm foods as we enter the colder months (I switched from cereal to oatmeal as my morning meal as a result) and she also suggested I try a sesame oil enema (I think I may skip this one).

I then was placed in a preggo pillow (I'm 8 months) and the treatment began with a slathering of oils (I later found out about a quart and a half of oils was used during my treatment).  By the time I was flipped over, I asked - "what is the point of this??"  I felt cold, soaked and in need of a major shower.   The sheets I was lying on were drenched and an overall ickiness was upon me. I really felt like jumping out of my preggo pillow (slowly of course) and running into a warm stream of water.

Perhaps this treatment is great for those with soar joints and muscles - but for me it felt more like ancient torture.  Rosie explained that it was medicine and that not all medicine tastes good but you have to swallow it.  Well, I'm not feeling sick, so this is one pill I won't be swallowing again anytime soon.