The Return To Traditional Medicine

At Healing Holidays, we have noted, over the last decade, an increased demand for traditional wellness approaches, such as the ‘Mayr cure’, (found in clinics across Austria and Germany), Ayurveda programmes, (in India and Sri Lanka), and Traditional Chinese Medicine programmes, which are available across the world. This fresh interest for the old traditions does not come as a big shock to us because now, more than ever, we are all looking for reassurance from experts and we want something that has a record of producing results, and all of these methods certainly offer this. 

5 Reasons Why We Are Returning To Traditional Medicine

• We want thorough diagnostics, we want the time to understand our health issues.
• We want to tackle the root cause of the problem and not just the symptoms
• We don’t just want a prescription for drugs and that’s it.
• We want a multi-pronged attack to the problem including help with the emotional side
• We want a more holistic approach to our illness, and a clear plan on what to do to feel better.

AYURVEDA

Many of these methods or cures such as Ayurveda, are older than Buddhism. They look at the whole person including the mind, body and spirit, each of which hold equal significance. Ayurveda is thought to be the oldest surviving traditional system, having being practiced in India for over 5000 years. Translating from Sanskrit as the ‘science of life’, it provides a comprehensive programme on how to live your life, based on the notion that everyone is made up of different types of energy, or Doshas. Unlike going to a GP when you are not feeling well, your assessment will last longer than a few minutes, and goes much deeper than a simple physical examination - an Ayurvedic Doctor will ask you a lot of questions, will take your pulse, examine your tongue and give you a thorough looking over. Your lifestyle and sleeping habits will also be discussed, as well as your emotional state of mind. Three doshas exist in Ayurveda, which show the dominant mind/body state - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and even though all three can be found in us all, we each have a dominant dosha that we are born with, and preferably an equal, (though often changing), balance between the other two. It is an easy system to understand - when the doshas are balanced, we are healthy, but when they are unbalanced, we are more at risk of suffering from disease.

Best retreats for Ayurveda: Vana I Ananda In The Himalayas I Soukya I Ayurveda Parkschlosschen I Surya Lanka

THE MAYR CURE

The world-renowned Mayr method, much-loved by A-listers and the world’s top models, is over a century old and is based on the theories of Dr Mayr, who believed the route to good health was via the gut or second brain. Any imbalances in the digestive system result in poor health. It is an equally easy philosophy to understand; poor digestion is the result of a bad diet or not chewing your food correctly. This, combined with increased stress from modern living, as well as a more inactive lifestyle, has put huge strains on our digestive system, all of which results in poor health. Your Mayr Doctor diagnosis is equally comprehensive, with a succession of prescribed tests with your Doctor, and a personalised plan to return you to rude health.

Best retreats for the Mayr cure: VIVAMAYR Altaussee I Lanserhof Tegernsee I Park Igls I OCEANO Health Spa Hotel I VIVAMAYAR Maria Wörth I Lanserhof Lans

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with over two millennia’s of history, is built on its own complete medical system. It believes each of the body’s organs mutually support each other, and is all about balance, harmony and energy. When your yin and yang of Qi, (life energy) are in balance, you will be healthy and well. A typical evaluation under TCM includes a deep look at your health history, tongue & pulse examinations and a physical assessment. The purpose is to find any imbalances or Qi blockages.

Best retreats for Traditional Chinese Medicine: Kamalaya I Chiva Som I Lefay Lago Di Garda I Palacio Estoril I SHA Wellness Clinic I Vana I Euphoria

The thing that links all these practices is that each of them seek to discover the cause of the problem, and not just treat the symptoms, and so this is why many people seek out these traditional practices. We all want much more than a prescription and a temporary fix, we want lasting results. We want a holistic approach, and to know how our emotional and physical beings are inexorably linked. There is so much to be learned from these great practices and the best way forward is for them to be offered in conjunction with modern medicine and not as things which we need to search for ourselves.