Is your illness your identity?

Ayurveda, the “science of life,” is the alternative healing method from India, and is more than 5,000 years old. It is believed to be the oldest healing science in existence. Before people could even write, healing was part of a universal religion. Healers gathered from all over the world, bringing their knowledge to India. The sages, the monks were the physicians of the time, they were holy people very devoted, who saw health as an integral part of spiritual life. It is said that they received their training of Ayurveda through direct cognition during meditation. That is, the knowledge of the use of the various methods of healing, prevention, and surgery came through Divine revelation; guessing or animal testing was unnecessary. these revelations were transcribed from oral tradition into written form, interspersed with aspects of mortal life and spirituality.

I know this seems far fetched, but I can remember my mother using some of these healing methods when I was young. Like putting drops of  olive oil in our ears, with a cotton ball for an earache. It would cure it every time, this is an Ayurveda treatment. You can also do this for ringing in your ears, (I use sesame oil) and other ear diseases. It will cure it way faster than a drug, and with no side effects.

The response I get from some people when I give them a suggestion on healing themselves, reminds me of Naaman, in the bible, 2 Kings 5. Naaman was told to go wash in the River Jordan 7 times to cleanse himself of leprosy. He thought that it seemed way too easy, so he didn’t do it, at first. Ayurveda is this same way. It seems so easy, people think it is can’t see that it could possibly work..

Is your illness your identity? In this case I can’t help you. People who want to be sick, get sick. Being ill draws attention to themselves. These are the questions I ask my clients the first time I see them. Do you want to be well? Do you have anything to gain by being sick? Is your illness your escape?  Will you do what you need to do to heal yourself? Do you expect someone else to heal you? (Naaman wanted the prophet to heal him, not a messenger to send him to the river to heal himself).

Those of you who want to get well, Ayurveda can help you. It is true most insurances won’t pay for Ayurveda healing. However, some insurances are starting to see the need for “Spiritual Healing” and have added it to their policy. Ayurveda is a spiritual healing, you can not be healed physically and mentally, without being healed spiritually. Most often, by the time someone comes to me they are already spending thousands on co-pays and prescriptions. It is Ayurveda’s goal to bring your body back to wellness, in balance with your constitution, so you no longer need Doctors and prescriptions. It didn’t take Naaman long to see the error of his way. He realized he didn't have anything to lose by trying. How long will it take you to wash in the River Jordan.

Nancy Adams Certified Thai Yoga Therapist

and Ayurveda Consultant

             These are my own thoughts. I sometimes take writings from others to support my own ideas.