Ayurveda/Medical Tourism

Michelleyevshky · Jul 19th, 2007, 17:59

Hello everyone.

I'm going to India hopefully as soon as this December and staying for six months. I have a vague itinerary worked out in my head. I want to do about a week of visiting Delhi, the Taj Mahal, all of the "hot" spots. Then I was hoping to spend five months at an ayurveda resort. This is the main reason for my going to India. I'm fairly ill and am looking for a very good resort where I can just begin to get better physically and emotionally. It's something I definitely can't afford in the US. I need pretty intensive in-patient care. I've found two health resorts, but none are in the geographic areas that I've always loved. One is by Mysore and the other by Mumbai. I've always been drawn to the Himalayas. I found one spa there, Ananda. It looks utterly wonderful, but it's also well beyond my price range. I was hoping to only spend 20,000.00 for the entire trip, and I want my care to really begin to put me in the right direction medically. I know I really shouldn't be picky about the geographic area, but I think I'd get too homesick for the mountains elsewhere. I'd also welcome a resort from Himachal Pradesh.

Has anyone here done medical tourism in India? If so, what were the results? Where did you go?

For the last three weeks I'm hoping to do a pilgrimage and then go home. I'm really excited. It will be my first time to India, and I've wanted to go since I was a little girl.

These are resorts I'm looking at if I can't find one in the Himalayas, so you know what sort of things I need care for:

http://www.ayurindus.com/

http://www.ayurvedagram.com/

(I feel guilty planning such an extravagant trip, but I definitely need to do something to get better. The parts where I'm touring will not be so opulent, and I'll definitely do my part to keep India clean and safe, and I'll tip those who care for me deservedly well.)

guidedeba · Jul 24th, 2007, 00:49

I think you should ask yourself first that what is your priority? Ayurvedic Treatment? Or, the Luxury of a Resort? because I don't think they would come together. If you find anyone offering you the same. ..You could bet that is just a touristic destination which has nothing to do with either Ayurvedic medicines , or the Real pleaure of stying in a resort.
As a Tour organiser Guide & an Indian my suggestion is to place your priority first. By the way I think for different kind of problems there are different kind of places of treatments. Which kind of problems do you have. You might not get an place at all for those kind of treatments in the Himalayas.
I know the allurement & charm the HImalays cast ( as a Mountaineer / trekker). So if you want to cool down your mind and as well as body then of course the Himalayas is the best. Otherwise the Keral a is the place where you get the rest. or in West bengal too we have some Ayurvedic villages.

Nick-H · Jul 24th, 2007, 01:10

In Kerela almost every hotel will offer ayurvedic treatment --- but many will be a relaxing massage and that'll be about it.

There are resorts that go a lot further, take ayurveda seriously, and offer properly qualified doctors and staff. They take guests on long term treatments too. They are still resorts, not hospitals; but given your plans for the first part of your trip it doesn't sound as if you are likely to be confined to bed.

The only person really qualified to give you a recommendation would be an ayurvedic doctor, but, should you decide on Kerala, you might enquire into...

Keraleeyam, Allapey --- its a bit of a querky place to stay, but the owners also run an ayurvedic medicine processing factory, so they are certainly more than massage merchants.

Thapovan near Trivandrum, on the coast a little way away from Kovalam. Have a considerable section devoted to ayurveda practice, with a number of entirely seperate massage rooms. The German guy who runs the place is serious about giving good service. I've never taken ayurveda past the massage stage, but the best massages I ever had were here. I was told by an independent ayurvedic doc (at an IM meetup

) that it was well thought of.

Considerably more expensive, you could check out Coconut Lagoon (my favouritest ever hotel!) or any of the other hotels in the group. You can even do a tour --- they will ensure your notes get transferred to your next destination. Expensive, though.

Michelleyevshky · Jul 24th, 2007, 10:36

Hey, thanks so much for everyone's replies.

I am mainly going to India for the ayurvedic, more natural methods of healing. I am not a person who loves luxury, and I'd prefer to stay away from resorts. But I'm also scared about being alone in India.

I have several health problems. The main ones I'm going for is clinical, serious, life-threatening depression, emotional difficulties and bulimia.

I have some neurological disorders as well: OCD and some strange brain damage that makes me take things very literally. As a result of these I get quite anxious, and want to get help for that. My counselor told me about how these Tibetan monks were able to stand up to huge amounts of stress, and how that proved we can change levels of anxiety. The story stuck with me, and I want to have those tools, that changed level of anxiety.

I am allergic to alot of foods, and I want to go on a diet to find out which things, exactly.

I also have asthma and cerebral palsy, which are quite minor, and fairly straightforward. I trip alot, and cough alot, but it's not killing me. It sounds crazy but the anxiety and bulimia and depression really are killing me, it's definitely that bad.

I appreciate the way spiritual and physical meet in ayurveda, and in the website for people with my exact type of sickness they specifically mention ayurveda, massage and naturopathic medicine as being the most helpful.

I am not the type of sick that stays in bed, I'm mobile.

So that's really what I'm looking for and hoping for.

Thanks again!

Michelle

Sama · Jul 24th, 2007, 10:48

you may want to check out this website : : : ARYA VAIDYA SALA - Kottakkal : : :.

one of our members recommended this place to me for ayurvedic treatment (she was treated there.) she said it's the "real deal" in ayurveda and that people come from all over the world for treatment. it is not a spa, but a non-profit hospital in Kerala.

Michelleyevshky · Jul 24th, 2007, 15:05

Oh you guys, thank you so much for your advice. It's helping alot.

YogaGal, the hospital looks like just the thing for me. I've looked at Apollo Hospital and thought it looked too technical, too mind-based, but this hospital, strictly ayurvedic, looks like it's also based in the tradition and spiritual groundwork that I'm coming for. I'm crossing my fingers that it's the right price!

Nick-H, your resorts look really nice. I've heard amazing things about the last group but it's so far above anything I want to pay (though I'm going to ostensibly pay with money from a personal injury settlement so I could pay it, but don't want to). I looked at that one for a long time, but in the long run...just not looking for that sort of luxury. I may stay for a day or two, just for fun. The others don't seem to have M.D.'s on staff, which I was hoping for. If other people are looking on this conversation with interest I've found some other resorts, but I haven't been to them. I'll just list them:

Welcome to Somatheeram...!

Somatheeram has been voted the best ayurvedic resort in Kerala for quite some time. It runs at about 5100/month

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts:Wildflower Hall: Welcome

The Wildflower Hall looks comprehensive, but it's soooo expensive. It's in the Himalayas, like I was dreaming. It runs at about $400/day w/out treatment. Only go if you're Paris Hilton or the Queen of England, I guess.

Welcome to Ananda - in the Himalayas, Best Overseas Lifestyle Destination Spa Yoga Meditation Ayurveda Spa Cuisines Vedanata Haridwar Rishikesh Hotels Palace Resorts Hotels sajeevp

It's supposed to be the best in the world. If I were to pay alot, that's where I'd be headed.

Apollo Hospital in Delhi has an Ayurvedic branch. The Apollo Hospital was actually featured in Times magazine at one point, so it's got western clout behind it. They cater to medical tourists and have more "western" medicine there as well. I considered it, but wanted my treatment more eastern centered.

The one I think I'll end up falling back on if the hospital is too expensive is either Somatheeram or IVAC ( Ayurveda Resort India | Ayurveda Spa | Indus Valley Ayurvedic Treatment Center in Mysore India ). Have you heard about that one guidedeba? I've heard it's very, very good medically, but I do want to hear from someone who's actually been there. I was recommended another one by PM that I'm going to look at once I get to India.

Again, everyone thanks so much for your advice.

Nick-H · Jul 24th, 2007, 16:23

Actually, Coconut Lagoon is not particularly luxurious in the padded comfort sense of the word (although other hotels in the group are) --- the accommodation is not that spacious, and is quite sparsely furnished, although every house is beautiful teak wood, with many 'original features' as the UK estate agents say.

The location is beautiful (though the same could be said of many a backwaters resort). I love the food.

It is the best managed hotel group I have encountered in India, and they somehow manage to combine a rare efficiency with real hospitality. Gosh! If this was a post from a new member my fellow mods would delete it as an advert!!!! (they might yet

...) As a single traveller, I never felt alone there --- but nor did I feel in any way intruded upon. They have for me, a winning formula. And I no longer have the income to support visiting there

It is worth asking about a package for a long-term stay. I met a guy there about five years ago who was taking treatment for a back problem, and had a very good deal for staying several weeks.

As for MD on the staff... if you mean qualified in allopathic medicine as well as ayurvedic, that is probably rare. A truly qualified ayurvedic doc will have spent as long being trained as a western doc.

etin · Jul 24th, 2007, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by YogaGal

you may want to check out this website : : : ARYA VAIDYA SALA - Kottakkal : : :.

one of our members recommended this place to me for ayurvedic treatment (she was treated there.) she said it's the "real deal" in ayurveda and that people come from all over the world for treatment. it is not a spa, but a non-profit hospital in Kerala.

Besides Kottakkal, there are some other ayurvedic hospitals that take care of medical tourism.
NAGARJUNA AYURVEDIC GROUP - Ayurvedic treatments in Nagarjuna Ayurvedic Center kalady, kerala Mind Rejuvenation kerala panchakarma

Amala Cancer Hospital and Research Centre at Trichur also provides good ayurvedic traetments for tourists.

and a big list of ayurvedic hospitals in Kerala (some have medical tourism segment), Ayurvedic Hospitals in Kerala,India,Allopathic Hospitals Homeopathic Hospitals Ayurvedic Hospitals in Trivandrum,Kerala,India

Michelleyevshky · Jul 24th, 2007, 17:54

Gah! Can't sleep.

With your link Etin I found this: The Athreya - Resorts Facilities

I wish I could hop a plane and leave right now!

2020angel · Sep 16th, 2007, 18:26

Hey Michelle
which is more important for you..the resort/ or the Ayurveda?
If it is serious treatment you require ...i would suggest this place in Kerala..it was recommended to me by quite a few people..and i am going there this year. last year i went to a clinic in Goa..and althought the treatments worked for me...i was not happy with the place itself..the new manager seemed to be making it into a resort type place at the expense of Ayurvedic principles..So many of these places popping up now with therapists not having much training. I hear that true therapist should train for five years before being let loose on a patient..and the doctors train fro longer (i don't know this for sure tho. But this Hospital in Kerala seems to be the real deal and has been around for 80 years or more.Good luck

Oops..forgot topost the link!

http://www.aryavaidyasala.com

Nick-H · Sep 16th, 2007, 20:40

That looks very interesting.

There certainly are resorts/hotels that take ayurveda seriously, and some will do a deal for a longer-term stay/treatment.

But this looks like a real hospital.

2020angel · Sep 16th, 2007, 22:42

Yes,apparently it is a real hospital.I shall let you all know how i get on. I am looking forward to a month of massages...the medicines?...not so much.And feeling a whole heap better at the end of it!

joyinbirthing · Oct 19th, 2007, 20:17

Considerably more expensive, you could check out Coconut Lagoon (my favouritest ever hotel!) or any of the other hotels in the group. You can even do a tour --- they will ensure your notes get transferred to your next destination. Expensive, though.

The link does not work any ideas where I can find more info on this?

thanks

Nick-H · Oct 19th, 2007, 20:51

Which link?

joyinbirthing · Oct 19th, 2007, 21:14

coconut lagoon, sorry

Jul 19th, 2007, 17:59	#1
Michelleyevshky Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portland Posts: 4	Ayurveda/Medical Tourism Hello everyone. I'm going to India hopefully as soon as this December and staying for six months. I have a vague itinerary worked out in my head. I want to do about a week of visiting Delhi, the Taj Mahal, all of the "hot" spots. Then I was hoping to spend five months at an ayurveda resort. This is the main reason for my going to India. I'm fairly ill and am looking for a very good resort where I can just begin to get better physically and emotionally. It's something I definitely can't afford in the US. I need pretty intensive in-patient care. I've found two health resorts, but none are in the geographic areas that I've always loved. One is by Mysore and the other by Mumbai. I've always been drawn to the Himalayas. I found one spa there, Ananda. It looks utterly wonderful, but it's also well beyond my price range. I was hoping to only spend 20,000.00 for the entire trip, and I want my care to really begin to put me in the right direction medically. I know I really shouldn't be picky about the geographic area, but I think I'd get too homesick for the mountains elsewhere. I'd also welcome a resort from Himachal Pradesh. Has anyone here done medical tourism in India? If so, what were the results? Where did you go? For the last three weeks I'm hoping to do a pilgrimage and then go home. I'm really excited. It will be my first time to India, and I've wanted to go since I was a little girl. These are resorts I'm looking at if I can't find one in the Himalayas, so you know what sort of things I need care for: http://www.ayurindus.com/ http://www.ayurvedagram.com/ (I feel guilty planning such an extravagant trip, but I definitely need to do something to get better. The parts where I'm touring will not be so opulent, and I'll definitely do my part to keep India clean and safe, and I'll tip those who care for me deservedly well.)

Jul 24th, 2007, 00:49	#2
guidedeba Account Closed Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Kolkata (Calcutta) Posts: 173	Are you interested in Resort? Ayurveda? I think you should ask yourself first that what is your priority? Ayurvedic Treatment? Or, the Luxury of a Resort? because I don't think they would come together. If you find anyone offering you the same. ..You could bet that is just a touristic destination which has nothing to do with either Ayurvedic medicines , or the Real pleaure of stying in a resort. As a Tour organiser Guide & an Indian my suggestion is to place your priority first. By the way I think for different kind of problems there are different kind of places of treatments. Which kind of problems do you have. You might not get an place at all for those kind of treatments in the Himalayas. I know the allurement & charm the HImalays cast ( as a Mountaineer / trekker). So if you want to cool down your mind and as well as body then of course the Himalayas is the best. Otherwise the Keral a is the place where you get the rest. or in West bengal too we have some Ayurvedic villages.

Jul 24th, 2007, 01:10	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,648	In Kerela almost every hotel will offer ayurvedic treatment --- but many will be a relaxing massage and that'll be about it. There are resorts that go a lot further, take ayurveda seriously, and offer properly qualified doctors and staff. They take guests on long term treatments too. They are still resorts, not hospitals; but given your plans for the first part of your trip it doesn't sound as if you are likely to be confined to bed. The only person really qualified to give you a recommendation would be an ayurvedic doctor, but, should you decide on Kerala, you might enquire into... Keraleeyam, Allapey --- its a bit of a querky place to stay, but the owners also run an ayurvedic medicine processing factory, so they are certainly more than massage merchants. Thapovan near Trivandrum, on the coast a little way away from Kovalam. Have a considerable section devoted to ayurveda practice, with a number of entirely seperate massage rooms. The German guy who runs the place is serious about giving good service. I've never taken ayurveda past the massage stage, but the best massages I ever had were here. I was told by an independent ayurvedic doc (at an IM meetup ) that it was well thought of. Considerably more expensive, you could check out Coconut Lagoon (my favouritest ever hotel!) or any of the other hotels in the group. You can even do a tour --- they will ensure your notes get transferred to your next destination. Expensive, though. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jul 24th, 2007, 10:48	#5
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,055	you may want to check out this website : : : ARYA VAIDYA SALA - Kottakkal : : :. one of our members recommended this place to me for ayurvedic treatment (she was treated there.) she said it's the "real deal" in ayurveda and that people come from all over the world for treatment. it is not a spa, but a non-profit hospital in Kerala. __________________ *My India, 2005-2008*

Sep 16th, 2007, 18:26	#10
2020angel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brighton Posts: 50	Hey Michelle which is more important for you..the resort/ or the Ayurveda? If it is serious treatment you require ...i would suggest this place in Kerala..it was recommended to me by quite a few people..and i am going there this year. last year i went to a clinic in Goa..and althought the treatments worked for me...i was not happy with the place itself..the new manager seemed to be making it into a resort type place at the expense of Ayurvedic principles..So many of these places popping up now with therapists not having much training. I hear that true therapist should train for five years before being let loose on a patient..and the doctors train fro longer (i don't know this for sure tho. But this Hospital in Kerala seems to be the real deal and has been around for 80 years or more.Good luck Oops..forgot topost the link! http://www.aryavaidyasala.com Last edited by machadinha : Sep 16th, 2007 at 18:53. Reason: merged posts

Jul 24th, 2007, 10:36	#4
Michelleyevshky Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portland Posts: 4	Hey, thanks so much for everyone's replies. I am mainly going to India for the ayurvedic, more natural methods of healing. I am not a person who loves luxury, and I'd prefer to stay away from resorts. But I'm also scared about being alone in India. I have several health problems. The main ones I'm going for is clinical, serious, life-threatening depression, emotional difficulties and bulimia. I have some neurological disorders as well: OCD and some strange brain damage that makes me take things very literally. As a result of these I get quite anxious, and want to get help for that. My counselor told me about how these Tibetan monks were able to stand up to huge amounts of stress, and how that proved we can change levels of anxiety. The story stuck with me, and I want to have those tools, that changed level of anxiety. I am allergic to alot of foods, and I want to go on a diet to find out which things, exactly. I also have asthma and cerebral palsy, which are quite minor, and fairly straightforward. I trip alot, and cough alot, but it's not killing me. It sounds crazy but the anxiety and bulimia and depression really are killing me, it's definitely that bad. I appreciate the way spiritual and physical meet in ayurveda, and in the website for people with my exact type of sickness they specifically mention ayurveda, massage and naturopathic medicine as being the most helpful. I am not the type of sick that stays in bed, I'm mobile. So that's really what I'm looking for and hoping for. Thanks again! Michelle

Jul 24th, 2007, 15:05	#6
Michelleyevshky Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portland Posts: 4	Oh you guys, thank you so much for your advice. It's helping alot. YogaGal, the hospital looks like just the thing for me. I've looked at Apollo Hospital and thought it looked too technical, too mind-based, but this hospital, strictly ayurvedic, looks like it's also based in the tradition and spiritual groundwork that I'm coming for. I'm crossing my fingers that it's the right price! Nick-H, your resorts look really nice. I've heard amazing things about the last group but it's so far above anything I want to pay (though I'm going to ostensibly pay with money from a personal injury settlement so I could pay it, but don't want to). I looked at that one for a long time, but in the long run...just not looking for that sort of luxury. I may stay for a day or two, just for fun. The others don't seem to have M.D.'s on staff, which I was hoping for. If other people are looking on this conversation with interest I've found some other resorts, but I haven't been to them. I'll just list them: Welcome to Somatheeram...! Somatheeram has been voted the best ayurvedic resort in Kerala for quite some time. It runs at about 5100/month Oberoi Hotels & Resorts:Wildflower Hall: Welcome The Wildflower Hall looks comprehensive, but it's soooo expensive. It's in the Himalayas, like I was dreaming. It runs at about $400/day w/out treatment. Only go if you're Paris Hilton or the Queen of England, I guess. Welcome to Ananda - in the Himalayas, Best Overseas Lifestyle Destination Spa Yoga Meditation Ayurveda Spa Cuisines Vedanata Haridwar Rishikesh Hotels Palace Resorts Hotels sajeevp It's supposed to be the best in the world. If I were to pay alot, that's where I'd be headed. Apollo Hospital in Delhi has an Ayurvedic branch. The Apollo Hospital was actually featured in Times magazine at one point, so it's got western clout behind it. They cater to medical tourists and have more "western" medicine there as well. I considered it, but wanted my treatment more eastern centered. The one I think I'll end up falling back on if the hospital is too expensive is either Somatheeram or IVAC ( Ayurveda Resort India \| Ayurveda Spa \| Indus Valley Ayurvedic Treatment Center in Mysore India ). Have you heard about that one guidedeba? I've heard it's very, very good medically, but I do want to hear from someone who's actually been there. I was recommended another one by PM that I'm going to look at once I get to India. Again, everyone thanks so much for your advice.

Jul 24th, 2007, 16:23	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,648	Actually, Coconut Lagoon is not particularly luxurious in the padded comfort sense of the word (although other hotels in the group are) --- the accommodation is not that spacious, and is quite sparsely furnished, although every house is beautiful teak wood, with many 'original features' as the UK estate agents say. The location is beautiful (though the same could be said of many a backwaters resort). I love the food. It is the best managed hotel group I have encountered in India, and they somehow manage to combine a rare efficiency with real hospitality. Gosh! If this was a post from a new member my fellow mods would delete it as an advert!!!! (they might yet ...) As a single traveller, I never felt alone there --- but nor did I feel in any way intruded upon. They have for me, a winning formula. And I no longer have the income to support visiting there It is worth asking about a package for a long-term stay. I met a guy there about five years ago who was taking treatment for a back problem, and had a very good deal for staying several weeks. As for MD on the staff... if you mean qualified in allopathic medicine as well as ayurvedic, that is probably rare. A truly qualified ayurvedic doc will have spent as long being trained as a western doc.

Jul 24th, 2007, 17:54	#9
Michelleyevshky Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portland Posts: 4	Gah! Can't sleep. With your link Etin I found this: The Athreya - Resorts Facilities I wish I could hop a plane and leave right now!

Sep 16th, 2007, 20:40	#11
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,648	That looks very interesting. There certainly are resorts/hotels that take ayurveda seriously, and some will do a deal for a longer-term stay/treatment. But this looks like a real hospital.

Sep 16th, 2007, 22:42	#12
2020angel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brighton Posts: 50	Yes,apparently it is a real hospital.I shall let you all know how i get on. I am looking forward to a month of massages...the medicines?...not so much.And feeling a whole heap better at the end of it!

Oct 19th, 2007, 20:17	#13
joyinbirthing Crazy till the end! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: los angeles , ca Posts: 28	Considerably more expensive, you could check out Coconut Lagoon (my favouritest ever hotel!) or any of the other hotels in the group. You can even do a tour --- they will ensure your notes get transferred to your next destination. Expensive, though. The link does not work any ideas where I can find more info on this? thanks

Oct 19th, 2007, 20:51	#14
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,648	Which link?

Oct 19th, 2007, 21:14	#15
joyinbirthing Crazy till the end! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: los angeles , ca Posts: 28	coconut lagoon, sorry

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