Dr. Ashima Gulati Sardana is well-qualified Ayurveda practitioner. She has a clinical experience of over 17 years, practising general medicine, Panchakarma, and lifestyle management, at her own clinic, polyclinics, as well as charitable & welfare clinics, weight management centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and now Gurgaon. dr. ashima gulati sardana specializes in amalgamating the knowledge of Ayurveda, Panchakarma, and Aromatherapy, acquired by dedicated practice and active experience while attending to patients of all age groups and from varied socioeconomic backgrounds. Read her interview with Nirogstreet below.
Dr. Sardana, please tell us about your professional background.
I did my B.A.M.S from Delhi University. I have PGP in Panchakarma from Pune University. I also have PGDMLS from Symbiosis, Pune and advanced diploma in Aromatherapy from Emeralde’, Mumbai.
Currently, I have my private practice in Palam Vihar, Gurgaon as an Ayurvedic consultant at Med Harbour Family Clinic, Sector-45, Gurgaon. Additionally, i give time to the Arya Samaj Charitable Dispensary in Palam Vihar. It feels great to heal people and help them stay healthy.
Why did you choose Ayurvedic practices?
It was as if Ayurveda chose me and not the other way round; it came my way and I happened to pick it up. But just 2 months into the study, I fell in love with Ayurveda wholly. I even enjoyed the fundamental subjects like Padarth Vigyan. By the end of 5-6 years of study, I had built a bond with the Ayurveda way of understanding and healing the body. And hence, working and practicing Ayurveda as a discipline was the only thing I knew or had learnt and I still am learning.
What is your experience when it comes to treating patients? Do they trust the treatment?
Patients in north India, at least in Delhi-NCR, are not sure of Ayurveda. Although I see a slight shift now, looking back over the last 17 plus years of my professional life. West and South India are a different story in this context. It is a pleasure and an enriching experience to work in those parts. I can compare these regions because I have studied and worked in both regions. There are 2 categories of patients who come for Ayurveda, first those who have faith or background or previous good experience with Ayurveda and second category is of those who reach you through word of mouth from the healed cases.
But for me, each patient is a body and soul that needs healing and positive vibes; that is why they reach out. I have developed a sort of approach to treating them like small children. After all, a person in pain is vulnerable like a child.
Any challenge that you face as a practitioner?
Google Gyan and Whatsapp forwards are the latest perils. But, even before that the biggest challenge was the belief that all Ayurveda drugs are laced with steroids, and also the belief that one may consume anything natural and it won’t have any bad effect on the body. now, these two statements are so contradictory.
Also, self-medication or trial with herbs or medicines that someone else is consuming for a similar health issue. Patients use such things indiscriminately. The result is that they lose faith, either because of no effect or sometimes there are some unfavorable reactions from their body.
“Under Medical Supervision” is a term that is most difficult to comply with for most, more so because of lack of adherence.
Any out of ordinary situation that you have faced while treating a patient?
Nothing in particular really that I can recall. There have been many "wow” moments I am sure. But, what I feel is Prakriti and Nadi are two extraordinary things in Ayurveda and they make it class apart. If we just listen in closely to these two, we can heal most conditions.
How effective is traditional medicine as a cure?
The traditional medicine is a complete system if followed properly; right from history taking to the examination of the patient, i.e., Rog and Rogi Pariksha followed by Nidan Parivarjan and prescription of treatment is effective in healing and curing. The more you comply with basics, better are the results.
What do you think of Ayurveda’s future and its role in integrated medicine?
Ayurveda begins with Swasthasya Swaasthya Rakshanam, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and prevention of diseases is the wellness culture I would like to propagate and reinforce through Ayurveda. In fact, understanding an individual, their Prakriti and the Nidan of his Rog is what we need today. This makes all the difference in handling and managing any patient and relieving them of their ailments. Rehabilitation and recuperating after a surgery or accident is definitely far more effective with Ayurveda.
Do you think Nirogstreet is making a difference by striving to connect the Ayurveda practitioners through dedicated knowledge-rich technology platform?
Ayurveda fraternity needs to connect, share and interact more freely without inhibitions and develop a more contemporary approach to grow further and together. We all have to let go of the “Stiffness" that still exists. And there is no room for being unsure of our system; we have to embrace the “contemporizing”. Nirogstreet is an attempt towards that.
Nirogstreet is attempting that ‘hand-holding” for Ayurveda. I sincerely hope that they are successful in their mission with the vision. On a lighter note, i like the brand name - Nirogstreet! Just sounds as it should.
Brilliant remark, Dr. sardana ! We hope to do more for Ayurveda. Please tell us about your hobbies?
I like to create, express and share; write and speak. I write poetry, Gulzar Saab is my god. I speak at public seminars and like to host family and community functions on various occasions. I enjoy writing - weaving words together for anything: my son’s homework to birthday wishes to serious poetry. Pen and paper are my best friends. Music and a bit of singing is also what I like.
What message would you like to convey to the people on Wellbeing?
Ayurveda is literally and actually the science of life. If we understand and imbibe the fundamentals, comply to the guidelines of healthy, disease-free living, we sure will achieve Aarogya & Dirghayu!
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