Interviews
Dr. Sushmita Bajaj is a pure Ayurveda practitioner with over 25 years of experience. She practices from her Aravli Ayurvedic healing in Ardee City, Gurgaon. Dr. Sushmita Bajaj is also a specialized nutritionist. She is a active member of Ayurvedic and Unani Medical Board and Women Entrepreneur Delhi chapter. She has expertise in Panchakarma, Ayurvedic Massage, Pizhichil, Yoni Prakshalanam, Njavarakizhi, etc. Read her interview below.
Please tell us about your career background.
I have done my B.A.M.S. from the Government Ayurvedic College, Patiala, under the Punjab University. I passed from here in 1993 after which I did the one-year internship. Then I started working there initially and later on moved to Delhi NCR. In the past I have worked as a consultant at alps cosmetic clinic from 1998 - 2002 and at the VLCC corporate office as the technical head (DGM) for Ayurveda from 2005-10. Later, I founded Aravli Ayurvedic healing clinic in 2010 and have been practicing here since then. I also did one management program that was conducted in collaboration with ISB Hyderabad and Goldman Sachs. It was done in Bimtech. This was for 10,000 women business professionals from all over the world. I completed this women entrepreneurship course in 2014. I currently practice from Gurgaon. It has been a journey of over 24 years.
Why did you choose Ayurvedic practices?
If I talk right from my school days, my parents wanted me to be a doctor. I didn't know what I wanted to do. but once I started studying medical, I understood that there are many illnesses for which Allopathy does not have a solution. It is just a kind of management while Ayurveda gives you a lot of solutions. Though it was not getting enough promoted. So I wanted to be one of those torch bearers, that okay I will take initiative. Many Ayurvedic doctors look to work as medical officers in hospitals. I'd say rather do your own Ayurveda, practice. That is how you would be able to earn respect and stability.
What is your experience when it comes to treating patients? Do they trust the treatment?
Whenever patients come to an Ayurvedic doctor they have kind of lost hope from a number of Allopathic doctors. Most of these modern practitioners hardly talk to the patients or take a complete diagnosis. I talk to my patients for more than half an hour to one hour. They need a solution so you have to talk to them and grasp the details. They often are skeptical that Ayurveda would be effective in any way, but you have to explain about the treatment and the power of herbs and help them generate the trust.
Quackery has maligned Ayurveda's image. That's one of the challenges and should be addressed by authorities.
So most of the patients are old-age or the youth too comes for Ayurveda treatment?
Even students come for treatment. All age groups come. Youth I'd say come in large numbers too.
Any out of ordinary situation that you have faced while treating a patient?
Yes, complex cases come every once in a while. I treat them according to the priority. I don't believe in prescribing 10-12 medicines in one go. They have already been taking a lot of medicines, so they feel that this practitioner too is only as good as others if you have the same approach.
How effective is traditional medicine as a cure?
No doubt about it. a lot of patients have started swearing by Ayurveda. things are gradually changing too, more people are accepting Ayurveda. Even Allopathy doctors are also accepting the effectiveness and appreciating the natural medication of Ayurveda.
What do you think of Ayurveda’s future and its role in integrated medicine?
See, I am not sure whether the authorities pushing integrated medicine will remain the same in the next five years. It might get Ayurveda little more promotion. I'd rather say better invest your time and energy in pure Ayurveda practice. Given the political volatility of such initiatives, it might take off or shut down.
Do you think Nirogstreet is making a difference by striving to connect the mainstream society exclusively to Ayurveda practitioners through dedicated technology platforms?
Such initiatives are very much required. Far more is to be done, definitely. what you are doing is really significant.
Any hobbies or activities you engage in, outside your professional life?
Being a privileged female, I don't have much time for leisure. I have to completely switch and give time to my family also.
What message would you like to convey to the people on Wellbeing?
I'd say people should trust Ayurveda doctors more. We care about your Wellbeing like any other doctor and we'd not give you any wrong medicine. I always say that if I cannot treat a disease or problem, if I don't know much about it, I'd never offer a treatment. We think of patients as our own family members. If they trust us, we will only help them get healthier and be well.
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