Ayurveda Around the World: Ayurveda Symposium 2019

Never in my most craziest dreams (and there’s been a few of those) did I expect an Ayurveda Conference to be as spectacular as the very first Ayurveda Symposium held on the island of Sri Lanka this October. 

Hosted by leaders in Sri Lankan Ayurvedic medicine, Siddhalepa Ayurveda, in a joint collaboration with Tourism Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Airlines, the symposium attracted professional speakers, bloggers and journalists from around the globe including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the UK, China, Japan and Australia.

The idea was initiated by Dr. Hendrick de Silva Hettigoda, a fifth generation Ayurvedic doctor, pulse expert and renown kidney specialist who has paved the way for Siddhalepa to heal people through an Ayurveda only Hospital in Mount Lavinia and Ayurveda Health Resort in Wadduwa, as well as producing a wide range of Ayurveda supplements and medicines all at its very own premises. 

The Symposium began with a trip to Siddhalepa headquarters about an hour out of the capital city of Colombo. From research and distribution to a tour of the factories and laboratories, we were fortunate to witness firsthand how the Ayurvedic herbal preparations are made. None of the formulations from Siddhalepa Ayurveda have ever been changed in 86 years of business adding more value to its Ayurveda family background exceeding 200 years. It is also recognised as the first distributor and manufacturer facility outside of Europe that meets European standards. 

We viewed over 600 raw materials in which 90% are grown in Sri Lanka and some, including Kokum which is good for the skin, and Ceyal which lowers blood sugar levels and very helpful in diabetes cases are only found and grown in Sri Lanka.  

From there we made our way to the Siddhalepa Hospital, an Ayurveda only hospital that treats everything from Rheumatoid Arthritis to skin and nervous system disorders. Patients from the hospital who undergo Panchakarma (the Ayurvedic Detox and Rejuvenation program) are welcomed to stay at the recently opened Siddhalepa Anarva Mount Lavania City Hotel, just a short drive away.  

Day two was back on the sparkling shores of Siddhalepa Resort in Wadduwa for a day of insightful speakers sharing their expertise from their respected countries. A variety of perspectives were discussed in front of a high-profile crowd including the Sri Lankan ministers of Health and Tourism, international insurance companies as well as the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena.

Dr. Shantha Godagama, Doctor of Ayurvedic Medicines, Acupuncturist and Advisor to the British Government and The British Parliament Committee spoke on his 40 years spreading Ayurveda in the UK and Europe stating the people are slowly getting dissatisfied with conventional medicine and that Prince Charles, whom he works closely with is very keen on Ayurveda and wants to see it in recognised in the Public Health System. 

Dr. Claudia Harder, specialist doctor in Rheumatology and qualified Ayurveda doctor spoke on her clinic in Switzerland, Maharishi Ayurveda as well the opportunity to study Ayurveda online which was then briefly interrupted by a grand entrance by the president of Sri Lanka. 

Dr. Marisa Heubner, Doctor in Clinical Research in Naturopathy at The Research Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology and Health Economics in Berlin, Germany spoke on the importance of research as well as creating a like-minded mindset and a similar voice on Ayurveda, getting out of a wellness way of thinking and into a medical and therapeutic way.  

Dr. Franz Linser, CEO of Linser Hospitality, an international Consultancy Firm based in Austria specialising in Health and Wellness changed the perspective up talking from a tourism, marketing and economy perspective.  He explained that bad lifestyles, burnout and loneliness are a key problem in the worlds health epidemic which sees a 500% increase in the use of anti-depressants, 1 in 4 people suffering from Anxiety and Depression in the US and 1 in 2 people getting divorced in Europe. 

Dr. Nozomi Narikawa, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Occupational Health Physician of Japan Medical Associate shared some truly insightful case studies from her own practice in Tokyo, Japan. We witnessed amazing results from her female patients who by simply introducing some basic Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle practices saw major improvements in cases of constipation, infertility and other gynaecological imbalances. 

Dr. Michael Altewischer, Managing Partner in Wellness Hotels and Resorts in Germany ensured us all of the importance of meeting high quality standards of Ayurveda worldwide while local Sri Lankan speakers spoke mostly on the history, archaeology and the differences between Indian and Sri Lankan Ayurveda. 

The evening concluded with a performance by Shanthikarma Dancers believed to be a medically therapeutic type of dance to remove spiritual and mental negative energies. 

Day three was more practical including a demonstration of Ayurvedic Leech Treatment. Leech Treatment known as Raktha Mokshanaya in Sanskrit is very good for skin including diseases such as psoriasis and eczema.

This followed on by a herbal tea, elixr and cooking demonstration (recipes here) and stroll through the 7 acres of gardens of the Siddhalepa Resort where they grow a range of their medicinal plants and trees. 

Our final couple of days included a trip down south to the Galle World Heritage Site and then back to the city hotel where we enjoyed rooftop views of the country’s capital, Colombo. 

If the conference taught me anything, it’s that collaboration with not only those we work with on a day to day basis is important but countries coming together to share their passion and experience with Ayurvedic medicine is the way forward. We must work together to spread this science not only in Asian countries, but in all countries of the world by educating the public that Ayurveda is not simply “wellness,” but a highly complex and therapeutic system of medicine. 

Further on, making Ayurveda accessible to everyone through both pulic and private health systems is needed through greater research. Modalities such as Acupuncture and Yoga are recognised by insurances because of the research conducted, so why isn’t Ayurveda?

A topic I’m sure to be continued at the next Symposium. Follow Siddhalepa Ayurveda for 2020 dates. 

My review from my time at Siddhalepa Resort can be found here.