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Lad, Maharishi offer Ayurvedic courses

A P Kamath

The popularity of holistic medicine across America is so pronounced that many mainstream doctors are now taking time off to study acupuncture and siddha or Ayurvedic medicine. And articles in such mainstream publications as The New York Times and Newsday say Americans spend over $ 300 million on holistic medicine, often without telling their physicians, who are trained in modern medicine.

Though many mainstream physicians run down alternative medicine saying there is not sufficient proof for its efficacy, the National Institutes of Health in Washington has set up a controversial National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

NCCAM conducts and supports basic and applied research and training and disseminates information on complementary and alternative medicine to practitioners and the public.

While the use of holistic medicine is growing across America, it is mostly confined to Chinese and Tibetan medical regimes. It is only in recent years that the likes of Vasant Lad and Dr Majid Ali are bringing Indian holistic medicine to the attention of the masses.

Lad, the author of such popular books as The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, established The Ayurvedic Institute more than 15 years ago in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

His institute also offers intensive courses in Ayurveda that, this year, are being held in June and July.

Lad also includes at his institute courses in Chinese and Tibetan medicine. He says he believes in that ancient Chinese aphorism, "You walk on two feet."

One of the reasons why Lad's books and seminars are popular is because he does not run down modern medicine. Like Dr Deepak Chopra, who has helped popularize holistic medicine through his books and wellness center, Vasant Lad too offers a commonsensical, middle-of-the-road holistic regime.

Many ashrams and meditation centers across North America have also been offering information about ancient Indian medical systems, thus contributing to the steady increase in awareness about Ayurveda.

But before Lad and Ali came on the scene, followers of the controversial Maharishi in Iowa, have been offering knowledge about natural medicine to the general public.

This year doctors affiliated with the Maharishi are offering comprehensive training in natural medicine in six American cities: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas and Palo Alto. The 12-day program is spread across four weekends and costs $ 495. The programs start in the third week of February and end in April.

The program includes courses in nadi (pulse) science, stress reduction, fighting chronic disorders. There are also courses in transcendental meditation.

For more information, contact Maharishi College of FDIC Medicine, 888- 349-8192, email Srothmd@aol.com or check http://www.MaharishiVedicMedicine.org.

For information about Lad's courses and publication, call (505) 291-9698.

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