It's actually one of the most common questions I get, and I understand why. Ayurveda can sometimes feel like something completely different from Western medicine. But the fact is, Ayurvedic doctors are fully trained physicians.

In India, they study a recognised medical education called BAMS - Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. The course is as long as MBBS (Western medical training) - 5.5 years - and includes 1 year of surgery and 1 year of internship.

Ayurveda students study roughly 95 % of the same subjects as Western doctors: anatomy, physiology, community medicine and surgery. However, in addition to this, they delve into Sanskrit, the classical Ayurvedic scriptures, Indian philosophy and a holistic view of life.

This means they carry both sides – modern medical knowledge and Ayurvedic wisdom. So when you join me for a Panchakarma and meet these doctors, you can feel completely at ease. They have a thorough grasp of both medication and Western diagnoses, whilst guiding you step by step towards balance in body and mind according to Ayurveda.

It's precisely that combination that makes their work so unique – science and soul in harmony.

And perhaps most importantly of all: whereas Western healthcare often focuses on ”putting a plaster on the symptoms”, Ayurveda always looks at the root cause – why the imbalance originally arose. Only when the root of the problem is healed can the body truly find its way back to its natural harmony.