Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of natural healing that has its origins in India. Ayurveda means ‘life knowledge’ (Ayu = life, Veda = knowledge). Ayurveda is the knowledge that helps people stay vital while realizing their full human potential. There are guidelines on ideal
daily and seasonal routines, diet, behavior and the proper use of our senses.
Recognizing that human beings are part of nature, Ayurveda describes three fundamental energies that govern our inner and outer environments: movement, transformation, and structure. Known in Sanskrit as Vata (Wind), Pitta (Fire), and Kapha (Earth), these primary forces are responsible for the characteristics of our mind and body. Each of us has all three forces, although one or two elements that predominate. Our unique proportion of these three forces, make up our individual nature or prakriti.
If Vata is dominant in our system, we tend to be thin, light, enthusiastic, energetic, and changeable. If Pitta predominates in our nature, we tend to be intense, intelligent, and goal-oriented and we have a strong appetite for life. When Kapha prevails, we tend to be easy-going, methodical, and nurturing. For each element, there is a balanced and imbalanced expression. Ayurveda identifies a person’s ideal state of balance, determine where they are out of balance, and offer interventions using diet, herbs, aromatherapy, massage treatments, and meditation to harmonize the elements and re-establish balance.
Ayurveda reminds us that health is the balanced and dynamic integration between our environment, body, mind, and spirit. To keep our health better with natural system, Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed and Zahida Ispahani established Ayurveda Research and Health Centre in Dhaka to promote the Ayurvedic lifestyle in Bangladesh.
We, the Stethoscope team of The Independent Interviewed Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed who is one of the pioneers in this sector. Ms. Abed is also a prominent educationist and social worker in Bangladesh.
In an answer to a question why this initiative to establish such an Ayurvedic centre Ms. Abed said that in Bangladesh, most of the people are not aware of their health and they do not maintain healthy lifestyle.
We see people have always high stress level, our food is not hygienic, and we take more carbohydrate-based diet. Pollutions and chemicals are everywhere and therefore it is difficult to maintain good health. Our lifestyle is really very bad for keeping good health especially in Dhaka. People are getting sick, having various diseases including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, muscle pain, migraine and so on. Interestingly, a large portion of our young generation is also affected by those diseases and it is alarming. It made us think that we are doing something very wrong.
Any other systems of treatment have some side effects and not a comprehensive system for body, mind and spirit. Ayurveda is called ‘science of life’. So we initiated to establish this centre. Here we are dealing with all about research aspects and human aspects of this field.    
Dr. Shalin Bharti from India, a specialist in ayurveda and lead doctor of this centre informed us about the services rendered by the centre. The centre provides services including massage, full body massage, body scrubs, facials, hair treatment etc. for any of the psychosomatic or most of the chronic disorders like heart disease, diabetes, skin problems, hypertension, eye problems etc.
The massage therapy offered at the centre can benefit people suffering from muscle or joint pains, arthritis and stress. There is a basic relaxation massage for everyone as well as special massages for specific aches, flexibility and spine treatments. In addition, there are also herbal hair treatments, head massages for hair loss, hair softness, body massages for obesity and herbal facials.
The founders of the centre claim that they are the only authentic Ayurvedic Centre in Bangladesh. The answer to the question about the services, Ms Abed said that the services they provide are fully research oriented. The massage treatments are carried out by therapists who were sent to Chakrapani Ayurveda Clinic and Research Centre, Kerala for seven months' training. They also use specially medicated oil which is chemical free and made personally by the centre using their own ingredients to guarantee that no artificial substances are used.
Dr. Bharti claims that there are other centres in Bangladesh providing Ayurvedic treatments but they don’t have adequate trained therapists and do not keep track of the sources of their products like we do. So the Ayurveda Research and Health Centre is unique in its nature to serve the clients.
In response to the question for whom they provide their services, Dr. Bharti said, that Ayurvedic treatments are for everyone. Young people who have sports injuries or cramps from spending too much time in front of the computer can be benefited from the massages as well. And for the older people with joint pains can specially be benefited from Ayurvedic treatments. The people who suffer from knee injuries and cannot bend their knees to pray experience little or no trouble during prayers after a few weeks of treatment. However, patience and regular treatments are needed to get a good result and noticeable changes with Ayurveda treatment because it is a natural & long-term healing process and a long term solution too.
Ms. Abed remarks that the modern medical treatments will only make the symptoms go away, but usually the core problem still remains, whereas Ayurveda strives to heal the cause of the problem. Along with the body it also works effectively on the mind and the spirit.
Ms. Abed also said that the aim of the Ayurveda Research and Health Centre is to provide high quality services to the family, friends and the people who need the help so that their lifestyles can be improved.
Interested people can visit Ayurveda Research and Health Centre to the following address: House # 100, Road # 25, Block # A, Banani, Dhaka 1213.