Ayurvedic Physician Brings Ancient Healing Science of India to the Region

By Daniel Casciato

Ayurveda is one of the fastest growing complementary healing systems in the United States and offers a unique preventive approach for restoration of health. Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words: Ayu which means life and Veda which means the knowledge of. This 5,000-year-old natural healing science is experiencing a major resurgence not only in its native land of India, but throughout the world.

Ayurveda takes holistic medicine a step further, treating people not as isolated individuals but as an inextricable part of the whole universe. In India’s ancient Vedic tradition, there is an underlying intelligence that flows through and connects everyone and everything in the universe. Ayurveda sees life as the exchange of energy and information between individuals and their extended body—the environment. If your environment is nourishing, you thrive; if your environment is toxic; you may become sick. Therefore, according to Ayurveda, learning how to eliminate toxicity and surround yourselves with a healing environment is the key to health.

Thanks to Dr. Lina Thakar, an Ayurvedic physician from India with over 15 years of experience, this ancient healing science has now come to Western Pennsylvania. Ayurveda Wellness Center & Holistic Spa is the first and only authentic Ayurveda center in the Pittsburgh region and the tri-state area offering traditional Ayurvedic treatments.

Ayurveda applies various natural methods to complement the treatment of specific illnesses so that the recovery is fast and prevents recurrence. Through this healing science, Dr. Lina says you can reconnect and uncover genuine wellness and ultimate rejuvenation.

“We know that health is not a transitory feel good that takes place on an occasional spa visit. It is about feeling right and looking good, always,” says Dr. Lina, who is also affiliated with Allegheny General Hospital’s Integrated Medicine Program which offers an integrated approach to conventional and natural healing practices.

Dr. Lina explains that Ayurveda takes into account all aspects of life to create harmony among your mind, spirit, and body. “It addresses the root causes of imbalance—not just the symptoms—and promotes natural healing process without adverse side effects,” she says, adding that once you’re balanced, you’ll posses a stronger well-being which leads to an overall longer and healthier life.

Since managing stress is a lifelong process, their spa services are aimed at longer lasting benefits. Dr. Lina and her staff try to remove the root causes of stress and not just the symptoms.

“We’ll give you the power and the tools to feel right, light, and beautiful inside,” she adds. “Whether you’re seeking a wellness consultation, spa therapy, nutrition and cooking session, natural beauty treatment, or a detoxification program, we’ll help you restore balance and reawaken your body’s natural healing mechanisms.”

Managing a physician’s stress is particularly important for their own health as well as for their patents, explains Dr. Lina.

“If it’s one thing doctors know about firsthand, it’s that stress that they are under,” she says. “They have a high stress zone due to their hectic schedule. The money issue is also really big. They need to see more patients in a shorter period of time to pay their overhead. The fear of being sued is really big. Plus they are often up all night on-call. As a result, they have poor nutrition and are we are seeing an increased number of chronic medical conditions.

For those physicians and other healthcare professionals who are often combating stress, Ayurveda Wellness Center & Holistic Spa offers discounts to their wellness packages.

Dr. Lina and her staff offers private, personal wellness consultations and instruction, designing individualized programs that include dietary recommendations and lifestyle changes, Indian Ayurvedic massage treatments, spa therapies,and Panchakarma detoxification therapies, as well as stress management techniques based on Ayurvedic principles, to achieve optimal body-mind wellness. Additionally they offer special programs for Infertility, Holistic Pregnancy, Menopause for women’s health and a children's program, as well as special corporate wellness programs for management and employees.

“At the Ayurveda Center, we are committed to community healing which is why we offer deep healing for veterans, physicians, government employees, teachers on discounted rates,” says Dr. Lina.

To support your Ayurvedic lifestyle, Ayurveda Wellness Center & Holistic Spa also features a retail shop which carries an array of Ayurvedic herbal oils, dietary supplements, natural beauty and skin care products, as well as Dr. Lina’s own product line.

To learn more, visit www.ayupgh.com or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AyurvedainPittsburgh

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