Panchakarma at Dr. Franklin’s in Chowara, Kerala, India

August 22nd

I spent all day traveling from North to South India crossing pretty much the entire country. I left Rishikesh at 8:30am and arrived at Chowara past 11pm. My second plane was delayed.

As I mentioned in my last post, because I didn’t listen to my intuition telling me to come to Chowara, Kerala in the first place, I ended up going through unnecessary frustrations, spending lots more money, and wasting time.

It is what it is. I was just glad the center in Chowara, Kerala could take me in such short notice. I know now the reason they’re able to do that is because they’re in business year-round performing treatment on hundreds of people. It’s what they do.

From the moment the driver picked me up I knew this was going to be a much better experience. When I got to the institute I felt such a relief. I was in the right place. It was past 11pm and I couldn’t see much but right away I saw beautiful signage, beautiful brick walls and very pretty landscaping. I was taken to my room and I was ecstatic. A simple room but a pretty one. One where I could stay an entire month as planned. They had messaged me in the morning asking if I’d want dinner waiting for me. It was sitting on the table along with water, a rose, and beaufiful smelling incense.

DAY 1 – August 23rd

I woke up the next morning and went for breakfast. I didn’t know I wouldn’t get to choose from this menu for seven to eight days. They give you the menu that corresponds to you according to your diagnosis and what they determine your dosha is. You can find a lot of info online on Ayurveda medical practice if you search for it. Not to mention the countless books available. Seek [truth] and you shall find.

For my first breakfast and the last one until 8 to 9 days from now I had some coconut pancakes with honey, papaya on the side and masala coffee. I met the chef and he was so happy to learn I’m Latin. As I would later find out he loves Latin culture and dreams of going to Cuba, Peru and Mexico. He likes watching Mexican movies.

I saw the head and only male doctor for my initial evaluation at 10am and by 2pm I was getting my first treatment. A female doctor greeted me and told me about my treatment. Another female doctor greeted me as well. Everyone was so friendly, warm and welcoming.

DAY 3

On the 3rd day I felt sick. I woke up and felt some discomfort that got worse as it got later in the morning. By the time I was having breakfast in the restaurant I couldn’t sit up. My back and neck were hurting so bad. I’m used having discomfort in my back so I didn’t think anything of it. I went to the doctor to check my blood pressure as I have to do every morning before treatment. Blood pressure was fine but when I told doctor about neck and back ache she touched the back of my neck and said it was hot. She told the therapists of immediate changes in the treatment.

While getting the massage I was ok except by the end of it a headache had developed. I told chef I wanted my lunch in my room. The nurse asked about doing my other treatment that is applied in my room. They call it application. It’s a gooey stuff they put on my face, neck, shoulders, my back and knees and legs. The areas where I experience pain. It feels really uncomfortable and you have to let it sit for one hour. Because it’s so messy you can’t move around. She asked if I wanted it now or after lunch. I opted for now to not have to take 2 showers. I put my laptop and phone in front of me to get things done or watch something while waiting.

By the time I got to my room after lunch I was feeling so sleepy and just overall not well.

I took a shower relaxed and then it just hit me. This wave of sleepiness and my back started hurting again. This time the pain was radiating to my legs. It was the strangest feeling. Alphonsa came to clean the room and I told her I wasn’t feeling well that I’ll just stay lying on the bed. She didn’t have to change the sheets.

With her few words of English she asked me if I was ok. I had been feeling really cold while getting the massage and I was feeling cold again now. Alfonsa said ok lie down she wouldn’t change the sheets. She helped put the covers over me and touched me to check my temperature. She asked me if I saw doctor I said yes, earlier. She asked me if I wanted medicine. I told her yes, I took my medicine.

She wasn’t convinced I was ok. She went and got the doctor. My temperature wasn’t high but the doctor sent the nurse to give me another medicine now and another dose 3 hours later. She left me with her phone number in case I got worse and needed her because the phone in my room with entire directory on speed dial wasn’t working.

Alphonsa finished cleaning the room and prayed over me, touched me again to check temperature and left. Alphonsa, who just cleans rooms, was more caring than some medical staff I’ve encountered back home. The nurse here, the doctors, the therapists are all so amazing and loving and caring.

I went to sleep and slept so heavy for 3 hours. They came again to give me medicine at 6pm and kitchen staff brought my dinner to my room. I didn’t eat my lunch earlier. I wasn’t feeling hungry at all at that time. For dinner I was starving. Thank God it was spicy- yaasss!! (I was put on a very restrictive diet as part of the program). I was able to do some work in the evening and even posted two posts in here. Finally. I had not posted anything since August 7th nor had I worked on any other aspects of the blog.

I woke up really rested the next day with no pain.

DAY 4 – Began 7-Day Purgation

I began the torturous phase of purgation where I drank a cup of ghee every morning along with cardamom seeds, ginger tea and lime slices I would bite or suck on after every ghee sip. It’s really terrible but what it does to your body is amazing.

As preparation last night I started my meals of rice soup and boiled beets. What I’ll be eating for an entire week for both lunch and dinner. No breakfast because my breakfast is the ghee.

DAY 5

When they checked my blood pressure it was too low. Because of this I got to have coffee. Yaasss!!! That coffee tasted so good. I can’t even tell you.

DAY 6

I’m noticing that the food I have to eat right now is making me dread the daily routine. Food is everything and to me, omg! I love food way too much. I can’t believe this is day two on this diet of steamed veggies and rice soup. I don’t know how I’ll make it through another five days of this. Also, I dislike routine so much. I can’t have the same routine for more than a few days. I start getting so anxious…and angry. Combine that with having the blandest, most tasteless food in the world. God help me.

DAY 7

I felt emotional today. I definitely see the effect on mind and consciousness.

DAY 8

It was a really, really hard day. My mind is definitely affected by this drastic change in food and daily routine. I was battling demons today. I can’t tell you how much I wanted this to be over for the simple fact that I HATE routine and food is obviously a serious addiction.

I felt out of breath when I woke up. I chucked it up to going to bed past midnight and being up by 6am. Was hoping my blood pleasure was low so I would be given coffee again lol.

Didn’t happen 🙁

Cramps were vicious. They had to give me some really strong medicine again. It’s all part of the detox and elimination process. They dissipated after the massage and several trips to the bathroom. It was a really hard day but thank God I felt a little more relaxed after the massage. I did pray during it. I did some work and didn’t want dinner.

DAY 9

I had a much better day than yesterday, thank God. I woke up somewhat the same. Dreading going to drink ghee at 8:30am as I have to do every day during this phase of the treatment (7 days).

However, I noticed I had more energy to get things done in the morning. I also found something to distract myself from my food addictions and got really excited about choosing Jovan’s non-traditional schooling he will do while traveling. I stayed up late for two nights in a row looking at all the options and calling the virtual school he’s attended in the past.

Thank God this project came along as it helped me get through this time. A distraction was exactly what I needed. Part of the treatment is 7am yoga but I could not get myself to go. I was still adjusting to the drastic time zone difference.

DAY 10 & 11 – Last days of purgation

Pure torture. It couldn’t come and go fast enough. I wanted it to end already. I had enough. Like seriously! Waking up early to take medicine and eat breakfast and leave enough time to digest as much as possible to minimize discomfort during therapies and bathroom trips was torture.

I was definitely angry that I couldn’t put a stop to this. I mean this is insane! I can’t just eat what I want at the times I want!!! I was having such food addiction and Queen Brat withdrawals. I basically fasted. I only at a few bites per day for 7 days!!!

You’d be angry and bitchy too.

This detox was not only of the physical body. It’s also of the mental hang ups we have and the addictions we use to soothe ourselves with. I can’t explain it. You have to go through it. You definitely get to really know a lot about yourself going through this.

DAY 12 – 28

This is definitely not for the faint of heart. This should be available to everyone in the world. It’s a medical system that dates back to over 5,000 years that actually CURES disease. This is not new to me. Might be new to you to find out that diseases the US and Europe deems as terminal are actually cured every day in other countries. Ayurveda, and especially panchakarma, to the extent that it’s done in India, is illegal in US. I’ll let you research why and if you’re curious enough you’ll learn more about health and medical systems of the world than you could ever imagine. I know I have for the last 17 years.

I have knowledge of alternative health practices from my greatgrandmother and grandmother. One of my greatgrandmothers lived until almost 100 and my other great-grandmother lived to 105. I have great genes but there’s also knowledge of real medicine available to us by none other than mother earth. It was all beautifully designed, until…what we know as history.

DAY 29 – September 20th

I made a mistake and booked my airfare for a whole day after treatment. Being the amazing people they are they let me stay and I got to spend the day visiting different places in the capital of Trivandrum which was 45 minutes away. You could leave the center any time you wanted around your treatments. It’s just that the schedule of treatments changed every day from morning to after or vice versa and some days was just easier to stay inside. I only went out two days.

On this last day I visited the Natural History Museum and various temples around the area. The day ended with a delicious fish meal a friend of the chef prepared in his newly re-opened restaurant that had shut down due to Covid.

After eating only vegetables, legumes and fruits the last 28 days, this fish meal tasted like the best meal I’d ever had in my entire life!

Now, time to head back to US and get my youngest child from my sister. I will be there in 30 hours.

The results were amazing. I’m definitely coming back every other year at the least, but for maybe 14 days. I will leave the 28 days to every five or seven years.

As I write this my daughter Isis is seeing an ayurvedic doctor in Fremont, CA who’s administering herbs for her ailments and I brought Josiah the respiratory medicine I purchased from the doctor in Rishikesh that will clear up all the toxins and damage C0v1d left behind the two times he caught it. Ayurveda to its full extent is illegal in US but if they become medical doctors they can use parts of Ayurveda as a “complimentary therapy.” You can read about this here.

You can do your own research to find out more. I know I have for the last 17 years and I will never NOT use ayurveda as part of my wellness and medical care.