If you've got a splitting headache, what would you do? Take an asperin. If you've got a cold, what would you do? You'd probably take a Coldarin. The options are endless. The point we're trying to drive home is that in today's world, we want instant cures. The only hitch being that these instant remedies curb or cure the symptoms, but not the cause. That is what ayurveda is all about. Ayurveda, the word itself explains the meaning. It means the science of life. Developed by the ancient gurus while seated in the wilderness of their abodes, today it has been honed by people like the father and son healers.

It may be considered an orthodox medicine, since it doesn't prescribe any wonder drugs, or instant cures, but every aspect of a person's physical, mental and spiritual health is dealt with in this all embracing traditional, Indian system of medicine. It stresses on a disciplined pattern of life. How a person should sleep, what a person should eat, what time he should wake up, his habits and not just what capsules he should swallow. Ayurveda believes in finding the cause of the malady, rather than the symptoms. In fact, many doctors agree that Ayurvedic medicine, with its emphasis on health as much as illness, is probably the most complete healing system. Its underlying principles such as prevention of the disease, are more important than its actual remedies.

Ayurveda revolves around a preventive measure more than a curative one. It is the correct pattern of life. There are diseases which are incurable in all fields of medicine. Ayurveda does not claim a cure to cancer or diabetes. All it can do in such cases is to prepare the person for death and to make it as comfortable as possible. So it is not one to claim miracles. There are many doctors in the Allopathic branch of medicine, who after a certain point, tell their patients that they have stretched their limits, and that they should opt for Ayurveda.

The reason why Allopathy has become an alternative to Ayurveda, is because of a handful of Quacks, who without a complete knowledge of the subject try to advise people on what they should do, and instead end up harming them. These people have given Ayurveda a bad name. Naturally, people are skeptical of its power. Though, mainly the reason why most people are reluctant to opt for Ayurveda is because of the time factor, since it is a slow process of healing . When a patient first consults a doctor he only tells him what he feels. It is upto the 'Vaidya' to fathom, the cause behind the anomaly.

Ayurveda believes that maladies in a person are caused due to what it calls the Tridosha. These comprise of Vaata ( Vayu), Pitta and Kapha. It is said that they control all mental and physical processes and are compared to the workings of the wind, the sun and the moon. When these three elements are in harmony, nothing can harm the body. But, even if one out of these is disturbed combination which leads to the disease."After all what is disease? Disease is the 'dis' 'ease' of the body," informs Dr. Dattatreya , simplifying the concept to layman level, adding,"These are the base of all diseases. We cannot classify diseases according to the Tridosha. Though we amay put it thus, the main culprit among all these is VaataIt is the only mobile thing in the body. We can also call it Praan. When it goes, the body is proclaimed dead. With the guidance of Vaata the other two factors Pitta and Kapha operate within the body. Pitta and Kapha become the power- both controlled by Vaata.. When one fails, the other two are bound to fail."

These three factors can be related to common ailments, like sneezing and a running nose and even to serious diseases like diabets, arthritis, chronic bronchitis, gynec problems, et all!The Tridosha affects each person in different ways. So, these doctors believe in prescribing medicine according to the characteristics of the indiviual and the pattern of life followed by him. Food regime for the patient is prepared in accordance with the season, weather, time of the day and most importantly, the needs of the individual patient.The medicines given should suit the needs of the patient, so they can take even months to prepare. The first time a patient comes to us, we ask him about his birth, his daily routine etc. His stars also have an influence on his weaknesses." Dr. Atul adds, " I myself have worked with astrologers to try to define a relation between Ayurveda and jyotish vidya. The stars under which a person is born, affect the various traits of his body." He defines the various body tissues affected by Tridosha. There are seven of them-Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda,,ASthi, Majja, Shukra in the case of males and Aartav in the case of females.

When questioned about the side-effects of ayurvedic medicine, the Bholes emphatically say," No. There are no side-effects of Ayurvedic medicine. The reason for that is that if any individual follows the pattern prescribed for him by the vaidya, then it has no side-effects, but if it is done only in half-measures, then it is bound to have an adverse effect. That is the case with all forms of medicine. But, if followed properly, the routine prescribed by Ayurved will never, involve a kick-back. It complements the normal functioning of the body, rather than suppressing any function."

With that mantra of healing, perfected by this father and son, we took leave of this large but natural world of medicine. Even falling sick didn't seem so bad, now that we realised that there was always the correct pattern of life, to fall back on!