Ayurveda Centres Are Taking Extra Precautions Even As They Take In Patients For Mandatory Wellness Treatments During The Malayalam Month Of Karkidakam
Call to e-book an appointment at Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, in Kochi, and the primary questions is “Are you from a containment zone?” Although Kerala’s Ayurvedic centres, which draw guests from everywhere in the world for his or her rejuvenating remedies, have lastly reopened, there may be nothing relaxed about their processes anymore.
With COVID-19 forcing all enterprise that re-open to be continually vigilant, a verbal affirmation shouldn’t be sufficient. Now, a photo-id card, reminiscent of Aadhar card as proof of deal with too, is obligatory for these in search of Ayurveda remedies in Kerala. Appointments are primarily based on questionnaires that search detailed journey historical past and quarantine particulars, in step with Ministry of Ayush pointers.
The Malayalam month of Karkidakam is vital within the therapy calendar of Ayurveda centres. Traditionally that is the time – when the monsoon cools temperatures – for wellness and rejuvenation therapies. “Wellness treatment during Karkidakam has many benefits including immunity building and overall well being of mind and body. This is a good time as this is when the season changes and hence ideal for such treatments,” says Dr. Rekha Varma, chief doctor Nagarjuna Stree Ayurveda Centre, Tripunithura in Kochi.
If walk-ins have been inspired earlier, they’re now restricted. “We are very strict now and insist on paperwork and all details. A photo id is proof of address, this way we know where patients are coming from – containment zones and hotspots too. We cannot take this situation lightly,” says Raju UP, Asst. Public Relations Manager of the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala (Kochi). Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala doesn’t have a Karkidakam-specific wellness regime because it affords year-round therapy for medical circumstances too.
“We don’t admit patients with co-morbidities and those coming from containment zones. They have to furbish details about their travel history. Once the health parameters are found to be normal, we start the therapy,” says Dr Mohamed Mirdaz Okay, medical director, Edhini Ayurveda Hospital, Chathamangalam, Kozhikode.
The course of – together with pre and submit therapy – have additionally bought longer. Not solely do therapists should gear up in masks and face shields, therapy rooms are disinfected/fumigated after every session, temperature checks executed on the sufferers, every day temperature checks for therapists, and janitorial employees. At some locations, moreover sanitisation sufferers are required to wash earlier than and after remedies too, and they’re given ‘immunity booster’ decoctions with components reminiscent of turmeric, tulsi, pepper, dry ginger and cinnamon.
Pankajakasthuri Group of Institutions, Thiruvananthapuram goes a step past, after the after preliminary screening for any signs of the pandemic, the affected person has to bear IgM take a look at (Immunoglobulin M take a look at to measure the extent of antibodies in blood) and, if wanted, the RT-PCR take a look at earlier than they’re admitted at his hospital, says Dr. J Hareendran Nair, founder. “As for our therapists, besides complying with safety measures, they also take certain medicines as a prophylactic measure,” he provides.
The numbers of these in search of wellness remedies have fallen drastically and enquiries for wellness remedies few however Ayurveda hospitals and centres haven’t turned away folks in search of these. However, the packages – normally for seven, 14 or 21 days – are being administered in step with Government pointers and precautionary measures. Spas at resorts and resorts haven’t began functioning but.
Dr Mirdaz says that whereas international vacationers – Arabs and Europeans – made up a big chunk of these in search of remedies now it’s locals. “If in the past we had 30-35 patients, today we have around four, all locals. The occupancy has dropped,” he says. Dr. Hareedran echoes the sentiment, “I would peg the occupancy at one bed for every 10 beds.” The remedies are primarily panchakarma, kizhi and/or virechana (purgation), no COVID-19 inclusions. Those who’ve tele-consultation communicate of enquiries about immunity boosters.
Says Linda Rakesh, CEO of RCM Wellness Centre in Kochi, “Right now, we are being cautious about who we admit for wellness treatments. We are not encouraging new admissions for now; we are looking at clients who have come to us earlier or who we are familiar with. We cannot do this for pain management treatments, those treatments are done under strict conditions.”
The variety of therapists and medical doctors on premises is restricted or decreased; at some locations they work over shifts whereas staying on campus to limit publicity to COVID-19. It is loads of work – as an illustration fumigating the remedy room after every session, which takes as much as half an hour. But the accent is on maintaining all people – therapist and affected person –secure. Some centres want to confess sufferers like Dr. Mirdaz, who says, “Patients have to remain in the hospital during the full course of the treatment unlike previous years when they were allowed to go home after a day’s session.” The period of keep depends upon the therapy. These steps go a great distance in instilling a way of safety in sufferers, they add.
However, not all clinics want to confess sufferers. “It is not viable now. That’s why we have a seven-day package for those from in and around our panchayat only so that they can go home after the day’s therapy session. Consultation is not open for the 60-plus age group who are at higher risk of contracting the disease,” says Dhanesh PG, supervisor of Madhaveeyam Ayurveda Chikitsalayam at Chelakkara, Thrissur.
