DR ALKA VIJAYAN
Dr Alka Vijayan runs an independent practice at Thiruvananthapuram in the southern state of Kerala in India, called TANMATRA Ayurveda. She specialises in Thyroid hormone dysfunction, gynaecology ailments and gut health reinstatement. A graduate from the oldest institute of Ayurveda in the world - Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. Alka has practised under senior vaidyas and in remote tribal settlements, gaining exposure to a range of cases. Dr. Alka holds consultations, both in person and online, making her service available to patients all over the globe.
Follow Dr. Alka:
Instagram: @dralkaayurveda
YouTube: @dralkavijayan.ayurveda
WHAT DOES AYURVEDA MEAN TO YOU?
Ayurveda acts as a lens for me to understand the world we live in - this includes understanding myself, people and all the elements in relation to one another. It also includes insight on why people behave a certain way, why they choose a certain kind of food, how the body changes in each climate or with different kinds of food, how it tries to balance itself by choosing a certain kind of food - often felt in the form of 'cravings'.
WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER IT? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PRACTISING IT?
Ayurveda is an inherent part of every Indian household in the form of some lifestyle routine (eg., abhyanga, tongue scraping, eating medicated congee during the monsoons etc.), home remedies such as herbal concoctions in case of a cold, the use of spices in our cooking and other such practices. But it was during my days as a medical student at Ayurveda college that I truly began to see this science in a whole new light. It’s now been seven years since I started practising as an Ayurveda doctor.
WHAT DREW YOU TO AYURVEDA?
While it is science, it still amazes me every single time - how it brings one back to balance at both the mental and physical planes and then reinstates that sense of perfect health like no other system of medicine does. It may be slow in many cases, but the result makes the effort and wait worth it.
HAS IT HELPED YOU WITH ANYTHING MAJOR?
The very reason why I draw so much inspiration from Ayurveda is because it helped me reverse my longstanding condition of Hypothyroidism, taking it from a whopping 150 above TSH to well within limits. I lost almost 15 years of my life to the condition. Where every other system had failed, I was able to find a cure through Ayurveda.
IS AYURVEDA PART OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE OR JUST FOR YOUR MEDICINE CABINET OR FALL-BACK ROUTINE?
No, it’s intertwined with every aspect of my life, from the time I wake up, followed by dinacharya, changing the herbs in the boiled water depending on the seasons and the stages of my menstrual cycle to what I eat, what kind of workout I do, to my choice of snack to when I sleep.
In fact, it’s even a part of regular conversation at home, be it with my husband or my parents and sisters.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 4 AYURVEDIC TIPS THAT HAVE WORKED FOR YOU?
1. Sleep before Pitta kaala begins at night and wake up before Kapha kaala begins in the morning.
2. No matter what, eat only what the body asks for - that too only as hunger sets in.
3. Avoid inflammatory food combinations, take charge of your cravings by understanding what the body is trying to compensate for or replenish and eat accordingly; never dismiss them as just cravings.
WHAT SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT AYURVEDA?
That it’s not a vegetarian science, and unlike what is being propagated it’s not a limiting science but rather an empowering one which helps you take charge rather than feel lost.
DID YOU INTEGRATE IT GRADUALLY OR OVERNIGHT FOR ANY PARTICULAR REASON?
Gradually, while in college - to see if it works or not, because nothing else was helping my hypothyroid situation.
DO YOUR CHILDREN/FAMILY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?
Absolutely.
AND IF THEY DO, DO THEY KNOW IT’S AYURVEDA OR DO THEY JUST THINK OF IT AS HOME COOKING?
It’s simple, staple, and aligned with one’s prakriti–vikriti—made a habit by following regional, seasonal cuisine.So it’s more like home cooking. With my medical background, that habit is improved with tweaks based on the weather and how each person is health-wise each day.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE AYURVEDIC RECIPE OR GO-TO INGREDIENT?
My favourite ingredient would be ginger or dry ginger, and favourite recipe would be buttermilk, more so the special buttermilk we make at the clinic as it has gooseberry in it.
HOW DOES AYURVEDA FIT INTO YOUR DAY-TO-DAY ROUTINES?
I start my day by keeping track of Brahma muhurta, get started with dinacharya (brushing, tongue scraping, anjanam etc.,), eat light and only when hungry, such that it digests in 3-4 hours, take a short walk after each meal, snack on nuts by evening, call it a day by sunset and sleep by 9pm.
WHAT DO YOU WISH WAS EASIER IN OUR SOCIETY TO MAKE AN AYURVEDIC LIFESTYLE MORE ACCESSIBLE?
1. Introducing the basics of Ayurveda in school
2. Following the circadian rhythm
3. Living a less-demanding lifestyle that honours the body clock such that it is in tune with nature.
DO PEOPLE AROUND YOU/IN YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS KNOW ABOUT AYURVEDA?
Yes, because that’s the ‘language’ we speak in literally. We "speak Ayurveda" as everything comes down to it - why a person is behaving a certain way, what food/medicine/exercise can help the mind/mood/emotions/bodily reactions, everything comes down to Ayurveda as it truly makes sense to us
WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TRY OR YOU THINK WOULD BENEFIT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE’S HEALTH FOR THE BETTER?
Start your day early with abhyanga followed by exercise - this will slow down your ageing by leaps and bounds. But never think it can be done at the end of the day as the results can be detrimental
ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
There's more to Ayurveda than resorts and Panchakarma - it’s about living intuitively, in tune with nature and your prakriti.