What are the benefits and harms of taking Shivagutikas for a year? - #47617

I am Dr. Sushma M and yeah, I’ve been in Ayurveda for over 20 yrs now—honestly still learning from it every day. I mostly work with preventive care, diet logic, and prakriti-based guidance. I mean, why wait for full-blown disease when your body’s been whispering for years, right? I’m kinda obsessed with that early correction part—spotting vata-pitta-kapha imbalances before they spiral into something deeper. Most ppl don’t realize how much power food timing, digestion rhythm, & basic routine actually have… until they shift it. Alongside all that classical Ayurveda, I also use energy medicine & color therapy—those subtle layers matter too, esp when someone’s dealing with long-term fatigue or emotional heaviness. These things help reconnect not just the body, but the inner self too. Some ppl are skeptical at first—but when you treat *beyond* the doshas, they feel it. And I don’t force anything… I just kinda match what fits their nature. I usually take time understanding a person’s prakriti—not just from pulse or skin or tongue—but how they react to stress, sleep patterns, their relationship with food. That whole package tells the story. I don’t do textbook treatment lines—I build a plan that adjusts *with* the person, not on top of them. Over the years, watching patients slowly return to their baseline harmony—that's what keeps me in it. I’ve seen folks come in feeling lost in symptoms no one explained… and then walk out weeks later understanding their body better than they ever did. That, to me, is healing. Not chasing symptoms, but restoring rhythm. I believe true care doesn’t look rushed, or mechanical. It listens, observes, tweaks gently. That's the kind of Ayurveda I try to practice—not loud, but deeply rooted.

I am Dr. Maitri, currently in my 2nd year of MD in Dravyaguna, and yeah, I run my own Ayurvedic clinic in Ranoli where I’ve been seeing patients for 2 years now. Honestly, what pulled me into this path deeper is how powerful herbs really are—when used right. Not just randomly mixing churnas but actually understanding their rasa, virya, vipaka etc. That’s kinda my zone, where textbook knowledge meets day-to-day case handling. My practice revolves around helping people with PCOD, acne, dandruff, back pain, stiffness in knees or joints that never seem to go away. And I don’t jump to giving a long list of medicines straight away—first I spend time figuring out their prakriti, their habits, food cycle, what triggers what… basically all the small stuff that gets missed. Then comes the plan—herbs (single or compound), some diet reshuffling, and always some lifestyle nudges. Sometimes they’re tiny, like sleep timing. Sometimes big like proper seasonal detox. Being into Dravyaguna helps me get into the depth of herbs more confidently. I don’t just look at the symptom—I think okay what guna will counter this? Should the drug be snigdha, ushna, tikta? Is there a reverse vipaka that’ll hurt the agni? I ask these questions before writing any combo. That’s made a huge diff in outcomes. Like I had this case of chronic urticaria that would flare up every week, and just tweaking the herbs based on sheetala vs ushna nature... helped calm the system in 3 weeks flat. Not magic, just logic. I also work with women who are struggling with hormonal swings, mood, delayed periods or even unexplained breakouts. When hormones go haywire, the skin shows, digestion slows, and mind gets foggy too. I keep my approach full-circle—cleansing, balancing, rejuvenating. No quick fixes, I tell them early on. What I’m hoping to do more of now is make Ayurveda feel practical. Not overwhelming. Just simple tools—ahara, vihara, aushadha—used consistently, with some trust in the body’s own healing. I’m still learning, still refining, but honestly, seeing people feel in control of their health again—that’s what keeps me rooted to this.

I am Dr. Snehal Vidhate, born n brought up in Maharashtra—and honestly, for as long as I remember I’ve felt this pull towards Ayurveda. Not the fancy version ppl throw around, but the deep, real kind that actually helps ppl. I did my BAMS from YMT Ayurvedic Medical College in Kharghar. That’s where I got my basics strong—like really studied the shastras, understood prakriti, doshas, the whole deal. Not just crammed theory but started to see how it shows up in real lives. After finishing BAMS, I got into this one-year certificate course at Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth, Delhi—honestly a turning point. I was super lucky to learn Kerala Ayurveda from my Guru, Prof. Dr. G.G. Gangadharan. He’s got this way of seeing things... simple but deep. That time with him taught me more than any textbook ever could. It kinda reshaped how I look at health, healing n how precise Ayurveda can be when you respect its roots. Right now I’m doing my MD in Panchakarma from SDM Ayurveda College, Bangalore. This place is like a hub for serious Ayurveda work. The Panchakarma training here? Super intense. We go deep into detoxification & rasayana therapy—not just theory again, but hands-on. I’m learning to blend classical techniques with today’s clinical demands.. like how to make Vamana or Basti actually doable in modern patient setups. My current practice is really about merging tradition with logic. Whether it’s chronic skin issues, gut problems, stress burnout or hormone stuff—my goal is to get to the root, not just hush the symptoms. I use Panchakarma when needed, but also a lot of ahara-vihara tweaks, medhya herbs, sometimes just slowing ppl down a bit helps. I really believe Ayurveda’s power is in its simplicity when done right. I don’t try to fix ppl—I work *with* them. And honestly, every patient teaches me something back.

I am Dr. P. Prasad, and I’ve been in this field for 20+ years now, working kinda across the board—General Medicine, Neurology, Dermatology, Cardiology—you name it. Didn’t start out thinking I’d end up spanning that wide, but over time, each area sort of pulled me in deeper. And honestly, I like that mix. It lets me look at a patient not just through one lens but a whole system-wide view... makes more sense when treating something that won’t fit neatly in one category. I’ve handled everything from day-to-day stuff like hypertension, diabetes, or skin infections to more serious neuro and cardiac problems. Some cases are quick—diagnose, treat, done. Others take time, repeated check-ins, figuring out what’s really going on beneath those usual symptoms. And that’s where the detail matters. I’m pretty big on thorough diagnosis and patient education—because half the problem is ppl just not knowing what’s happening inside their own body. What’s changed for me over years isn’t just knowledge, it’s how much I lean on listening. If you miss what someone didn’t say, you might also miss their actual illness. And idk, after seeing it play out so many times, I do believe combining updated medical practice with basic empathy really shifts outcomes. Doesn’t have to be complicated... it just has to be consistent. I keep up with research too—new drugs, diagnostics, cross-specialty updates etc., not because it’s trendy, but cuz it’s necessary. Patients come in better read now than ever. You can’t afford to fall behind. The end goal’s the same tho—help them heal right, not just fast. Ethical practice, evidence-based, and sometimes just being there to explain what’s going on. That’s what I stick to.

I am working in medical field for total 7 years, out of which around 4 years was in hospital setup and 3 years in clinic practice. Hospital work gave me strong base, long duty hours, different type of cases, emergencies sometimes, and learning under pressure. Clinic work is different, slower but deeper, where I sit with patients, listen more, explain things again n again, and follow them over time. In hospital I handled day to day OPD cases, routine management, and also assisted seniors when things got complicated. That phase shaped my clinical thinking a lot, even now I sometimes catch myself thinking like hospital mode when a case looks serious. Clinic practice on the other hand taught me patience. Patients come with chronic issues, expectations, doubts, sometimes fear, and I had to adjust my approach accordingly. I focus on practical treatment planning, not just diagnosis on paper. Some days I feel I should have more time with each patient, but I try to balance it. My experience across hospital and clinic helps me understand both acute care and long term disease management. I still keep learning everyday, reading, observing patterns, correcting myself when needed, because medicine never stays same for long, and neither should the doctor.

I am someone who believes Ayurveda isn’t just some old system — it’s alive, and actually still works when you use it the way it's meant to be used. My practice mostly revolves around proper Ayurvedic diagnosis (rogi & roga pariksha types), Panchakarma therapies, and ya also a lot of work with herbal medicine — not just prescribing but sometimes preparing stuff myself when needed. I really like that hands-on part actually, like knowing where the herbs came from and how they're processed... changes everything. One of the things I pay a lot of attention to is how a person's lifestyle is playing into their condition. Food, sleep, bowel habits, even small emotional patterns that people don't even realize are affecting their digestion or immunity — I look at all of it before jumping to treatment. Dietary therapy isn’t just telling people to eat less fried food lol. It’s more about timing, combinations, seasonal influence, and what suits their prakriti. That kind of detail takes time, and sometimes patients don’t get why it matters at first.. but slowly it clicks. Panchakarma — I do it when I feel it's needed. Doesn’t suit everyone all the time, but in the right case, it really clears the stuck layers. But again, it's not magic — people need to prep properly and follow instructions. That's where strong communication matters. I make it a point to explain everything without dumping too much Sanskrit unless they’re curious. I also try to keep things simple, like I don’t want patients feeling intimidated or overwhelmed with 10 things at once. We go step by step — sometimes slow, sometimes quick depending on the case. There’s no “one protocol fits all” in Ayurveda and frankly I get bored doing same thing again and again. Whether it’s a fever that won’t go or long-term fatigue or gut mess — I usually go deep into what's behind it. Surface-level fixes don’t last. I rather take the time than rush into wrong herbs. It’s more work, ya, but makes a diff in long run.

I am working right now as a Consultant Ayurvedic Ano-Rectal Surgeon at Bhrigu Maharishi Ayurvedic Hospital in Nalgonda—and yeah, that name’s quite something, but what really keeps me here is the kind of cases we get. My main focus is managing ano-rectal disorders like piles (Arsha), fistula-in-ano (Bhagandara), fissure-in-ano (Parikartika), pilonidal sinus, and rectal polyps. These are often more complex than they look at first, and they get misdiagnosed or overtreated in a lotta places. That’s where our classical tools come in—Ksharasutra therapy, Agnikarma, and a few other para-surgical techniques we follow from the Samhitas...they’ve been lifesavers honestly. My work here pushes me to keep refining surgical precision while also sticking to the Ayurvedic core. I do rely on modern diagnostics when needed, but I won’t replace the value of a well-done Nadi Pariksha or assessing dosha-vikruti in depth. Most of my patients come with pain, fear, and usually after a couple of rounds of either incomplete surgeries or just being fed painkillers n antibiotics. And I totally get that frustration. That’s why I combine surgery with a whole support plan—Ayurvedic meds, diet changes, lifestyle tweaks that actually match their prakriti. Not generic stuff off a handout. Over time, I’ve seen that when people follow the whole protocol, not just the procedure part, the recurrence drops a lot. I’m quite particular about follow-up and wound care too, ‘cause we’re dealing with delicate areas here and ignoring post-op can ruin outcomes. Oh and yeah—I care a lot about educating folks too. I talk to patients in OPD, sometimes give community talks, just to tell people they do have safer options than cutting everything out under GA! I still study Shalya Tantra like it’s a living document. I try to stay updated with whatever credible advancements are happening in Ayurvedic surgery, but I filter what’s fluff and what’s actually useful. At the end of the day, my aim is to offer respectful, outcome-based care that lets patients walk out without shame or fear. That’s really what keeps me grounded in this field.

I am a Consulting Ayurvedic Physician practicing since 1990—feels strange saying “over three decades” sometimes, but yeah, that’s the journey. I’ve spent these years working closely with chronic conditions that don’t always have clear answers in quick fixes. My main work has been around skin disorders, hair fall, scalp issues, and long-standing lifestyle stuff like diabetes, arthritis, and stress that kinda lingers under everything else. When someone walks into my clinic, I don’t jump to treat the problem on the surface. I start by understanding their *prakriti* and *vikriti*—what they’re made of, and what’s currently out of sync. That lets me build treatment plans that actually *fit* their system—not just push a medicine and hope it works. I use a mix of classical formulations, panchakarma if needed, dietary corrections, and slow, practical lifestyle changes. No overnight miracle talk. Just steady support. Hair fall and skin issues often feel cosmetic from outside—but internally? It’s about digestion, stress, liver, hormones... I’ve seen patients try 10+ things before landing in front of me. And sometimes they just need someone to *listen* before throwing herbs at the problem. That’s something I never skip. With arthritis and diabetes too, I take the same root-cause path. I give Ayurvedic medicines, but also work with *dinacharya*, *ahar* rules, and ways to reduce the load modern life puts on the body. We discuss sleep, food timing, mental state, all of it. I’ve also worked a lot with people dealing with high stress—career burnout, anxiety patterns, overthinking—and my approach there includes Ayurvedic counseling, herbal mind support, breathing routines... depends what suits them. My foundation is built on classical *samhitas*, clinical observation, and actual time with patients—not theories alone. My goal has always been simple: to help people feel well—not just for a few weeks, but in a way that actually lasts. Healing that feels like *them*, not just protocol. That’s what I keep aiming for.

I am honestly trying to sum up my 10+ years in Ayurveda, and sometimes I feel like the words don’t fully catch what those years really meant. I worked across different setups, a mix of opd days, longer case followups and those moments where I had to rethink a treatment plan because the patient wasn’t responding the way I first expectd. Those things shaped me more than any textbook page honestly. I focus a lot on understanding how a person’s routine n habits shape their health, and I use classical Ayurvedic principles to guide most decisions… though there are days when I go back and recheck the basics again to make sure I am doing it right. My work in these years has made me comfortable handling a wide range of cases, from common digestive trbls to joint issues and skin concerns, and sometimes the more slow-moving lifestyle disorders where patience becomes a kind of treatment too. I try to keep my consultasions more like a conversation than a prescription-giving moment. I’ve seen how patients open up when they realise I’m looking for the root cause, not just the symptom. Diet correction, daily routine fixes, small mind-body adjustments—these things are simple but they shift a lot when done properly, and I’ve watched that happen dozens of times. I also keep learning, even now, sometimes going through old notes or attending quick sessions to refresh things I might have overlooked. And somewhere in these years, I think I developed a steady kind of confidence—not loud, just practical—that comes from seeing what works again and again. I’m still refining my approach, still figuring better ways to guide people, but my aim stayed same through all these years: offer care that feels real, personal, rooted in Ayurveda and still adaptable to the way people live today.

I am an Ayurveda doctor with about 1 yr of hands on clinical practice, still learning everyday from patients and the science itself. My journey started as a VOPD doctor with Hiims Hospital under Jeena Sikho Lifecare Ltd. For 6 months I was into virtual consultations, understanding cases online, preparing treatment protocols and doing follow ups to track progress. That phase trained me well in quick patient assesment and also in explaining Ayurveda in a way that fit with modern expectations. I dealt with many chronic and acute cases during that time.. things like gastric issues, joint pain, stress related complaints, skin problems. The remote setting forced me to sharpen my diagnostic skill and rely more on careful history taking, prakriti analysis, and lifestyle understanding. After that, I moved to a Resident Doctor role at Chauhan Ayurved and Panchkarma Hospital, Udaipur. This was very different.. more practical, hands on, and really grounded me in classical Panchakarma. I was actively part of planning and performing therapies like Vamana, Virechana, Basti, Abhyanga, Shirodhara, and other detox and rejuvenation procedures. Many patients came with long standing spine issues, metabolic disorders, skin complaints, or hormonal imbalance and I got to see how tailored Panchakarma protocols and lifestyle advice together can bring changes that medicines alone couldn’t. Working closely with senior consultants gave me better clarity on safety, step by step planning and how to balance classical texts with practical hospital settings. Now, whether in OPD consultations or Panchkarma wards, I try to meet patients with empathy and patience. I focus on root cause correction, using herbs, diet, daily routine guidance, and therapy whenever needed. My belief is that Ayurveda should be accessible and authentic, not complicated or intimidating. My aim is simple—help people move towards long term wellness, not just temporary relief. I see health as balance of body, mind and routine.. and I want my practice to guide patients gently into that space.

I am still learning how to describe myself without sounding too stiff, but I do feel that my personal and inter-personal skills shape a big part of how I work. I try to stay approachable and not make pts feel rushed, even on days when time is slipping fast. I listen first, maybe longer than needed sometimes, just to catch the small hints in their words or their silence. I end up absorbing a bit of their pain or worry too, and then I remind myself to stay focused so I can actually help them, not just feel it. I am seeing people as whole beings, not just their symptoms or test values, and that keeps my treatment more grounded. I explain things in simple ways, though I get tangled in my phrasing here and there, but I make sure they and their family know what we’re doing and why. I try to stay honest even when the truth is slow progess or a rough patch in the condition. I am pretty dedicated to ethical practice, sometimes to the point where I double-check a simple step, and I don’t mind spending extra time if it means the plan is right. I push myself to keep learning, reading, attending discussions, all without getting scared of criticism, though a harsh comment stings me for a bit. I enjoy public interaction too—talking to groups, answering doubts, explaining Ayurveda without overcomplicating it. I am still shaping these skills every day, but they guide me in giving care that feels human, steady and trustworthy, even on the messy days when I am juggling too many things at once.