What Is Shilajit Used for in Ayurveda and Modern Health? - #9020

I am Dr. Anjali Sehrawat. Graduated BAMS from National College of Ayurveda & Hospital, Barwala (Hisar) in 2023—and right now I'm doing my residency, learning a lot everyday under senior clinicians who’ve been in the field way longer than me. It’s kind of intense but also really grounding. Like, it makes you pause before assuming anything about a patient. During my UG and clinical rotations, I got good hands-on exposure... not just in diagnosing through Ayurvedic nidan but also understanding where and when Allopathic tools (like lab reports or acute interventions) help fill the gap. I really believe that if you *actually* want to heal someone, you gotta see the whole picture—Ayurveda gives you that depth, but you also need to know when modern input is useful, right? I’m more interested in chronic & lifestyle disorders—stuff like metabolic imbalances, stress-linked issues, digestive problems that linger and slowly pull energy down. I don’t rush into giving churnas or kashayams just bcz the texts say so... I try to see what fits the patient’s prakriti, daily habits, emotional pattern etc. It’s not textbook-perfect every time, but that’s where the real skill grows I guess. I do a lot of thinking abt cause vs symptom—sometimes it's not the problem you see that actually needs solving first. What I care about most is making sure the treatment is safe, ethical, practical, and honest. No overpromising, no pushing meds that don’t fit. And I’m always reading or discussing sth—old Samhitas or recent journals, depends what the case demands. My goal really is to build a practice where people feel seen & understood, not just “managed.” That's where healing actually begins, right?

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 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 practicing Ayurveda for about 8 years now, feels strange saying that because honestly the learning never stops. My work is all about finding balance in the body, not in some abstract way, but literally working with each person’s unique prakriti and the vikriti they’re dealing with at that moment. I follow the classical principles — herbal formulations, Panchakarma therapies, diet corrections, lifestyle tweaks — but nothing is “one size fits all”. Each treatment plan is shaped by the person infront of me, their health history, and the small details you only catch when you really listen. Over time I’ve worked with people dealing with digestion troubles, joint pains, hormonal shifts, stress-related health dips, and even stubborn chronic stuff that didn’t respond much to other methods. My approach is to go for the root cause first, because treating just the symptoms feels like putting tape over a crack... it hides it for a while but doesn’t fix it. That’s also why I focus on prevention — if you stop the imbalance before it grows, you save a lot of pain later. I keep my learning alive by reading classical Ayurvedic texts and joining continuing education whenever I can fit it in (sometimes late nights with too much chai). And I try to pass that clarity on to patients, explaining why a certain herb or therapy is chosen, what changes they might notice, and how they can keep supporting themselves after treatment ends. For me, this is more than just work. It’s a way of living… making choices every day that keep the mind, body, and emotions in some kind of harmony. My goal is still the same as day one — offer care that’s authentic, safe, and actually works for the long run, while making sure the person feels heard and understood through the whole process.

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. Puliyur Mahalakshmi Kannan, an Ayurvedic physician, researcher and someone who’s trying to make Ayurveda practical in today’s world without losing its roots. My BAMS training at SDM Institute of Ayurveda, Bengaluru gave me a strong classical base, and I was lucky to secure multiple university ranks along the way. But honestly, what stayed with me more than marks was the exposure to clinical practice, the texts we read again n again, and how all of it connects when you see real patients. I worked as Chief Ayurveda Consultant & Dietician at Ayur Ayurveda Wellness, where I mostly focused on lifestyle and metabolic disorders — diabetes, digestion problems, skin & joint diseases, even respiratory issues that needed more than just short-term fixes. Here I really leaned on chikitsa sutras, Panchakarma, and dietetics to design plans that people could actually follow in daily life. Some cases taught me patience, others pushed me to rethink protocols, but each added something to how I see Ayurveda. Right now, I am Chief Advisor & Consultant at SthotraStuti Ayur Organic. My role here is broader — not only consultations but also helping with product formulation, brand growth, and health awareness programs for community. It’s a space where Ayurveda meets people in diff. forms, not just in clinics. I also started Haridashva Ayurveda — my own initiative to bring classical Ayurveda closer to science-backed innovation. One work I feel proud of is developing a fortified Swarnaprashana with Shataputi Abhraka Bhasma, aimed at building immunity & cognition in children. This came out of both tradition and practical need I saw in families asking for safe pediatric formulations. My focus areas include lifestyle disorders, pediatrics, dietetics, Panchakarma, preventive care, and integrative research. At the end, my aim is simple — authentic Ayurveda, adapted carefully for today’s health challenges, without losing the essence of what our texts tried to teach.

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 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.

I am a Senior Ayurveda Physician with more than 28 years in this field — and trust me, it still surprises me how much there is to learn every single day. Over these years, I’ve had the chance to treat over 1 lakh patients (probably more by now honestly), both through in-person consults and online. Some come in with a mild cough, others with conditions no one’s been able to figure out for years. Each case brings its own rhythm, and that’s where real Ayurveda begins. I still rely deeply on classical tools — *Nadi Pariksha*, *Roga-Rogi Pariksha*, proper *prakriti-vikriti* mapping — not just ticking symptoms into a list. I don’t believe in ready-made cures or generic charts. Diagnosis needs attention. I look at how the disease behaves *inside* that specific person, which doshas are triggering what, and where the imbalance actually started (hint: it’s usually not where the pain is). Over the years I’ve worked with pretty much all age groups and all kinds of health challenges — from digestive upsets & fevers to chronic, autoimmune, hormonal, metabolic and degenerative disorders. Arthritis, diabetes, PCOD, asthma, thyroid... but also things like unexplained fatigue or joint swelling that comes and goes randomly. Many of my patients had already “tried everything else” before they walked into Ayurveda, and watching their systems respond slowly—but surely—is something I don’t take lightly. My line of treatment usually combines herbal formulations (classical ones, not trendy ones), Panchakarma detox when needed, and realistic dietary and lifestyle corrections. Long-term healing needs long-term clarity — not just short bursts of symptom relief. And honestly, I tell patients that too. I also believe patient education isn’t optional. I explain things. Why we’re doing virechana, why the oil changed mid-protocol, why we pause or shift the meds after a few weeks. I want people to feel involved, not confused. Ayurveda works best when the patient is part of the process, not just receiving instructions. Even now I keep learning — through texts, talks, patient follow-ups, sometimes even mistakes that taught me what not to do. And I’m still committed, still fully into it. Because for me, this isn’t just a job. It’s a lifelong responsibility — to restore balance, protect *ojas*, and help each person live in tune with themselves. That’s the real goal.

I am a doctor who completed CCH and CGO from Wadia hospital, and that training gave me exposure not just in theory but also in handling patients with very diverse needs. Over time I have treated many cases of chronic skin conditions, gut related disorders and also anorectal issues like piles, fissure and similar complaints. Each case felt different, no two patients respond the same way, and I learnt how to adapt treatment according to prakriti, diet habits, stress levels. Skin problems always catch attention first — psoriasis, eczema, acne that stays for years — but I understood that they often start from inside, from digestion or blood impurities. Gut issues like acidity, constipation, IBS are also common in my practice, and here small corrections in food timing or herbs can change a lot. Anorectal cases, especially piles and fissure, are painful both physically and mentally for patients, so I try to bring a treatment plan that is safe, non-invasive when possible, and focused on long term relief not just temporary fixes. Working with such variety of disorders also taught me patience. Some patients want fast results, but Ayurveda needs time to clean the root cause. I explain them carefully, sometimes repeating many times, that slow healing is stronger healing. Building that trust is important. My approach is always to combine herbal formulations, diet advice, and lifestyle correction with procedures when required, to ensure balance is restored and maintained. For me, Ayurveda is not a set of ready remedies but a flexible science that adapts to each person. Whether it’s skin, gut or anorectal problems, my focus stays on listening, understanding and guiding patients with clarity, honesty and steady support.