DR. REKHA RADHAMONY
“Have a routine in life. Wake up, eat food, exercise, sleep at the same time every day. The whole universe has a routine, every animal and plant has it. We need to have the routine too. Your body will thank you if you do.”
Born into a family of Ayurvedic doctors, Dr. Rekha's passion led her into the world of health and wellness, where she learnt and mastered Ayurveda, Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine, helping people around the world to live a healthier and happier life.
Dr Rekha first qualified as an Ayurvedic Doctor from Nangelil Ayurveda Medical College (Mahatma Gandhi University), Kerala by pursuing the 5-year degree course in Ayurveda, Bachelors in Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS) and then later attended 2-year courses to further her knowledge in Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine.
Her first assignment as Ayurvedic Doctor was at her own family owned clinic, Acharya Ayurveda & Panchakarma in Trivandrum, Kerala, where she got trained by her father Acharya Adinadhan Nair for a year before carving her niche in the healthcare industry in Dubai.
Her work and articles have been published in India's leading newspapers and magazines like Times of India, Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi, The Hindu, The Patient magazine by Glaxo Smith Kline and Hindustan Times.
She has worked with many elite clients in India, Dubai and the US, giving Ayurvedic consultations and monthly plans. She has routinely helped patients manage a wide range of symptoms.
Dr Rekha is a spokesperson who openly discusses basic lifestyle changes one can incorporate in one’s daily life to help prevent, manage and reverse chronic diseases. She initially shared these on her blog page, before they were then published by Huffington Post.
Last year she was invited to be a keynote speaker at the International Conference of Alternative Medicine held in Dubai. She is hoping to use her platform to take Ayurveda globally and give more motivational talks on women's wellness and happiness.
Dr. Rekha is currently based between Dubai and Kerala, India, but caters to clients all over the world.
Follow Dr. Rekha:
Website: Doctor Rekha
Instagram: @doctorrekha
“Ayurveda means everything to me.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Ayurveda means everything to me, as I do not know any other way to live.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
Being a 4th generation Ayurvedic doctor, I consider myself fortunate to be born into an Ayurvedic family, with deep roots in Ayurveda. As a child, I always came home from school seeing patients in front of my house (our family-run Ayurveda Hospital and our house were attached to each other), and seeing their devotion to my father, I always wanted to be a doctor too. As I grew up, my interests changed to art, but I went on to study for a B.A.M.S (Bachelor in Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery). Two years passed, with me constantly wanting to drop out and pursue art, but then I was diagnosed with Rheumatic Fever and my life changed. I could not write, walk or hold objects as every joint in my body was inflamed and painful. First I sought help in allopathic medicine and I was asked to use penicillin injections for the rest of my life. I took one shot as the pain got severe, but decided not to continue as this was not the way I wanted to live for the rest of my life. At this point, as per my family’s advice, I decided to give Ayurveda a shot. The next six months I took to the Ayurvedic lifestyle, following the protocols for “Ama Vata” (Rheumatic Fever in Sanskrit), doing daily body treatments and eating 100% Ayurvedic food.
This changed my life. 6 months later, my RA factor & ASO titre came back negative with no signs of Rheumatic Fever whatsoever. If Ayurveda could help me, it can help anyone. My own personal experience made me love Ayurveda more. On a day-to-day basis, I help people recover from diseases from asthma to hormonal imbalance, from skin diseases to obesity with ease with Ayurveda. I can do this, just because of my deep-rooted belief in the power of Ayurveda.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
100% Ayurveda lifestyle, food and medicines. It is the way I have been brought up and lived all my life. I do not remember a day growing up as a child taking any allopathic medicine for any issues. My fevers always subsided with juice from ajwain leaves and my cough drops were always honey with pepper and other herbs.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Be an early riser, wake up as the sun rises and have dinner as the sun sets.
Follow a routine with specific timings given to each task/ritual.
“Hitabhukta Mitabhukta Ritabhukta” – Eat what is good for you, eat less, eat according to the seasons.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
That it takes 30 years to study Ayurveda in detail!
Do your children/family eat an Ayurvedic diet? And if they do, do they know it’s Ayurveda or do they just think of it as home cooking?
We eat typical Keralan food at home, which naturally falls in line with many Ayurvedic principles.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
My favourite ingredient in terms of spices is cinnamon.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
I am an early riser, for years I have woken up at 5 am. I start my day with yoga, a morning jog and a short meditation. Once I finish my work and consultations, I come home, take a warm shower, eat a light dinner, read a book, do a light foot massage and some skincare before I go to bed. I eat a 100% Ayurvedic diet, and my last meal is before 7 pm, except on weekends.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
Being an Ayurvedic doctor who treats patients with diseases from asthma to skin issues to hormones and obesity, I have patients from all over the world. The challenge I find is the availability of herbs as much as they are available in India.
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?
Have a routine in life. Wake up, eat food, exercise, sleep at the same time every day. The whole universe has a routine, every animal and plant has it. We need to have the routine too. Your body will thank you if you do.