Health Update: In the new wellness world, data drives holistic healing – What Experts Say

Data technology has made inroads into spaces that were the sole purvey of holistic physicians. Nadi Tarangini, a device by Pune-based Atreya Innovations, examines the pulse and the body’s energy centres, just like a holistic wellness practitioner would, and produces a read-out. The doctors at Atmantan, a property in Mulshi, Maharashtra, certified by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers, are researching phytonutrients (helpful compounds found in plants) to create nutritional supplements. “We have a diabetic and cardiovascular risk profiler which gives you your age as per the condition of your arteries. I was 45 when I tried it the first time but my arterial age was 52. I figured I needed to exercise differently to age better,” says Nikhil Kapur, cofounder, Atmantan. He insists that gadgets don’t fundamentally alter the treatment, which would’ve been prescribed anyway. In some cases, they might help the healing process, like cryotherapy for joint pain. “Every machine we introduce—like the laserbased instruments in our physiotherapy department—is done only after due research to see if it can meaningfully contribute to what our doctors do,” says Spandana Mulpuri, director at naturopathy-focused Pema Wellness.

Additionally, wearable tech is being used to track health parameters. The doctors at Amal Tamara, an Ayurvedic treatment centre in Alappuzha, Kerala, use Ultrahuman’s Continuous Glucose Monitor to note blood sugar levels. Mahesh Natarajan, COO, Ananda in the Himalayas, says that they use a clip from the Hong Kong-based company Belun to collect sleep-related data. “Our Ayurvedic doctors analyse the data and prescribe treatments for ailments like sleep apnea,” he adds. Treatment could include abhyanga and shirodhara, trataka meditation, yoga nidra sessions, and more. The property’s app generates around 500 data points—sleep, muscle mass, bowel movements, dietary changes—to plot the journey.

Advances in scientific research are informing India’s holistic healers. “[In naturopathy], we’ve always known about the importance of fasting and its impact on autophagy [a biological process where dead parts of cells are recycled]. But when Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel for his research on autophagy, it validated what we already do,” says Lakshmi Nuthakki, who oversees Pema Wellness’ programmes. Dr Sreelal Sankar, the lead Ayurvedic healer at Ananda in the Himalayas, adds: “Research is revealing that combining rasayana and panchakarma techniques can impact telomere [a critical part of the chromosome related to ageing] shortening.” Drawing on the work of renowned women’s health expert Dr Mindy Pelz, Six Senses is introducing programmes related to menopause and perimenopause. “In India, we are teaming up Western research with the understanding of Ayurvedic doctors to deliver a unique female health programme,” says Bjurstam. “Each of our doctors will undergo a two-month certification with Mindy’s educational facility.”