My ‘extreme hunger’ came at around 2 o’clock in the afternoon yesterday (Day One). Bessy and Usha were surprised to see me; they asked if I was really hungry before telling the cook to make my khani, the mung beans and rice. I was hungry, and feeling light-headed, airy. And per Ayurvedic recommendations, eating our largest meal when the sun reaches it’s apex lends to optimal digestion.
I had to wait for 30 minutes for the khani to be prepared, so went to visit my friends at the Gypsy King. And ordered a cup of hot ginger/lemon/honey. I wasn’t sure if it was permitted on the program, (I later asked the doctor and he said it was no problem) but I knew it would revive me. My friends asked me all sorts of questions about my first day of treatment, curious about an ancient Indian system of healing that is seldom used by Indians. It’s predominately foreigners who partake of the program. It’s interesting how some westerners have reverted to traditional healing methods such as pancha karma, while India marvels at the drug-oriented western conventional medicine, which has now become commonplace here.
When I returned to the clinic, Bessy set me up in the yoga room with a low wooden table on which she sat two small bowls; one with the rice, the other containing mung dhal. The rice was not as watery as I anticipated; it tasted sweet and wholesome. My first bite into the dhal I bit down hard on an uncooked bean. After that I chewed the dhal very cautiously, finding 3-4 more rock-hard beans that somehow ended up in the cooked preparation.
The food was tasty; there was only a hint of salt added. I suffered no digestive upset afterwards, which is not uncommon for me with my Vata gut. It provided a sense of relief, calming the anxiety that I get whenever I try and do a cleansing or fasting program. It’s partly the drop in my blood sugar and I suspect that some of it is related to the emotional attachment that many of us have to food.
I spoke with the doctor afterwards who, like Usha and Bessy, was surprised that my hunger returned so early in the day. He said most people do not feel hungry until evening; 6:30 or 7pm. His prognosis? Increase the ghee, maybe by 70 percent. My expression must have prompted him to assure me that more ghee equals more lubrication, and better healing.
Truthfully, the ghee does not taste bad, at all. It’s quite mild, and I like ghee on food, so it’s not that big of a deal. Bessy told me that the ghee in the marketplace was very different, stronger smelling and tasting than their specially-prepared ghee.
I finished today’s dose in 4 swallows, so must’ve only been 20 percent more, not the 70 percent the doctor mentioned yesterday. I also told myself not to think about it. Just drink it down, without any forethought or afterthought. It works. It’s likely nearly the same with food. To not think about eating when mealtime comes. I considered taking more khani last night, per the doctor’s suggestion, but realized the feeling I was experiencing was not hunger but some digestive upset. So, I stopped thinking about food, and the sensation went away.
I’m not feeling anything too extraordinary yet. I have considered increasing my program from nine days to 12. That would mean receiving another therapy, since the treatment is divided into segments – 3/3/3 – three days of one kind of therapy, followed by three days of another, etc. I’m sure it will become clearer to me as I go along.
Drats! It’s only been a little over an hour since I’ve consumed the ghee and I’m feeling some hunger pangs. I’ll turn my attention elsewhere, and conclude my Day Two report. ‘Til tomorrow, then.
