I

ndia is often the chosen land for those searching for emotional serenity or a cure for physical ills. At one famed Indian health institute, patients have to tough it out naturally.

Think of spiritual travel and India is synonymous with curative sojourns. From the ashrams nestled in the valleys of the Himalayas to yoga retreats on the shores of Karnataka, the subcontinent offers myriad venues of rest and retreat, for the soul and body and for mental balance.

Think of medical travel and the subcontinent still bodes well. Home to some of the best doctors and advanced medical facilities, India now attracts thousands of patients a year for those unable to meet the hefty costs of surgery in the "developed" world.

Think of all of the above? And only one place pops into mind.

The Jindal Naturecure Institute (JNI), which spreads across nearly 50 hectares of lawn, lakes and parks on the outskirts of India's garden city, Bangalore, offers two of India's most curative tools: naturopathy and yoga. Blending spirituality and medicine, it proposes a unique treatment that combines these two ancient sciences with dietary and other drug-free therapies.

The institute promises complete detox of the mind, body and soul.

In its ideals, Jindal naturopathy is miles away from India's other homeopathic remedies or the Western world's much-loved chiropractic. Much like yoga, it believes that the body is made up of five elements - earth, water, fire, air and sky. Unhappiness and sickness occur only when these elements are out of balance.

The way to bring these elements back into level ground is by flushing out every negative toxin in your body and bones - not through medicine, but through yogic kriyas and dietary changes. Jindal offers treatments for diseases from asthma to depression, migraine to arthritis and many more - without the use of a single pill or needle. Personal testimonials accompany each cure.

"Health is not something that can be purchased in a bottle," says Charakasamhita of the institute. "Diseases are a sign of the cleansing and healing effect of nature. If you suppress the conditions by drugs or by any other means, you are simply laying a foundation for chronic diseases. Drugging is like whipping an already exhausted horse."

The basic belief is that our bodies are our best healers.

While the institute offers some of the best massages and spa treatments in the region, the Jindal way is no stroll in the park. The institute makes for a pretty setting with benches to view the sunset over a pristine lake and lots of greenery infused with rare species of migratory birds. But in reality, it is less spa town and more boot camp.

The whole purpose at JNI is therapeutic healing. While applying for admission, you are sent forms to capture your medical history and conditions and are warned of the rigidness of the program. Patients are not allowed out of the institute except for supervised town visits on Sundays. That being said, the staff at JNI are amiable and they are very well informed about the adjustment period needed for patients not used to confinement.

The average day begins at 5:30 a.m. to the sound of bhajan, soothing musical prayers to Hindu gods. Once up, patients participate in yogic kriyas - a process that induces controlled vomiting or purgation of the nasal, stomach and intestinal pipes.

The induction manner depends on your illness. Those prone to migraines are encouraged to insert a thin piece of rubbery wire through the nose and out the mouth. Asthma patients often swallow a thin muslin-like cloth down the esophagus to remove blockages. Others drink repeatedly a mixture of hot water, salt and cardamom.

Kriyas are intrinsic to Jindal's medical philosophy as it removes negative energy and builds a platform on which healthy living begins. Group laughter sessions and yoga classes generally follow. The latter offers plenty of choice, including pioneering activities such as aquatic and eye care yoga.

Patients are then sent to doctors where they receive two cards: one outlining their diet and the other listing suitable therapies for the rest of their stay.

The first card in particular is tailored to every individual. At Jindal, this card outlines what each patient drinks every hour and what they have for each meal, so while one patient might be drinking a mixture of the juice of 39 fruits, another might be having five cashew nuts, four grapes, three figs with some yoghurt; yet another might be fasting.

One of the patients, Nitu, found the diet changed her view of food.

"On Day 1, I got some food - chapatti with a vegetable mix. Day 2 was just the chapatti," she says. "By Day 3, I was on an all-liquid diet which I thought would make my gastritis worse but by day 10, it was gone and I realized how little food I actually need to feel good."

After lunch, patients carry on with their prescribed treatments. While Nitu benefited from mudpacks and steaming, the treatments on offer vary from colon hydrotherapy to whirlpool baths as well as enemas and water massages.

Water-based treatment is at the forefront of JNI's healing process as scientific research has shown toxins and other bacteria cannot survive at low body temperatures. JNI also offers various treatments that are still in the research phase for patients willing to try new therapies at their own risk.

Following treatments, patients often do afternoon yoga sessions in batches and then the schedule opens up to what is called "free" time. "Free" because of the wide range of choices, with the plethora of recreational activities on offer including aerobics, a gymnasium with a skywalk, a swimming pool and facilities for indoor sports.

The swimming pool offers delightful features such as a water spray and the ability to generate current. Another feature at JNI is a reflexology track, paved with sharp pebbles filled with water that activate nerve endings in the feet by walking on it.

At 10:30 p.m. it is lights out. The next day, the detox continues.

While conventional Western medicine shuns naturopathy and labels it unreliable and risky, the Jindal take on the subject is relatively safer and has proven effects. Asthma patients say they do breathe easier by the end of their stay. The obese do shed kilograms in massive numbers and there are repeated miracle tales from former patients of headaches lifted, energy increased and a general lightness of being. Jindal also claims to have alleviated diseases that chemical science has yet to even get to.

The Jindal way, however, is not just a 10-day or one month process; to feel the effects in their entirety, one has to carry on with their strict regimen even in a daily routine, which requires hard work and self-discipline. The institute does offer various classes to prepare patients for life after Jindal, including lessons on how to prepare healthy meals and do everyday yoga at home.

For others, the institute offers an alternative way of life in a calm and beautiful place away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If only for a fortnight, you can participate in a treatment and lifestyle that is both natural and refreshing. You might just be encouraged to carry on further.

JNI offers a variety of accommodation types at differing rates, including a free ward for patients experiencing financial difficulties. For further information, visit www.jindalnaturecure.org

CLOSER TO HOME .

Other forms of natural remedy include the ancient Indian herbal treatment known widely as ayurveda. Like naturopathy, this therapy is based on the belief that the body is composed of five elements, but ayurveda seeks to cure metaphysical imbalances through the use of herbal medication, yoga and massage. In Jakarta, the following venues provide ayurvedic treatment:

Ayurveda Spa

Jl Surabaya No. 47 Menteng (021) 3911125

A favorite with expatriates, Ayurveda Spa uses natural oils and ayurvedic principles while offering a wide range of treatments including the celebrated traditional herbal massage and its specialty - the hot oil head massage.

Ayurvedic beauty treatments are also on offer, including facials that use Shenaz products, waxing and threading.

L'Ayurveda

Komplek Ruko Garden Fatmawati Blok J No. 35 (021) 75915183

A branch of the same name center in Bali, L'Ayurveda claims it is not just a spa but also a place for holistic healing. In addition to ayurvedic massages, it offers therapies such as crystal healing and Neo Tibetan energy massages.

The institute also performs hypnotherapy and can tailor a program to suit your needs.

Yoga classes for adults and kids are also available.