Orlando, Florida. October 30, 2023. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. On the last weekend in October 2023, the NCAM mega-conference gathered approximately 310 people interested in offering authentic Ayurveda to the world at the Westgate Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA. The theme was Ayurveda Beyond Wellness, exploring the reality that Ayurveda is not simply preventive, and also that Ayurveda is about wholeness. It was a collaboration between 20 organizations of Ayurveda around the USA, coming together to organize an event with the common goal of increasing awareness about Ayurveda. The program schedule, speakers, sponsors, and
organizing committee can be viewed at
The mega-conference hosted 87 speakers and provided a fabulous exhibition space for 35 sponsors and vendors of Ayurvedic products and services demonstrating Ayurveda Beyond Wellness. Over 20 registered organizations, schools, and businesses interested in authentic Ayurveda came together for this meeting of hearts and minds hosted by the Ayurveda Association of Florida and its president, Dr. Aparna Bapat, who served as chair of the mega-conference.
The conference opened with the mantra invoking Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. The opening address was by Sadhguru online. The chief guests were Dr. Danny Gaekwad and Senator Dennis Baxley of Florida. The featured speakers were Dr. P. Nambi Namboodiri, Vd. Partap Chauhan, David Frawley, Vd. Nitin Kochar, Dr. John Douillard, and Chef Divya Alter. The title sponsor was Sachin Nayyar of LybL.
The pre-conference roundtable discussion was packed with wisdom and discussion about controversial topics, such as the realities of importing herbs from cultivation through harvesting through authentication and storage and customs and packing to import into the USA safely; the role of evident observable things in our world included in “scientific evidence;" and the need for including Ayurveda, yoga, and personal mind development in mainstream universities in the USA. It continued potently from 11 am til 3 pm, with only a 30-minute lunch break.
The main program featured ten interactive, 90-minute discussions called Sambhasha, with 6-8 panelists and a moderator on topics such as law and policy on Ayurveda, what scientific evidence there is, the historical science of Vijaya as one of the five sacred plants of Ayurvedic medicine, incurable diseases, and Ayurveda, Ayurveda and cancer, women's health issues, cultivation and import of Ayurvedic herbs, mainstreaming Ayurvedic education, and entrepreneurial mastery for Ayurveda.
The main program also featured 18-minute TED-style talks on topics exploring the depths of Ayurvedic medicine beyond wellness, including how to ayurvedize your food choices, practical panchakarma, the relationship between healthy soil and healthy humans, evidence-based cardiac health, bhasmas for cancer, pain control and treatment of Crohn's Disease, how to use bhasma and oils to heal knee osteoarthritis, proper tools for understanding menstruation, the healthy mind and strategies for mental health, the science of Ayurvedic anesthesia and pain control, whole health approaches for veterans, clinical trials of Ayurveda with cancer patients, the new AI - Ayurveda Intelligence, and the physiologic importance of purging regularly for
restoring wellness.
Between the intense talks, there were 5-minute yoga intensives, three live classical sitar performances and a Bharat Natyam live dance performance, garba dance lessons, an Ayurveda comedy show and daily early morning yoga led by an expert yoga therapist-educator.
There were several experiential and demo lectures, including leech therapy, music as
and Dr. Abhay Kumar Pati.
For almost 25 years, the Ayurveda community in the United States has been trying to organize practitioners toward the professional practice of a medicinal system that addresses body, mind, spirit and senses. After many years of watching Ayurveda dilettantes dominating the scene, who have a few weeks or 100s of hours of training in Ayurveda without evaluation of what they absorbed (aka proof of competence), and who think that certification means they can call themselves Ayurveda doctors by grandfathering themselves in a groundswell of authentic practice is emerging. However, professionals, patients, lawmakers, and investors are now demanding proof of Competence.
Of note, NCAM received no government aid at the last minute. Therefore, everyone came together, with sponsors, vendors, exhibitors, and private contributors bridging the gaps and helping to fund hotel rooms, and students jumping forward to offer transportation to and from the airport.
An amazing array of physician speakers, scientists, and experts came forward unapologetically to discuss the healing proof of Ayurveda to an eager and attentive audience. Jai Ayurveda!
Popular author John Douillard commented, "This is the kindest group of experts I have ever been with, the best conference I have ever attended." Padmabhushan David Frawley spoke with his feet as he sat and listened attentively from when he arrived to when he left.
Respectfully submitted,
Bhaswati Bhattacharya, MPH, MD, PhD (Ayu)