Ayurvedic  Doctor’s Guide to Forgiveness as Medicine

Forgiveness isn’t just good for the soul; it’s medicine for the body.

Forgiveness: the prescription we rarely write.

 Triphala for digestion. Ashwagandha for stress. Guggulu for inflammation. But there’s one prescription I wish I could write more often, one that doesn’t come in an herbal medicine or requires a visit to the local medical shop.

Forgiveness.

In Ayurveda, the body, mind, and spirit are interconnected. We treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. While our ancient texts speak of potent herbs and time-tested treatments, they also emphasize the importance of emotional balance for proper health. Forgiveness, or ‘kshama’ in Sanskrit, is vital to this balance.

It’s the most potent medicine I know – one that doesn’t need to be measured in grams or millilitres, doesn’t interact with other medications, and has no expiration date. Unlike the herbs in my dispensary, this remedy is always in stock, free of cost, and available to everyone.

The Grudge That Wouldn’t Let Go

Let me tell you about Sunita. She came to my clinic complaining of chronic headaches, insomnia, and fatigue. We ran tests and tried medications, but nothing seemed to work. Then, one day, she broke down in tears.

“I can’t stop thinking about what my ex did to me,” she confessed. “It’s been five years, and I’m still so angry.”

Sunita’s story is familiar. Many patients I’ve seen have had physical symptoms rooted in emotional pain. They keep the score.

But what if we could change the scoreboard?

The Science of Letting Go

Recent research has shown that forgiveness isn’t just feel-good pop psychology. It has tangible effects on our health.

A 2016 study published in the Journal of Health Psychology found that people who practised forgiveness had lower cortisol levels, the stress hormone associated with everything from weight gain to heart disease.

Another study from the University of California, San Diego, found that people who forgave had lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who held grudges.

Forgiveness doesn’t just affect the forgiver. It ripples out.

The Forgiveness Ripple Effect

In a groundbreaking study at Stanford University, researchers found that when people forgive, they feel better and more likely to help others, even strangers.

Forgiveness creates a positive feedback loop in our communities. One act of forgiveness can spark a chain reaction of kindness and understanding.

Forgiveness isn’t a magic wand. It’s not about forgetting or condoning harmful actions. It’s about freeing yourself from the burden of resentment.

The Forgiveness Prescription

How do we cultivate forgiveness? 

Here’s my prescription.

1. Start Small 

Wait to address your biggest grudges. Practice forgiving small slights every day.

2. Write It Out

Journaling about your feelings can help process emotions and lead to forgiveness.

3. Practice Empathy

 Try to understand the other person’s perspective, even if you disagree with their actions.

4. Seek Support

 Sometimes, professional help or a support group can guide you through forgiveness.

5. Meditate on Compassion

 Studies show that compassion meditation can increase forgiveness and improve mental health.

6. Set Boundaries

 Forgiveness doesn’t mean allowing harmful behaviour to continue. Set healthy boundaries as part of your forgiveness practice.

The Forgiveness Paradox

Sometimes, the person we most need to forgive is ourselves.

I once had a patient, let’s call him Janardan, who was a recovering addict. He had been clean for years but couldn’t shake the guilt of his past actions. His self-loathing manifested in chronic pain and recurrent infections.

It wasn’t until Janardan learned to forgive himself that his health improved. Self-forgiveness, it turns out, is linked to better immune function and overall well-being.

The Neuroscience of Forgiveness

Recent advances in neuroscience have given us fascinating insights into what happens in our brains when we forgive.

A 2013 study using fMRI scans found that when people practised forgiveness, there was increased activity in the neural networks associated with empathy and emotion regulation. Essentially, forgiveness helps rewire our brains for more positive emotional responses.

Another study published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience journal showed that forgiveness training could change the brain’s structure, increasing grey matter density in areas associated with emotional regulation and perspective-taking.

This neuroplasticity suggests that forgiveness isn’t just a momentary decision but a skill we can cultivate and strengthen over time.

The Forgiveness-Telomere Connection

Forgiveness might slow down cellular ageing.

Telomeres are the protective caps at the end of our chromosomes. They naturally shorten as we age, but chronic stress can accelerate this process. Shorter telomeres are associated with a host of age-related diseases and earlier mortality.

A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that more forgiving people had longer telomeres. This suggests that forgiveness might improve our quality of life and extend our lifespan.

 The Forgiveness Effect: When the Mind Heals the Body

In my practice, I’ve witnessed a fascinating phenomenon: the power of forgiveness to heal the body. This isn’t just anecdotal; it’s rooted in psychoneuroendocrinology – the study of how our thoughts and emotions influence our nervous and endocrine systems.

Consider these cases

1. Dhanalakshmi’s migraines vanished after forgiving her sister.

2. Vanitha’s blood pressure normalized when she forgave her ex-husband.

3. Mallikarjun’s psoriasis cleared after practising self-forgiveness.

4. Aarti’s insomnia resolved when she forgave her parents.

5. Rajesh’s back pain disappeared after forgiving a business partner.

6. Priya’s IBS improved with self-forgiveness for a career decision.

7. Kavita’s asthma eased after forgiving a childhood bully.

8. Suresh’s tremors stopped when he forgave himself for an accident.

9. Meena’s eczema cleared after forgiving her critical mother-in-law.

10. Arjun’s hypertension resolved after reconciling with his son.

11. Lakshmi’s weight loss journey succeeded when she forgave her body.

These aren’t miracles. They’re glimpses into the subconscious healing process. Forgiveness appears to trigger a cascade of positive changes in our bodies.

• Reduced stress hormones like cortisol
• Improved immune function
• Better sleep patterns
• Decreased inflammation

Our bodies keep score of emotional debts. Forgiveness might be the settlement they’re waiting for. It’s not about ignoring medical issues but recognizing that healing is holistic.

Sometimes, the most potent prescription is the one we write for ourselves: Forgive.

The Forgiveness Workout

Just like physical exercise, forgiveness gets easier with practice. Here’s a “workout routine” I often recommend to patients.

1.  Start your day with a forgiveness meditation. Spend 5 minutes visualizing and letting go of minor irritations.

2.  When someone cuts you off in traffic or is rude at the grocery store, practice instant forgiveness. Feel your heart rate steady as you let go of the anger.

3.  Once a week, tackle a more significant forgiveness challenge. Please write a letter (you don’t have to send it) to someone who has hurt you, expressing your feelings and your decision to forgive.

4.  End your day by forgiving yourself for any mistakes or shortcomings. Practice self-compassion as you drift off to sleep.

Just like you wouldn’t expect to run a marathon without training, don’t expect to forgive major hurts without building your forgiveness muscles.

The Last Word (For Now)

Forgiveness is a powerful medicine. Take daily doses, be patient, and watch your life transform. It’s not about changing the past but changing your future. Start today.