Priti Omved---Nutrition Scholar
Priti
Mehta is the founder,
director and creative force behind Omved, the only one of its kind, a retail
chain of stores with the largest range of pure and natural products based on
the Vedic traditions of India. Born into a family steeped in this ancient
wisdom and natural healing, she was introduced to Yoga and Naturopathy, by her
parents at the age of 3. These very lessons she applied to her life when she
became an expectant mother with twins. At the age of 11, her children have the
wisdom of avoiding salt, sugar, white flour and soda. This has helped them grow
up to a healthy and strong foundation.
A scholar of nutrition and healing
sciences and a Master of the Vedas, Priti developed the Omved line of products,
with renowned Ayurvedic practitioners,experts in the fields of yoga, vastu,
jyotish and chakra therapy.
Tell
us about you early childhood….
My
childhood was a very happy one. The eldest of three siblings, I grew up in a
very close knit family. My fathe, a successful businessman, my mother the
dedicated home maker, a penthouse in Malabar hill; it was a life of luxury.
My
parents were and continue to be role models of humility, integrity and
strength. Life was simple, evening meals were always together and lots of RTC’s
(round table conferences – a tradition of discussion unique to my family, where
everyone had an equal say and the decisions had to be unanimous). There were
privileges but they were always bartered with responsibilities, no weekly
allowance instead we had to earn that too by doing chores, few gifts but
birthdays were always BIG events!
My parents
love for nature is something I am glad to have inherited. In spite of living
among the cemented buildings in urban Mumbai, we always felt surrounded by
nature--my mother’s famous terrace botanical garden and star gazing with my
father’s telescope, nature was part of our everyday routine .
My
parents were and still are ardent followers of Naturopathy and so our days
started and ended in natural decoctions, cleansing routines and natural medical
care. For every ache, scrape and wound there was always some leaf, some root,
some herb that had to be applied, drunk or chewed. I believe that it was my
childhood that did more for my love for natural healing and understanding of
the rules of nature than anything I could learn from a school.
Your
educational background
I did my
elementary and middle years at a convent, Villa Theresa. High school was at Jai
Hind studying Arts. I did my bachelors in Political Science and Psychology and
went on to do my Masters in English Literature. When I was 16, I also started
working part time at the family’s jewellery factory. After my graduation I went
to the United States to graduate in a Jewelry Gemology course at G.I.A –
Gemological Institute of America and then to Switzerland to study the Jewelry
Retail course at CFH Institute in Lausanne.
In
an age when people seek immediate relief for the most simple ailments (through
allopathy), what is the role of Ayurveda ?
In Ayurveda, health is termed as swasthya; swa
– meaning self + sthaya meaning establishment. Health thus denotes ‘a
state of being established in the self’. Quite a detour from the present day
world of medicine wouldn’t you say?
The ‘sva’ of a man
encompasses the total man –Body : Sharir, Senses : Indriya,Mind : Sattva or
Manas and Spirit or Soul : Atma
Ayurveda thus is not a quick fix and window dressing- patch-
up job like most allopathic medicine is, it seeks deeper and looks for healing
from the base up.
It
offers us a deep understanding of the laws of nature and our constitution
types, provides us information on lifestyles and diets so we can make choices.
It is not only a comprehensive, personalized, holistic, medical science but a
way of living.
So when people
are opting for immediate relief through popping a pill they must ask themselves
if they are seeking temporary relief from the suppression of the symptoms or
they are looking for removing the deep-rooted causes and enjoy feeling well, a
constant state of Ananda/bliss.
Many people are opting for Ayurvedic and Homeopathic treatments, but it’s also true that these
lines take time to produce results. How can you convince people that these are
indeed better and more effective ways of treatment illnesses?
It is a misconception that Ayurveda takes time to produce
results. It all boils down to what are the ‘results’ that are we looking for?
If we are seeking just temporary relief then modern medical systems offer that.
But if on the other hand we want answers to why the disease exists, what are
the imbalances that caused the ailment, and if we wish to seek natural
solutions to regain the balance, then Ayurveda is the perfect modality.
Do
you believe that Ayurveda can also cure chronic diseases…for ex, Kidney
failure?
The thing to remember about the Ayurvedic way of healing is
that disease is caused by loss of balance. A disease becomes chronic when this
balance exists over long periods of time.
Kidney
failure or Chronic renal failure (CRF)
is an irreversible deterioration in kidney
function. This does not happen overnight but develops over a period of
years.
Ayurveda holds a tridosha imbalance (vata and kapha primarily) responsible for
the same.
What
are the products that Omved manufactures & markets?
Our products have only
one purpose – to
make Vedic living practical and easy – to help you live
in balance, in accordance
with the laws
of nature.
The Omved Wheel of
Balance reiterates that to be in balance, one needs to achieve harmony in
the 6 areas of one’s being: Physical
vitality ,Mental awareness,Yoga,Emotional Bliss,External harmony,Cosmic peace and Spiritual
awareness.
All of Omved’s offerings are divided into these
categories and are based on the scientific teachings of these 6 branches of the
Vedic tradition.
So whether you’re searching for 100 per cent natural aromatherapy synergy essential oil blends, non-toxic incense, certified organic bamboo clothing and bath linen, validated safe and effective body, hair and face care cosmeceutical (cosmetic and
pharmaceutical) products, authentic
Ayurvedic healing herbal blends,
pvc-free yoga mats, lead-free
terracotta and ceramic mugs, chemical
and pesticide-free herbal dyed
organic baby wear we are the natural choice.
Is
there a market for your products in South East
Asia?
South
East Asian countries are heirs of ancient cultures. They are in sync with
natural laws and have a deep understanding of the Universe and its working.
Omved products definitely have a market here. We have had many interest mails
and talks from different countries, from China, Philippines, Japan and Pakistan
to name a few.
Your
personal experience of motherhood …. specially with avoiding certain
foods….what were the benefits and what
would you recommend for expectant mothers?
Motherhood
was a life changing time for me, in many ways. By the time I delivered my twin
boys I had developed an intense involvement with the safe, non-toxic
‘alternative’ world of natural products; food, skin care and medical care.
I was
eating primarily what Ayurveda calls – ‘Sattvic food’- pure, wholesome,
nourishing (for me and the babies) vegetarian and easily digested. This
included rice, milk and paneer, ghee, fresh vegetables (cooked), sweet seasonal
fruits and juices, nuts, raisins and dates, lentils and grains. In the night, I
drank a mix of figs (soaked in water for 3 hours), saffron, poppy seeds and
milk.
A daily
self-massage with oil or a weekly massage is essential to keep the body
peaceful, circulation boosted and skin hydrated. Using calming aromatherapy
with pregnancy safe essential oils was a part of my daily routine. Yoga,
meditation and listening to peaceful music also helped me to connect with my
inner self and with my babies. All household cleaning products and all my
skincare personal products changed to natural safe options.
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