Speakers of the Ayurveda Symposium 2017

Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)
Prof. Dr. Tanuja Nesari, BAMS, MD (Ayu), PhD (Ayu) Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA). She is the Chair for the Health Sector sub-skill Council for AYUSH and a member of Governing Council of IMS, BHU. Dr. Nesari is also a member of the General Assembly of ICCR, a Member of the Board of Governors, CCIM and serves on the academic board of various universities like ITRA, Jamnagar & National Academic and Research Bodies.
She serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of CCRAS and domain expert of the Technical Screening Committee (TSC) of NMPB. Her influential leadership has brought more than 20 MOUs into the credit of AIIA. She played a key role in converting AIIA Hospital, New Delhi into COVID Healthcare Centre, where the patients are being provided holistic Ayurveda treatment.

Practitioner of alternative medicine
Hans Heinrich Rhyner, MD, PhD (Alternative Medicine), Dipl. NHP Ayurveda Medicine, is a recognized expert and pioneer of Ayurvedic medicine in Europe. He lived in India for 25 years and ran his own clinic in Bangalore. He looks back on 40 years of clinical experience and is the author of textbooks on Ayurveda. He applies his knowledge in his swiss clinic in Teufen, in Munich, Vienna and on Mallorca as well as in his manufacture of Ayurveda products in Austria.

Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), University, Jaipur

Prof. Sanjeev Sharma is Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), a leading Ayurveda University in Jaipur. He is a scientist, author and is one of the leading Ayurveda and Marma experts. Under his leadership, NIA has become one of the most advanced Ayurvedic training institutions in the world.

Swiss certified Practitioner of Natural Medicine
Sabine Anliker is a Practitioner of Natural Medicine with a federal diploma in Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional European Naturopathy and also holds a Master of Science degree in Ayurvedic Medicine. She has also completed training as a Practitioner of Natural Medicine for classical naturopathy and homeopathy. She runs her own clinic in Lucerne and is President of the Swiss Ayurveda Medicine Association (AMVS) and Vice President of the Ayurveda Medicine Support Organization.

Master of Science in Ayurvedic Medicine, certified educator, alternative practitioner
Oliver Becker has been practicing Ayurvedic medicine in his own clinic for many years. At the European Academy of Ayurveda, he works as a lecturer, module leader, educational coach and interpreter in the Ayurvedic Medicine course. In addition, he teaches in various other training courses of the Academy. His professional focus as a lecturer includes pharmacology and internal medicine of Ayurveda. In addition to Ayurvedic medicine, he has profound knowledge of yoga, Vedic knowledge systems and Sanskrit.

General practitioner and Ayurveda doctor
Training as a general practitioner at the University of Vienna and several years of study of Ayurvedic medicine at the European Academy of Ayurveda. Ayurveda practice in Sattledt and Salzburg. Scientific director of the European Academy for Ayurveda in Vienna. Lectures and seminars at home and abroad.

Delegate of the Ministry of AYUSH, General Director CCRAS
Prof. K. S. Dhiman is participating in the symposium as a member of a delegation of the Indian AYUSH Ministry (Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy). He is Director General of CCRAS (Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences). Previously, he was Professor of Shalakya Tantra at the Institute for Postgraduate Teaching and Research at Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar.

Ayurveda Clinic Director, Professor, J.S. Ayurveda College, Vice Chancellor, Maganbhai Adenwala Mahagujarat University, India
Prof. Shivenarain Gupta MD (Ayu) is a physician and professor of Ayurvedic medicine from Nadiad (India). He earned his doctorate degree from the famous Ayurveda University of Jamnagar. Today he heads the Department of Internal Medicine at the P. D. Patel Ayurveda Hospital. As a professor of the affiliated J. S. Ayurveda College, he has succeeded in establishing one of the most prestigious pancakarma clinics in India, where patients from India and Europe receive help. He was awarded by IASTAM (India) for his achievements in teaching and appointed as Vice Chancellor, Maganbhai Adenwala Mahagujarat University in 2022. At the European Academy of Ayurveda, he has been one of the key teachers and academic head of training in Ayurvedic Medicine for many years.

Ayurveda Physician
Sascha Kriese completed a three-year course of Ayurveda studies at Thames Valley University London and learned the art of pulse reading in India from his mentor Dr. Pankaj Naram. For many years he has been running his own Ayurveda practice in Brighton. He is also Co-President of the Ayurvedic Practitioners Association (APA).

Chief physician and MD in Kayachikitsa
Sajan Joseph studied at the Government Ayurveda College Trivandrum, Kerala/India and achieved his MD in Kayachikitsa. For the following year he worked at Vishnu Ayurveda College and then in the department "Indian Medical Systems". Since 2014 he is Chief Physician - Ayurveda Specialist in the 3 centres of the Madukkakkuzhy Ayurveda Group, Bad Bocklet, Germany.

Head of herbal medicine at the BHU
Prof. V.K. Joshi MD (Ayu) PhD heads the Dravyaguna Department at the Faculty of Indian Medicine of the renowned Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. Meanwhile he looks back on 40 years of experience in working with classical Ayurvedic medicinal plants. He is Chairman of the Ayurveda Pharmacopeia Committee in the AYUSH Ministry and participates in the expert group for quality standards of Indian medicinal plants. He has also written the WHO guidelines for basic training and safety in Ayurveda.

Senior physician, researcher, Indologist
Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Christian S. Keßler, MA, MSc (Ayur. Medicine - Middlesex) is senior physician and research coordinator at Immanuel Hospital Berlin and is scientifically active at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin with a focus on Ayurveda. He has led and published various studies on Ayurveda in recent years. His master's degree in Indology enables him to explore Ayurveda comprehensively and in its academic depth. Christian Kessler is Chairman of the Board of the German Medical Association for Ayurveda DÄGAM and a member of the Executive Committee of the Ayurveda Dachverband Deutschland, ADAVED e.V.

Medical doctor
Ulrich Koch is a doctor, yoga teacher and head of the homeopathic practice in the Psychiatric Institute Outpatient Clinic in Hofheim. He is a pioneer in the research and clinical application of yoga and meditation for people with mental disorders.

Ayurveda doctor, former general director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda
Prof. Dr. Abhimanyu Kumar MD (Ayu) MSc PhD is Vice Chancellor of the Uttarakhand Ayurved University in India. Previously, he was Executive Director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi, the new Excellence Initiative of the Indian Ministry of Health AYUSH for Postgraduate Education and Specialist Medicine in Ayurveda. He also holds the position of Director General of the CCRAS Central Councils for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences for several years. Prior to that, he was active for many years as Head of the Department of Ayurvedic Pediatrics, NAI, Jaipur. He holds a PhD in Pediatrics and a Master in Applied Psychology. He has also published three books and more than 60 scientific articles.

CEO and Managing Director of AVP Baltics
Dr. Somit Kumar completed his MD in Dravyaguna and is currently pursuing research for his PhD in the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Latvia. He is also involved in several other research projects. For the last 12 years he has been active in clinical work, specializing in Kerala-based panchakarma, including metabolic, neuroendocrine, rheutmatological, dermatological and autoimmune diseases.

Specialist in general medicine, additional qualification in naturopathy
Study of Ayurveda medicine in Germany and India. During his further training as a specialist in general medicine and neurology, he worked for many years in the field of integrative medicine, including classical European naturopathy under Prof. Dobos at the Knappschaft Hospital in Essen and Ayurveda under Prof. Przuntek at the Protestant Hospital in Hattingen. Currently working in the integrative medical fasting clinic Buchinger-Wilhelmi. Research on the role of the bacterial intestinal flora in neurodegenerative diseases while working in Hattingen as well as in the master's program at the European Academy of Ayurveda. Training in classical European naturopathy in Bad Wörrishofen, obtaining the additional title of naturopathic medicine, as well as various further training courses in the field of integrative medicine and nutritional medicine.

Indologist and religious scholar
Prof. Dr. Martin Mittwede is head of the Master of Science in Ayurveda Medicine at the European Academy of Ayurveda. The indologist and religious scholar habilitated already in 1996 with a research project on Ayurveda and has many years of experience in further medical training. He also teaches at the University of Frankfurt/Main and has published numerous works on Ayurveda medicine.

Neurologist and Ayurveda doctor

Ayurveda doctor and researcher, director of Ayuwave
Dr. Vijayendar Murthy is an internationally recognized Ayurvedic physician and researcher. He is the Director of Ayuwave London, UK, and Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. Murthy received his diverse medical education and clinical practice in India, New Zealand, Australia and England. He lives and works in London. His healing methods attract a wide range of health seekers and patients, including stars and the British Royal Family. Dr Murthy also runs an innovative radio show called "Unlock your Health".

Specialist for physical and rehabilitative medicine, medical psychotherapist
Dr. med. Kalyani Nagersheth has been working as an Ayurveda doctor since 2000 and was head of the Ayurveda department at the Habichtswald-Klinik, Kassel. Today she runs her own clinic for Ayurveda medicine in Frankfurt. She also takes over the medical supervision of Panchakarma cures at the Rosenberg Ayurveda Health and Spa Centre. One of her specialties is Western and Ayurvedic Phythotherapy. She is a book author and has many years of experience as a lecturer in Ayurvedic medicine.

Director of the Institute of Ayurveda SNA Oushadhasala
Prof. A.N. Nambi MD (Ayu) represents the rich heritage of the Ashtavaidyas, for centuries the largest family of traditional doctors in India. He is active as a speaker, lecturer and physician in clinical practice and research. In addition to his position as director of the Institute of Ayurveda S.N.A. Oushadhasla (P) Ltd,
Thrissur, Kerala, he is a faculty member at Ayurvedic Point, Italy. He also served as scientific coordinator of the INDRA network and was a member of the Council for International Cooperation of Indian System of Medicine in the AYUSH Department of the Indian Government.

Professor of internal medicine
Prof. Dr. med. Valdis Pirags heads the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Latvia. He is also Chairman of the Latvian Association of Endocrinologists and Council Member of the European Association for Diabetes Research.

Founder of the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre Bad Ems
Lothar Pirc has made Ayurveda one of his central life themes. He trained as a teacher for Transcendental Meditation in France, Germany and Switzerland. A career in hotel management in Switzerland and stations of teaching Ayurveda in the Netherlands, Kenya, Cyprus and the USA followed. In 1992 Lothar Pirc and his wife Karin founded the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre in Bad Ems. He has received several international awards and is a sought-after speaker and author of scientific articles.

Ayurveda doctor and pharmacologist
Dr. Rammanohar Puthiyedath MD (Ayu) is a doctor of Ayurvedic medicine and specialised in Ayurvedic pharmacology. He is currently working as Director of Research at Amrita School of Ayurveda, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kollam, Kerala. He is a Visiting Professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences, USA and Co-Chair of the Special Interest Group (SIG) for Ayurveda, Society for Integrative Oncology. He is a part time member of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, Government of India. He serves as Research Advisor for Indian National Science Academy and Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Government of India. He is particularly interested in Integrative Medicine as well as Psychology and spirituality from an Ayurvedic perspective.

Practitioner of Natural Medicine, MSc in Ayurvedic Medicine
Theresa Rosenberg is a non-medical practitioner specializing in Ayurvedic medicine and completed studies in Ayurvedic medicine at the European Academy of Ayurveda. In her own clinic in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, she performs medical consultations, nutritional counseling, constitutional determinations, individual cures, and medical manual therapies. In addition to her clinic, she works as an Ayurvedic physician in the Rosenberg Therapy and Competence Center and as a lecturer at the REAA in Birstein. She is also an expert in Ayurvedic medicine for animals.

Specialist for Ayurveda nutrition
Kerstin Rosenberg runs the European Academy for Ayurveda together with her husband. The internationally renowned specialist for Ayurveda and nutrition has been training people in Ayurveda nutrition and health counselling, psychology and therapy throughout Europe since 1996. She has 25 years of practical experience in Ayurveda and is in daily contact with patients, training participants and spa guests. As an author, she has published numerous Ayurveda books, which are among the best known works of Ayurveda literature.

Director of the European Academy for Ayurveda
Mark Rosenberg heads the European Academy for Ayurveda and is managing partner of the Rosenberg Ayurveda companies. He has many years of experience as a management consultant, Vastu expert and Yoga teacher BDY/EYU. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of VEAT - Berufsverband Europäischer Ayurveda-Mediziner und -Therapeuten e.V. He was awarded the prestigious Vaidya Sundarlal Joshi Memorial Management Award by MGMS (India) to honour him for his outstanding management achievements in the field of Ayurveda. He also received the IASTAM Pandit Shiv Sharma Oration Award.

Researcher
at the Centre for Complementary Medicine at the University of Latvia in Riga.

Medical doctor
Yatin Shah works as a physician at the university outpatient clinic for naturopathy of the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and in his own practice in Potsdam. Trained in homeopathy in Spain, India and Nepal, with a diploma in homeopathy since 2016. His work in clinical research focuses on strophanthin in heart medicine, among other things.

Practitioner of Ayurveda medicine and indologist
Elmar Stapelfeldt is an alternative practitioner, master of indology and author. He is currently active as a non-medical practitioner, nutritionist and scientific assistant at the Immanuel Hospital in Berlin. He has extensive experience in the application of Ayurvedic medicine. Among other things, he was a long-standing lecturer at the European Academy for Ayurveda, including 5 years as head of the department of Ayurvedic Medicine.

Practitioner of alternative medicine and editor-in-chief of the Ayurveda Journal
Ralph Steuernagel has dedicated 20 years to the interdisciplinary cooperation of western and eastern medicine. He runs his own Ayurveda practice and academy in Bad Homburg (D). In addition, he is the editorial director of the Ayurveda Journal.

Yoga teacher, therapist, vice-director Ayurvedic Point
Carmen Tosto is the Co-Director and Co-Founder of "Ayurvedic Point" (Milan, Italy). She obtained her Yoga Teacher diploma at the Yoga-Sūrya Chandra Marga Institute under the guidance of Master Gabriella Cella (Yoga Ratna) and further enhanced her training with a diploma in Ayurvedic Therapy from the Joytinat International College of Āyurveda, under the direction of Swami Joythimayananda. She has also deepened her knowledge of Marma Point Therapy under the guidance of Vaidya Atreya Smith and specialized in Panchakarma Therapy at the Ashtavaidyan Thaikat Mooss' Ayurvedic Institute in Thrissur, India. In 2003, she was awarded the honorary title of "Āyurveda Acharya" by the Ayurvedic Institute Ashtavaidyan Thaikat Mooss - Kerala, India. She is the creator of the PMT - PranaMarmaTherapy© Method and the AYT - AyurvedaYogaTherapy© Method. Her main interest lies in the integration of Yoga and Āyurveda into medical practice and the clinical application of Panchakarma Therapy. She is the author of numerous publications on Āyurveda and Yoga and currently directs the Treatment Department at the Ayurvedic Medicine Center "Ayurvedic Point" in Milan. She is also the co-author of scientific publications in international specialized journals, conference presentations, and books. She teaches the elective course "Introduction to Āyurveda" at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan.

Biologist at the University of Latvia
The doctor of biology is a lecturer and senior scientist at the Medical Faculty of the University of Latvia. There she heads the laboratory for medical microbiology. She also heads a cooperation project between the University of Latvia and the Arya Vaidya Chikitsalayam and Research Institute, AVP Baltics. She is a certified specialist for Indian Yoga and Zen practitioner.

Ayurveda doctor, specialist for pulse diagnosis
After graduating in Ayurvedic Medicine and further studies of Kayachikitsa (internal medicine) at the University of Nagpur, Vaidya Vyas received his diploma in Ayurvedic Health Education at the Rajasthan Ayurvedic University in Jodpur. After 10 years of Ayurvedic practice in India, Vaidya Vyas came to Europe in 2007 and started to practice Maharishi Ayurveda in Holland at Maharishi Vedic University in Vlodrop. In addition to numerous lectures and leading Ayurveda training courses throughout Europe and India, he conducted consultations at the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre in Bad Ems.

Physician for general medicine and naturopathy
Dr. med Dietrich Wachsmuth studied medicine with a focus on psychosomatics and trained in naturopathy and homeopathy. Additionally he became a teacher for Transcendental Meditation. His doctoral thesis dealt with the topics of brain waves and consciousness during meditation and in the sleep stages.
He practiced as a general practitioner and acted as an instructor for naturopathy and general medicine. From 2004 he worked as an Ayurveda doctor at the Parkschlösschen Traben-Trarbach, since 2010 at the Maharishi Health Centre Bad Ems. His main focus in Ayurveda includes preventive Panchakarma, constitutional therapy as well as lectures and seminars on naturopathy, fasting and meditation.

Life and social counsellor, human energetics, President IDYA
Mag. Dr. Dr. Christian Wolf has been active in the fields of yoga, meditation and holistic health promotion and awareness training since 1974. He has degrees in health and social sciences, is a registered life and social counsellor and human energeticist (WKOÖ) and president of IDYA - International Diamond Yoga Association. For 10 years he has been conducting yoga individual therapies based on the Dosha teachings.