Kumbatia San

When I first sat down with Dr. Priyal Modi, I didn’t expect our conversation to feel so familiar. She spoke about Ayurveda — not as an abstract concept or exotic philosophy, but as a way of remembering how to live in rhythm with your body. It reminded me of something I’ve often felt but rarely voiced: that healing, at its core, is about coming home.

We spoke about the parallels between Ayurveda and African traditional medicine — two ancient systems that have been misunderstood, diluted, or dismissed in modern wellness spaces. Both are rooted in ritual, plant medicine, ancestral wisdom, and emotional alignment. Yet one is seen as “spiritual” and the other as “superstitious.”

Our conversation questioned why so many people still fear or misunderstand ancient practices like Ayurveda and yoga. Personally, I still find it strange — and a little heartbreaking — how many indigenous Africans fear their own ancient medicines and teachings. The same reverence often given to Eastern practices is rarely extended to our own, even though both are rooted in rhythm, ritual, and a deep respect for nature.

Dr. Priyal spoke about the mind-body connection, explaining how Ayurveda views emotional well-being as inseparable from physical health. She believes in bridging the old and new — combining evidence-based medicine with holistic understanding. It isn’t about rejecting science; it’s about reclaiming the sacred balance that existed long before modern medicine named it “alternative.” It also isn’t about demonizing one culture or religion in favor of another — it’s about reclaiming and taking pride in ancestral teachings that remind us who we are and where we come from.

I found myself reflecting on how much fear and shame still shape the way we talk about healing. We’ve been taught to see herbs, energy work, or intuitive practices as primitive — when in truth, they’ve carried generations of people through pain, childbirth, and spiritual crisis. Maybe the real question isn’t whether these practices work, but why we’ve been taught to distrust them.

This week’s Breath & Brunch podcast episode with Dr. Priyal Modi explores:

• The meeting point between Ayurveda and African traditional medicine.
• Why emotional well-being must be part of every healing journey.
• How fear, misinformation, and colonization still shape our understanding of wellness.
• What it means to live in balance — body, mind, and spirit.

It’s one of those conversations that lingers — the kind that doesn’t try to convert you, but instead invites you to remember what your body already knows.

🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube:

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