HONOKAA — Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems dating back more than 5,000 years to India, has been popular in the U.S. since the 1970s. Treatments aim to bring balance to the body by removing disease and restoring the body’s natural state of balance. It’s been used for everything from high blood pressure, heart, kidney, lymphatic and digestive issues, to diabetes and cancer.
In Honokaa, a massage clinic and apothecary store that follows this practice opened in March. Named AlohaVeda, the shelves are lined with 100 organic herbs and other Ayurvedic products. Owner Susan Wilesmith uses them to create treatments for clients specific to their ailment, and grows half of the herbs herself. The rest come from other parts of the island, organic suppliers on the mainland and as far as India.
She specializes in Panchakarma detox, massage and healing treatments.
“I combine treatments with herbs and herbal oils, or dry massage fully clothed. It depends on the aggravation or imbalances the client has on the day,” she said.
Wilesmith sees a lot of similarities between Hawaii and what she saw growing up in Australia.
“In North Queensland it’s very tropical, with papaya, banana, coconuts, noni and ti leaf like it is here,” she said. “But there are some things like mamaki and other Hawaiian herbs which we integrate in treatments. Using the herbs that people are familiar with also brings a stronger healing to them because they’ve used it in their family, so it brings a familiarity and a nourishment they’ve had as a child.”
Honokaa resident Walker Dunn thinks Wilesmith is “an angel.”
“I’m a cancer patient and returned to Hawaii several weeks ago and was in pretty bad shape,” he said. “I wandered up to her place and it was like a miracle. I’ve owned massage places and know what I’m talking about,” he said.
Not familiar with Ayurvedic methods, he was initially looking for a massage following a long flight home following seven months of treatment for 4th-stage myeloma cancer on the mainland. Wilesmith treated him with herbs, minerals and warm oil massage techniques. At the same time she helped build his immune system with good nutrition and mineralized water.
“I was impressed with her use of oils and how I felt afterwards,” Dunn said. “Her experience and methods fascinated me. Her ability to help me get the best foods has allowed me to eliminate some of the medications I’m taking. I’m more alert and strong physically. She’s worked with me on a daily basis and has been instrumental in directing my health more towards holistic treatments to rejuvenate me. It has altered my complete well-being.”
Wilesmith’s career in the healing arts began more than 30 years. A native of Australia, she focused her training on Ayurveda beginning in 2001 and moved to Kauai in 2003 where she learned Hawaiian healing. She soon began combining Ayurvedic, Chinese and Hawaiian herbs in her treatments.
In 2009, Wilesmith created Supergreen528Hz — an organic health products line that specializes in skin care, herbal tea formulations, smoothie and spice churna blends.
In late 2014, she moved to the Big Island.
“I have always loved the expansiveness of the Big Island and chose Honokaa because of its beauty, artistic flow and the historic architecture,” she said.
Her products are sold in her store, online and at health food stores on Kauai and the Big Island.
“They are based on my knowledge of Ayurveda/Chinese medicine and superfood herbs,” Wilesmith said. “I have studied Ayurvedic herbal formulations and treated hundreds of clients over the years. The formulations are based on everything I have learned from my teachers and clients.”
Massage treatments at AlohaVeda range from Veda Bliss — an Ayurvedic massage that uses eight different essential oils — to Udvartan skin scrub with herbal steam to cleanse and detoxify the body, and Pinda Svedna that helps remove stiffness and swelling in the joints. Other treatments target feet, eye, head and nose ailments. Lomi lomi, deep tissue, sports and Swedish massage techniques are also offered.
Wilesmith is now preparing to grow even more herbs. Later this month, she will begin planting new seeds on a farm in Waipio Valley. She has other future goals as well.
“My on-going vision is to integrate service to the community through arts and education with the children at the Hamakua Youth Center,” she said. “The older children can learn about the herbs, and in the near future I plan to open a massage education school.”
Info: www.alohavedahawaii.com.