What happens when an experienced conventional doctor and gynaecologist swaps her surgery in the Bernese Oberland for a massage bed in Sri Lanka? Dr Barbara Nietlispach recounts her Ayurvedic retreat in Sri Lanka on our blog. In the interview, the gynaecologist describes how she broke away from her usual daily routine and learnt to endure an inner void in order to let go, layer by layer.
Dear Barbara, you work as a gynaecologist. As a practitioner of conventional medicine, what motivated you to undertake an Ayurvedic treatment programme?
I’ve always been interested in alternative healing methods. Even whilst studying medicine, I felt that I needed something to complement conventional medicine on a level that understands people beyond what is purely measurable. As a student, I trained in Shiatsu and later went on to study Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Today, I also practise acupuncture in my surgery and combine my gynaecological work with herbal medicine.
In my view, conventional medicine and complementary medicine are not at odds with one another. They complement each other – as the name suggests.
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
For me, Ayurveda has a unique, deeply profound and subtle quality. This is because Ayurveda works in a very loving and nurturing way on various levels – combining different therapeutic approaches into a holistic whole: body therapy, or in other words bodywork, with nutritional therapy, which forms the basis for herbal therapy. For me, a Panchakarma treatment is a therapy for body, mind and soul. Thanks to the subtle yet powerful and profound treatments, an Ayurvedic treatment helps people address deep-seated mental and physical imbalances. All of this takes place within a safe, nurturing environment. You can let go, allowing both mental and physical tensions to dissolve. In this way, Ayurveda operates on a different level to conventional medicine.
Anyone who embarks on an Ayurvedic treatment also engages more deeply with themselves and comes a step closer to self-healing.
Letting go to find oneself. How did you experience this process in practice during your Ayurvedic retreat in Sandaru Lanka?
I was very much aware of the head treatments.
During the head massages, my therapist worked on my scalp very intensively. This gave me the feeling that she was peeling away layer after layer; as if something that had been weathering out in the open needed to flake off.
The forehead oil treatments also revealed to me that the head plays an important role in Ayurveda. I experienced each of the three Shirodhara treatments in a completely new way. The first time, I felt very strongly how my body was coming to rest. I was suddenly deeply relaxed, pleasantly tired. During the second forehead oil treatment, I sensed a great sense of spaciousness in my head. And my senses became clearer. This is something I remember from before the menopause – and longed for time and again during the peri- and post-menopause: a clear head without brain fog. It’s wonderful to feel this way again.
During the third Shirodhara, this sense of calm sank even deeper into me. I had the feeling that I could actually feel my spinal fluid, or cerebrospinal fluid, vibrating.It was an experience beyond dimensions; comparable to the embryonic stage.
It triggered a deep sense within me of being sheltered, cared for and protected.
Did you notice any physical changes during your Ayurvedic treatment?
The effect on my body was very tangible and impressive. I’ve had lower back and sacral pain since the birth of my first son; sometimes milder, sometimes more severe. Thanks to the detoxification treatments and, above all, the Vasthi oil enemas, a lot of tension has really been released there. It felt very warm and I no longer have any pain. At home, I often need an extra pillow in bed. Here, I had absolutely no pain. That has completely sorted itself out over these two weeks.
Another key experience was Nasya, the nasal cleansing, during which I briefly felt ‘at the mercy of others’. I was lying on my back and had these sharp drops dripped into my nostrils. It stings and isn’t exactly pleasant. The feeling afterwards was brilliant.
Now that I’m talking about it, I realise: my bronchitis is gone, my sinuses are clear. I’d arrived here with sinusitis and bronchitis that I’d been unable to shake off for three months.
You’ve already undergone several Ayurvedic treatments. How does the process here in Sandaru Lanka differ from your previous experiences?
On the detox days, the treatment plan included shorter, gentle massages. That meant there was little activity required after the colonic or nasal cleansing or the oil enemas. At first, that felt like a void to me. It was challenging for me. I’d come to Sri Lanka from my tightly scheduled world.
Suddenly I had time and found myself wondering: what do I do now? It took some time getting used to, yet at the same time it was extremely important for me, as I realised in hindsight.
Because in Sandaru Lanka, I felt I was being treated with fundamental care and in a holistic way.
Did your stay also benefit your work as a gynaecologist?
Conversations around the table often revolved around women’s health or the menopause. There were a few women on the retreat with me for whom the menopause was a major concern. That’s why the Ayurvedic doctor gave a lecture specifically for us women. That was very enlightening for me too. I will certainly go into even greater depth in future consultations about how important lifestyle is.
During the menopause, hormonal chaos throws the body off balance. A healthy daily routine is then important to provide structure: warm water in the morning, meals at the same time, a regular sleep pattern.
Ayurveda also teaches us that gentle, targeted regularity often brings far greater benefits than any extremes. For example, in conventional medicine, strength training is currently the big topic for women over 50. That makes sense to me. But no woman should ‘push herself too hard’. Exercise is good if it brings joy. There’s no point in struggling on fitness machines if your heart isn’t in it. I want to make my patients aware of this too.
What advice would you give to people who are still hesitant about undergoing an Ayurvedic treatment programme?
Ayurveda isn’t just about well being. You have to be prepared to open yourself up to the therapy and to yourself in a new way. Because we relinquish control during an Ayurvedic treatment.
Naturally, this brings up feelings that your might rather have avoided. But one thing is certain. A Panchakarma treatment is worthwhile on every level: the positive feelings won’t be long in coming.
How do you feel about boarding the flight from Colombo to Zurich tomorrow?
to burst. And I was having trouble digesting my food; for me, that’s a warning sign. Now I’m flying home filled with deep joy, a newfound lightness and a fresh zest for life. I really feel completely embraced cocooned by this special experience with Ayurveda.
The interview was conducted by Susanne Kleiner on 6 March 2026, Barbara’s final day of her Ayurvedic treatment in Sandaru Lanka.
Dr Barbara Nietlispach is a specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics with the Swiss Medical Association, specialising in surgical gynaecology. At her Women’s Clinic ‘Praxis für die Frau’ in Spiez on Lake Thun, the Swiss doctor supports women through every stage of life. Barbara combines sound conventional medicine with complementary approaches. She is qualified to perform pregnancy ultrasounds and has trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine, specialising in acupuncture and herbal therapy. The mother of three sons was born in 1971 and has been working in women’s health for many years. She has a particular interest in taking a holistic view of women’s health.
During the interview, I noticed your eyes were sparkling and your face looked completely relaxed. Thank you so much, dear Barbara, for this open and informative conversation. We wish you all the very best for your return to Switzerland and are already looking forward to seeing you again at Sandaru Lanka.
Susanne and the Sandaru Lanka team
Read also the interview with our Ayurvedic doctor: ‘Before I treat you, I want to get to know you.’aru Lanka team
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