The development of a six-week individualized Ayurvedic, decolonial feminist self-care framework to promote healing in queer and/or women survivors of psychological trauma in South Africa

Background: Psychological trauma is widespread in South Africa, especially amongst queer people and women. The current study sought to develop a six-week individualized Ayurvedic, decolonial feminist self-care framework to promote healing in queer and/or women survivors of psychological trauma in South Africa. This paper discusses in detail the development of this self-care intervention. Methods: An adapted questionnaire was developed to assess survivors’ prakruti and vikruti before the six-week intervention, which would provide baseline data that will be used to individualize the framework. Nine guiding principles informed the development of the self-care healing framework, leading to a framework that is holistic, trauma sensitive, flexible yet semi-structured and practical for survivors to use at home. The framework consists of six main components: (i) dinacharya [daily routine]; (ii) ahara chikitsa [diet]; (iii) aushada chikitsa [herbal medicine], which includes two individualized herbal rasayanas [rejuvenative therapies]; (iv) sparsha chikitsa [touch therapy], including the self-massage of marma points using an individualized siddha tailam [medicated massage oil]; (v) Yoga chikitsa, encompassing all the eight limbs of Yoga identified by Patanjali; and (vi) sattvavajaya [psychotherapy], which includes three online therapeutic sessions per week with each survivor, covering Ayurvedic counseling to promote cognitive reframing. Results: The clinical results obtained using this framework have been published previously. This paper focuses on the development of the framework. Conclusion: The novelty of this paper lies in the comprehensive self-care healing framework that has been developed. The framework aims to facilitate survivors developing resilience, deepening resistance to oppressive structures and shifting images of trauma to those of liberation.