The former Chicago Blackhawks captain shared on his Instagram page that he spent weeks in India trying to heal immune system issues. Toews said that he underwent an Ayurvedic detox called Panchakarma.
“As some of you may know, I’ve been on a bit of a healing journey,” Toews wrote. “I’ve had many ups and downs, brief moments of hope working with a whole bunch of different doctors and modalities, followed by doubting if things would ever improve.”
“This system views our bodies as delicate ecosystems, influenced by everything we consume as far as energy, information, thoughts, feelings, and food,” Toews wrote. “In short, it teaches that our health can thrive when we learn to simplify our lives, create space for stillness and better align ourselves with nature’s rhythms. A Panchakarma is a healing protocol designed to restore your health by cleansing and releasing toxins stored deep in the body.”
The American-based National Library of Medicine says in a study that Ayurveda “is the traditional medical system of India and, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, it is understudied in western contexts.”
The organization adds: “Panchakarma is believed to help cleanse the body of impurities that can lead to disease.”
Toews announced back in April 2023 that he was taking a break from hockey as he continued to deal with health struggles related to long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome.
Toews missed the entire 2020-2021 season due to chronic health concerns, but returned to the Blackhawks to captain the Original Six franchise for two more seasons.
“It’s been almost five years of searching for a way to heal the inflammatory and immune system issues that took me out of hockey,” Toews wrote. “The wisdom of Ayurveda has taught me that everything I experience, I am responsible for. Not only did it teach me better diet choices specific to my body type, it has deepened my intuitive relationship with myself and the world around me.”
During his time with the Blackhawks, the Winnipeg native won the Stanley Cup three times. He was also awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009-10 and the Frank Selke Trophy in 2013.
The 36-year-old has scored 372 goals and 883 points in 1,067 career games after being selected third overall by Chicago in the 2006 NHL Draft.
