Homeopathy & You April 2014 by Dr. Batras Media Pvt. Ltd.

Vol 1. Issue 6. April 2014 • `100

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Dr MUKESH BATRA The homeopathic Pulsatilla personality MANEKA GANDHI No less human NElRESSA STAllINGS Of leadership and teamwork PlUS

Homeopathy is not slow Water of life The healthy bicycle Goodness of chromium Deepika Padukone’s fitness mantra

HOmeOPaTHy & asTHma

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Vol 1. Issue 6. April 2014

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INSIDE

Vol 1. Issue 6. APRIL 2014

Editorial Advisory Board Chairman | Dr Mukesh Batra Vice-Chairman | Dr Akshay Batra Editor & Publisher Dr Rajgopal Nidamboor Assistant Editor Kavita Nadkarni Head-Marketing Sumeet Ambegaokar Head-Sales Kiran Joshi adsales@homeopathyandyou.com Contributing Writers Maneka Gandhi Richard Firshein Kerry Dulin Nelressa Stallings Ambika Shukla Radhanath Swami Badrinath Durvasula Ruby Lilaowala Design HB Design Pvt. Ltd. Newstand Distributor Paprika Media Subscriptions Tel: 022-3367 1200 subscriptions@homeopathyandyou.com Website: www.homeopathyandyou.com E: editorial@homeopathyandyou.com Tel: 022-3367 1200 Fax: 022-3027 1415 Printed and published by Rajgopal Nidamboor for and on behalf of Dr Mukesh Batra, 2nd Floor, H Kantilal Compound, Andheri-Kurla Road, Sakinaka, Andheri [E], Mumbai – 400 072 and printed by him at Parksons Graphics, 15 Shah Industrial Estate, Off Veera Desai Road, Andheri [W], Mumbai - 400 053. Editor & Publisher: Rajgopal Nidamboor © All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, in any manner, without prior written permission prohibited. Disclaimer: Homeopathy & You is committed to providing useful information on homeopathy, health and wellness. However, its content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis for individual problems, or inferred to be a substitute for professional medical guidance. It is imperative for readers to consult their doctor/ healthcare professional or therapist, prior to starting any treatment, or practice, or attending to any questions thereto. The opinions expressed by writers and columnists are their own. They do not, in any way, or manner, reflect the views of the publisher, editor, or company.

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Letters Focus: Treat asthma with homeopathy. Homeopathic ‘Sunsigns:’ Know your personality; know your remedy. Dr Mukesh Batra distils the homeopathic Pulsatilla, this month Medical Marvels: Case Reviews from homeopathic doctors How Homeopathy Helped Me Your Little Box: Homeopathic Home Kit: Ruta Child Health: Homeopathy for atopic dermatitis Q&A: Doctor’s Orders For Women: Homeopathy and PCOS What Lies Beneath: Homeopathy is evidence-based medicine Home[e]o Truths: Homeopathy is not slow Living Well: Water of life Bridal elegance Health Happenings Fitness Equipment The Way We Were & Are The goodness of chromium Read.Watch. Listen. Explore Celeb fitness: Deepika Padukone

20 COLUMNS

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Good Food: Tarla Dalal Live & Help Live: Maneka Gandhi Good For You: Richard Firshein Fighting Fit: Kerry Dulin All Is Well: Nelressa Stallings Chew On This: Ambika Shukla Poise & Balance: Preeti Mandawewala

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Whole & Soul: Radhanath Swami

Funny Bone: Ruby Lilaowala

Corporate Wellness: Badrinath Durvasula

MAILBOX: READERS’ FEEDBACK JOINT ACTION I never knew that homeopathy could be so effective against joint pain [H&Y, March 2014]. My mother has had rheumatoid arthritis [RA] for ages. Currently she is on conventional medication but is not happy with the results as the pain remains persistent. I will now consult a homeopath. Thanks H&Y for the information and offering us hope that her ordeal could soon be over. Sheela Verma, Kanpur KIDDY TALK I enjoy the child-related articles in H&Y. As a mother of two and a firm believer in homeopathy, your articles really help me to understand what is good for my kids. The article on ear problems and tonsillitis was particularly useful in the self-care tips it provided. I am getting my son’s tonsil problem treated with homeopathy and the results are encouraging. The advice on how to select the right homeopath is very handy. Will recommend H&Y to all my friends and others who want to know more about homeopathy. Nazneen Syed, Hyderabad STARS SHED LIGHT I am amazed to know that homeopathy is followed by so many people including national and international celebrities. Not only filmstars but even scientists and researchers. Thanks H&Y for letting people know. It has increased my confidence in homeopathic treatment. It’s not that I blindly follow celebrity trends, but it really helps to know that someone popular is supporting something you have been wanting to try for a long time. J Varughese, New Delhi OVERCOMING OBESITY I enjoyed reading your article on obesity [H&Y, March 2014], especially the part focusing on teen obesity and how to handle it. I understand that it would be a sensitive topic to talk about with overweight teenagers considering their impatience and moods. There is a possibility that they may take you in the wrong way as discussed in the article. However, if you really care about your child and if s/he is overweight, you must speak to them regarding weight control and adopting a healthy life. I am going to try with my niece who is fifteen-years-old but is already, quite literally, too big for her boots. Anjali Srinath, Bengaluru LETTER OF THE MONTH I was horrified after reading Mrs Maneka Gandhi’s column in H&Y [March 2014]. I never knew that milk adulteration has reached a stage where the only way to be safe is to avoid drinking milk altogether. I am really worried about giving milk to my son who is eight-yearsold. I would like to thank Mrs Gandhi for the sensible tips she has suggested for evaluating the quality of milk. I will try to learn more about it and also talk to teachers in my son’s school regarding our concerns about milk adulteration. Aditi Kalyanpur, Mumbai

VARIETY FARE: READERS WRITE IN Our March issue evoked an overall gratifying response. Do write in with your comments, suggestions and even criticism that will help us and our readers to get better. Every month one ‘best’ letter will be awarded. Please E-mail your feedback/comments to editorial@homeopathyandyou.com

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Homeopathy & You is looking for quality articles [600-800 words] on homeopathy, health, wellness, and lifestyle, that reflect the spirit of our publication. Professional homeopathic doctors may E-mail their ‘best’ cases [and, ‘best’ letters from their patients] too!

Send in yours, TODAY! Please submit your material/articles etc., by pasting it in the body of your E-mail [not as attachment], along with a brief description of the piece, your credentials to write it, your short bio, your photo [in high-resolution .jpeg format {300 dpi}; as attachment], contact information and anything you feel we should know. E-mail your submission to: editorial@homeopathyandyou.com Website: www.homeopathyandyou.com

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

FOCUS

ASTHMA & HOMEOPATHY: BREATHE EASY By Dr TEJAL AJMERA-PATEL

Don’t let the wheeze of asthma strangle your zest for life. Take on asthma with professional homeopathic treatment and continue to remain healthy, vibrant and active.

eople who suffer from severe allergy to odour, smoke, pollutants, pollen, mould and house dust mite [HDM] rarely breathe easy. Nor do their parents who worry over their child’s every breath. Welcome to the world of asthma. The word ‘asthma’ comes from the Greek aazein which means, ‘to exhale with open mouth; to gasp.’ It is this struggle for breath that is characteristic of the affliction. The expression, asthma, was originally used in Homer’s Iliad. History suggests that Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was the first clinician to use the phrase in 450 BC. Essentially, asthma is a psychosomatic disorder — triggered as much by allergens as by dysfunctional relationships and stress. It not only disrupts a family’s normal functioning but also deflates the affected

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

individual’s belief in their own abilities. What is important to understand is that asthma should not be considered a single disease. It does not have a uniform pattern of presentation.

BEYOND ALLERGY Asthma is characterised by an extended expiratory [exhalation] and reduced inspiratory [inhalation] breathing phase. This is due to bronchial spasm — a condition caused by a combination of factors. The causes include allergy to a certain substance [allergen] like, perhaps, certain foods, such as eggs, prawns and shell fish; pollutants, physical exertion, viral infection, cold air, tobacco smoke, animal feathers and dander, and even certain conventional medicines such as aspirin. Other factors include chemicals and toxins as well as

TYPES OF ASTHMA

temperature changes and humidity. The disorder could also be activated by irritation or infection of the respiratory tract or a gastrointestinal upset which is typically a result of late or irregular meals, hyperacidity [gas], faulty eating habits, dietetic indiscretion or junk food. Certain emotional factors such as anxiety and emotional worries may trigger sudden bouts of asthma. Clinicians suggest that a constitutional predisposition could also trigger the disorder — this is supposedly related to desperate feelings of dependence. A child’s asthmatic attacks, for example, could be a call for help, or a subconscious appeal to his/her mother for attention. Research confirms the occurrence of wheezing in certain individuals following a short period of exercise. It is also obvious that respiratory viruses can provoke bronchospasm [airway obstruction] in asthmatics. Age, likewise, is a significant influencing aspect — the first asthma attack reportedly develops before age 20. Some medical researchers also aver that asthma is not entirely hereditary or familial, it is primarily swayed by weather and locational changes.

FACT-FILE

When outside [extrinsic] allergic factors are identified for asthmatic attacks, it is called extrinsic asthma. It is reported that a majority of extrinsic asthma patients may have a definitive family history with the onset presenting in infancy or early childhood. Most often extrinsic asthma is typified by a pattern of sporadic wheezing as the child grows older. The former may be seasonal or triggered by exposure to specific allergens such as dust. Extrinsic asthma has a better prognosis or forecast, in terms of response to medical treatment. However, a type of extrinsic asthma, in a fraction of patients, could be alarming as it can change from apparent normalcy to abrupt life-threatening attacks. Intrinsic asthma is observed in individuals who do not present with any apparent allergic factor. It is also sometimes called cryptogenic asthma — a form that appears in one’s middle age following an upper respiratory tract infection [URTI]. Suffocation [dyspnoea] is often severe, followed by a swift and discernible improvement on occasions. Other forms of intrinsic asthma may be caused by aspirin or other conventional medications.

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE ASTHMA • P ersistent cough, especially at night or in the early morning hours although this may differ from one individual to another • Breathlessness and audible wheezing sound, especially when exhaling • Bouts of coughing and wheezing that are worsened by a respiratory virus such as a cold or flu • Chest tightness, or pain • Difficulty in lying down due to breathlessness • Restless sleep; tired feeling on waking • Getting easily exhausted from activities that normally would not affect anyone so much • Tightening of neck muscles; hurried breathing • Difficulty in speaking, or talking at times.

• T here are over 50 million asthmatics in India • Asthma affects millions of people worldwide. Statistics reveals that it affects approximately 1 in 15 children. This makes it the most common chronic childhood illness • The prevalence of asthma in adult women is 35 per cent higher than in men • More than 40 per cent of children who have asthmatic parents will in time develop asthma • Statistics suggests that there are on an average 15 million clinic visits and 4 million outpatient department visits due to asthma • There are 10 million asthma-related visits to the emergency room [ER] on an annual basis • The value of reduced productivity due to death represented the largest single indirect cost-related factor to asthma: `2,000 crore • 13 million school days are missed by children annually due to asthma • Asthma accounts for approximately 40 million missed workdays for adults annually • Asthma reportedly kills 250,000 every year worldwide. HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

In severe asthma, inhaling breath is far more difficult and fatiguing than exhaling breath. Naturally, asthmatic symptoms depend on the severity of the condition. At one end of the spectrum, a patient may evidence no obvious abnormality; on the other, they may become absolutely frantic. Other signs and symptoms include increased heart and respiratory rate.

HOW DOES YOUR DOCTOR CONFIRM YOU HAVE ASTHMA Investigations include blood [haematological] examination, skin tests, lung function tests [LFT] and chest X-ray. The tests hold significance for any confirmatory diagnosis; they are also useful in detecting and documenting asthmatic patterns and preventing complications. Your doctor will, during the physical exam, listen to your breathing patterns and look for signs of asthma or allergies. A device called spirometer is often used to check how efficiently your lungs are functioning. The test measures how much air you can blow out of your lungs after taking a deep breath and also how quickly you can do it. The test helps to ascertain whether your airways are inflamed and narrowed, or the muscles around your airways are still taut or more relaxed following treatment. Your doctor will inquire about your family and medical history of hives, atopic dermatitis [eczema] or skin-related allergies too. This is owing to the common link that exists between skin disorders, especially atopic dermatitis [eczema], and asthma.

MANAGING ASTHMA

upsetting patterns. In addition, auxiliary practices, such as meditation, yoga, visualisation and other relaxing techniques, may help individuals to deal with the disorder by improving preparedness, outlook and mindset. MANAGEMENT TIPS 1 Reduce dust and pollen in your household 2 During the pollen season, keep the windows closed; use an air-conditioner 3 Minimise dust by replacing carpets with tile or wooden floors. Choose washable curtains and blinds 4 Vacuum clean upholstered furniture and mattresses regularly as well as your pet’s bedding 5 Wear a scarf over your nose and mouth during dusting or go outdoors. Exercise or practice yoga in the open air 6 Treat cold and flu at the drop of a sneeze.

ANATOMY OF ASTHMA ATTACK The inside walls of the airways in asthmatic individuals get swollen [inflamed]. This state causes the airways [bronchioles] to become vulnerable. This compels the body to react to substances [allergens] that you are allergic to, or find irritating. As the airways continue to react, they get narrower, leading to reduced air flow through to the lungs. The outcome is your classic asthmatic symptoms, such as wheezing, or a whistling sound when one breathes. When asthma expands in its intensity and gets worse than usual, it is termed an asthmatic episode, or attack. When this happens, the muscles around the airways stiffen. The airways get narrower leading to reduced air flow. As a result, the cells in the airways begin to produce more mucous than usual. This excess mucous constricts the airways — leading to breathing problems. Asthma attacks are not all the same. They differ in their intensity. In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close to such an extent that not enough oxygen reaches the vital organs. This condition is a medical emergency needing hospitalisation. People can die from severe asthma attacks in the absence of timely intervention.

HEALING WITH HOMEOPATHY

The successful management of asthmatic patients depends upon several factors, most notably the type and/ or the severity of the disorder. Reassuring asthmatic children and patients is a simple, effective and practical first step. This helps because asthma is a condition that is subject to change. Counselling also assists to identify the offending factor — e.g., allergy — and, reduce exposure to the allergen, wherever and whenever possible and minimise its

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

Homeopathy does not treat asthma, it treats the patient of asthma according to the specifics of his/her condition. This is because no two asthmatic individuals present with the same symptoms. Homeopathy uses safe natural substances based on medicinal information derived from clinical studies and experiential information of their remedial effects. Homeopathy treats asthma on the presentation of symptoms peculiar to the individual plus what improves or aggravates the condition in relation to time, posture, movement and rest. There was this interesting case of a sensitive child who we treated successfully. The child’s asthma attacks coincided with his father’s foreign trips and absence from home — this, we deduced, was triggered by feelings of

of a professional homeopathic doctor, because asthma is a complex disorder. This will also help to create a contingency plan in the event of a sudden asthmatic attack.

OTHER THINGS TO DO

separation anxiety. A few doses of Magnesia Carbonica 200C, a homeopathic remedy, which corresponds to such a symptom, were enough to make him feel all right and free from asthmatic episodes. The efficacy of homeopathy for asthma has similarly been proven through clinical research. In a study conducted at the University of Glasgow in UK, Europe’s largest medical school, asthma patients, given small homeopathic doses of the substance to which they were most allergic, showed significant relief within the first week of treatment. The researchers called this unique method of individualising medicines as ‘homeopathic immunotherapy.’ The study revealed the impressive positive results of homeopathic treatment without any side-effects. Over 80 per cent of patients given a homeopathic remedy improved. In a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial, a group of asthma patients was treated for four months with either specific homeopathic remedies, or a placebo [dummy pill]. They were assessed using peak flow rates. 97 per cent of subjects taking homeopathic remedies experienced improvement, while only 12 per cent using a placebo showed progress. A study, published in Biomedical Therapy, reported that a group of people suffering from corticosteroid-dependant asthma were given either a placebo or a combination homeopathic formula, every 5-7 days. Using standard spirometry and other tests to measure the response, the study found that the homeopathic combination product provided superior results to placebo. A study conducted in India on a group of children suffering from clinically-defined asthma, who had previously been treated unsuccessfully with conventional medicine, showed significant benefits with the use of individually-prescribed homeopathic remedies for a period of two years — with reduced recurrence of asthma attacks. Results were assessed to measure the severity of dyspnoea. At the end of the allotted two-year-period, the results were analysed. It was found that asthma was controlled in 60.5 per cent of children who’d been treated with homeopathy and partially controlled in another 21 per cent. The homeopathic remedies used in the study were Arsenicum Album, Mercurius Solubilis, Hepar Sulphuricum, Arsenicum Iodum, Antimonium Tartaricum, Pulsatilla and Calcarea Carbonica. For the best results, it is imperative to seek the advice

Take your medicine correctly. Speak to your doctor and find out all you can about your asthma medicine, dosages, including how and when to take it, and how it helps to control and manage your asthma. Know your asthma triggers and avoid them. It is essential to know what brings on or triggers your asthma symptoms. These differ from person to person, so it could take a while to figure out what actually does. Keeping an asthma diary is useful. Once you figure out your triggers, you can do your best to avoid, or at least limit, your contact [odours, dust, pollen and certain foods] with them. Deal with emergencies. It is imperative to realise that even people who take their asthma medicine regularly as prescribed and who work to avoid triggers can have an occasional asthma attack. So, have an Asthma Action. Plan in place: • Identify the signs just before your asthma starts to go of control • Look at symptoms and their nature • Know exactly what action to take, based on how you are feeling and what stage you are in • Do not ignore your asthma symptoms. Act quickly on danger signals to prevent or avert an asthma attack. Consult your doctor immediately.

ASTHMA: HIT & MYTH • Myth 1. Food allergy causes asthma • Fact. Although 25 per cent of people think they’re allergic to certain foods, studies show that only 6 per cent of children and 2 per cent of adults have a food allergy. Far more people simply have food intolerance, which presents with unpleasant symptoms triggered by food, but does not involve the immune system • Myth 2. Strawberries and tomatoes cause asthma • Fact. Although people can be allergic to any kind of food, most food allergies are caused by peanuts, cow’s milk, eggs, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish • Myth 3. Sugar allergy causes asthma • Fact. A condition is called a food allergy when the immune system thinks a certain protein in a food is a ‘foreign’ agent and fights against it. This does not happen with sugars and/or fats.

HOMEOPATHY IS A CHILD’S BEST FRIEND Emotional or psychological illnesses in children are on the rise. An increasing number of children are being diagnosed nowadays with asthma, anxiety problems, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and autism. Over sixty years ago, children suffered and often died from simple illnesses such as infections or even skin diseases. Today, pressure-generated illnesses affect children at the core of their being from where they become chronic. Children today aren’t growing up like children because HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

Homeopathy lays the greatest emphasis on treating the source of various emotional issues. Emotional and psychological problems often appear at the deepest, most protected level. This is precisely where the overall healing process for our children must begin. Homeopathy does not trick nature, or its laws. It simply regulates the natural balance that may have been disturbed to restore children, and also adults, to their natural level of health, strength and potential — safely and effectively. The right homeopathic remedy produces a noticeable beneficial change.

LIVING WITH ASTHMA

of the constant pressure to excel in school, sports and extra-curricular activities. Add to this peer pressure, and you are looking at a pressure-cooker environment. Only a handful of kids can cope with this load. Most don’t. These are kids that need our focus and attention. For children to blossom and grow, we need parents who are truly mature and responsible. It is frightening to have adults who would allow or encourage the use of anti-depressants for a depressed youngster, or an inhaler for asthma, who may become dependent on them for life. We want children to grow up as normally as possible. Homeopathy is extremely useful for all types of psychological or psychosomatic problems. It helps to restore children to their natural state of health, safely and effectively. Homeopathy believes in individualised treatment wherein healing is targeted at the entire system, not just at a specific disorder or illness. It takes into account the unique nature and characteristics of each individual child and prescribes treatment accordingly. For instance, an oversensitive child who is prone to asthmalike symptoms and is dependent on his/her parents for emotional support may be effectively treated with the homeopathic remedy, Silicea. A differently natured child with the same asthma-like symptoms will receive a completely different remedy.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

Living with asthma may not be easy for patients, but effective steps taken in time can help them deal better with the disorder. Here are a handful of tips that you can incorporate into your life to make a difference: • Drink plenty of water to loosen the secretions • Avoid exposure to allergens or irritants as far as possible. Effective steps to prevent exposure to known allergens or irritants goes a long way in maintaining good health • Avoid a sedentary life; start exercising regularly to keep your body fit. Exercise helps to improve your lung function and also tones the muscles. Many asthmatics avoid exercise for fear of an asthma attack. Regular exercise such as walking, for example, will help strengthen overall lung and heart functioning and also help reduce asthma. Speak to your doctor and a competent trainer for a customised exercise plan that suits you and your needs best • Learn stress management techniques to effectively deal with stress, a known trigger of asthma • Green tea, which contains antioxidants, and magnesium, a natural bronchodilator, may provide supplemental relief from asthma symptoms. It is also reported that some people with asthma feel better after including ginger in their daily diet • Stop smoking and avoid alcohol. Dealing with asthma can be difficult. Stress can be a trigger for asthma attacks. So, it’s important to learn to cope with stress. You could draw solace from knowing that several eminent people have successfully learned to live with asthma. There is no reason why you too cannot do so especially with professional homeopathic treatment. We can all derive inspiration from people with asthma who have managed to control or reduce its symptoms, and lead active lives. Remember, asthma never bogged down the likes of tennis star Vijay Amritraj or one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders, Ian Botham, who, as a kid, suffered from the disorder. What are you waiting for — follow your homeopathic medicine programme, draw in a lungful of fresh air with full confidence, and take a bow!

SELF-HELP • K eep track of your asthma episodes. This will help you respond quickly to signs of an impending attack • Control your asthma every day, because this is the

• U se a spirometer and track your peak flow regularly. A peak flow meter measures the air flow out of the lungs. It also indicates a breathing problem before an emergency crops up • Eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep and exercise regularly • Vacuum clean your home regularly • Eat a balanced diet, with at least 4-5 helpings of fruits and vegetables everyday • Avoid common triggers, such as deodorants, perfumed cleaning agents and cigarette smoke, wherever possible • Stay calm, sit upright with hands on knees for support • Loosen tight clothing; try to breathe slowly and deeply • Sip a cup of warm water; take your prescribed medication as advised • Seek help promptly when you have difficulty in walking, talking, or eating; when you breathe rapidly and with difficulty; when your kid has a feeble cry • Follow-up with a professional homeopathic doctor on a regular basis.

only way you can prevent serious symptoms and also take part in all activities • Help your kids control their asthma. This will help them attend school with relatively fewer absenteeism, and participate in regular school activities

CASE STUDY

was doing practically nothing. We put him on the homeopathic remedy, Arsenicum Album 200C. After one year of homeopathic treatment, Biju is not only free of his asthmatic distress, but he has actually been awarded a trophy for best individual performance at his workplace — something he could never have dreamt of winning earlier because of his physical condition.

wenty-six-year-old Biju, a marketing professional, presented with asthmatic symptoms. He reported that he was literally ‘living’ on conventional inhalers and steroidal medications for six years and suffering from their side-effects. During case-taking, we found that Biju’s asthma, especially his ‘suffocating breathlessness,’ as he explained, used to get aggravated with stress and anxiety. Biju complained of extreme fatigue too — even when he

CASE STUDY

ineteen-year-old Sheila presented with longstanding asthma. She reported that her condition, according to her parents, first started when she was five-years- old. She was on conventional [allopathic] treatment. Not surprisingly, expectorants, antibiotics and steroids were part of her must-have medicine kit. When we began to analyse her case, what emerged most distinctly was Sheila experienced perceptible relief from her asthma episodes whenever she’d relax or rest in the crouched, knee-elbow position. We prescribed her the homeopathic remedy, Medorrhinum, which corresponded well with her unique symptom.

She responded favourably to homeopathic treatment. Following 10-12 months of homeopathic treatment, she was able to reduce her dependence on allopathic medicines, in consultation with her conventional doctor. What clinched the homeopathic remedial diagnosis was simple — the posture the individual adopts during an asthma episode, for possible respite. This provides vital clues to selecting a suitable homeopathic remedy, as it did in Sheila’s case. It also highlights the fact that reporting or sharing such symptoms with your professional homeopathic doctor can actually help you to get better — sooner rather than later — without side-effects.

Dr Tejal Ajmera-Patel, MD [Hom], has a special interest in asthma. In her long, distinguished career, Dr Tejal has treated over one lakh patients — most notably, difficult-to-treat skin and other disorders. As National Head-Business with a leading homeopathic healthcare group, her responsibilities extend to training programmes for doctors , overseeing medical communications and PR.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

WHAT’S YOUR TYPE: YOUR PERSONALITY

MOODY LIKE THE WINDFLOWER By Dr MUKESH BATRA

The homeopathic remedy, Pulsatilla, connects well with fair-complexioned individuals with a mild and timid temperament who cry easily and are prone to mood swings. Or, go rapidly from happiness to despondence in all that they do.

he homeopathic remedy, Pulsatilla Nigricans, was first proved in 1805 by Dr Samuel Hahnemann, MD, the founder of homeopathy. It was extensively used by him to treat a host of patients. In Hahnemann’s words, “Pulsatilla, like all other medicines, is most suitably employed when not only

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

the corporeal affections correspond, but also when the mental and emotional alterations peculiar to the drug encounter similar states in the disease to be cured, or at least in the temperament of the subject of treatment.” According to Dr William Boericke, MD, author of the

oft-referred clinician’s handbook, The Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Pulsatilla is “The weathercock among [homeopathic] remedies.” The homeopathic Pulsatilla is made from the whole meadow anemone or windflower. It corresponds to emotional mood swings in the manner of the windflower swaying with the wind. This perennial plant is a member of the Ranunculaceae, or buttercup family. It flourishes in clumps on sandy, healthy soil in sunlit meadows, pastures and fields. It is decorated with soft and beautiful pendulous bell-shaped flowers with purple petals and a gold heart. Pulsatilla is predominantly a women’s remedy. It connects well with fair-complexioned individuals, especially gentle, timid women prone to tears. Or temperamental women who have dispositional swings veering from happiness to grief in every area of life. Pulsatilla women have the ability to contain their emotional canvas and put a latch on their feelings pretending as if nothing happened. What may reveal their emotional upheaval is their weepiness in the wake of even a marginally stressful occurrence. Pulsatillas make the best story-tellers, embellishing their experiences with physical and emotional nuance and detail. They are likely to well up in tears while listening to music, or watching a film or even an upsetting report on TV. Pulsatillas are impossible romantics — they love gifts and presents. They may be moved to tears by a thoughtful gift or by an act of kindness or words of sympathy. Yet,

deep down, Pulsatillas are not entirely as they appear on the surface. They hold and preserve negative emotions for far too long — they nurse feelings of rancour and bitterness, or feel peeved for eternity. They neither forgive nor forget. Often and for no real reason, they feel envious, distressed, dejected and nervous. Pulsatillas are likely to be dogmatic with strong, inflexible opinions. They tend to be slightly prudish and can take recourse in religion. They are judgmental and unforgiving of even minor personal misdemeanour especially of a sexual nature. The offender may, in all probability, be crossed off their list. Nervous and fearful, they suffer from a dread of the dark, ghosts, physical illness, medical treatment and death. Prone to nightmares — vivid dreams that can result in bouts of screaming, Pulsatillas can become so anxious that they will try to avoid going to sleep. They may demand leaving the lights on, or having something solid to hold on to — be it a stick or a teddy bear. Yet, the smallest show of compassion works on them like a charm. A smile, a gift or even just a hug quells their fears, dispels their qualms and they settle down happily. They relish a calm environment, a cozy home and dollops of kindness all around. They enjoy fresh air — so much so, that be it rain or shine, they prefer to keep the windows open and detest stuffy, closed, or even air-conditioned spaces. They are fond of dry cold air, not wet cold weather, they hate getting wet in the rain. Think Pulsatilla, when someone catches a cold, or presents with chillblains after getting their feet wet in a downpour. Although often plump, Pulsatillas have an aversion to rich foods like butter and ghee. They prefer cold to hot food believing it to be better for health. So when you see a fair, overweight lady munching on dhoklas, and seeming overtly moody verging on tearfulness, think Pulsatilla. A great homeopathic remedy for grief or bereavement, Pulsatilla is often prescribed when someone, especially a woman describes never feeling well after such and such incident or event, or after

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

menopause. Interestingly, Pulsatilla also makes a truly effective remedy for painful periods — right from menarche to menopausal syndromes — that cause spasms and emotional upheaval. It is useful for thick mucous discharges which can occur for any reason including catarrh, cold, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, styes and blocked tear ducts. Some clinicians suggest that Pulsatilla may be a useful remedy for dry eyes, or what is called Sjögren’s syndrome. The quintessence of Pulsatilla is quiet unpredictability. While they take pride in their own identity, they can be influenced to shape themselves in tune with what others want of them or from them and fulfil their roles the best they can. They function best in the presence of kind-hearted support or encouragement. Their trademark of blushing easily is an unspoken but heartfelt appeal for unconditional affection and sympathy.

CASE STUDY

ourteen-year-old Pooja, who was suffering from extensive white patches or vitiligo, had tried conventional treatment for several years, but her problem persisted. Over a period of time, the white patches not only increased on her face and legs, but also spread to other parts of the body. Every treatment she took provided only temporary relief; in due course the patches would reappear. She felt embarrassed by her physical disorder and became extremely reluctant to mix with her classmates. Although a good student, she started lagging behind in her studies. Most importantly, she experienced mood swings going from feeling okay to sadness. She would often break into tears, and blame her past karma for her skin condition. Homeopathy, her parents said, remained their only hope. Following her case analysis, we gave her Pulsatilla, which best suits moody types who weep one moment and feel comforted the next. Following six months of homeopathic treatment, Pooja’s white patches stopped spreading and, with continued treatment, they receded completely.

CASE STUDY

wenty-year-old Vinita had been experiencing hair loss for two years. She had lost most of the hair on her scalp, leading to a more or less bald state. On close examination of her balding pattern, we deduced that she was suffering from alopecia with ophiasis pattern, in which the individual loses hair in a band-shaped outline along the margins of the sides and back of the scalp. During case-taking, Vinita narrated how her hair loss had affected her not just physically, but emotionally. She had withdrawn socially. She had become hypersensitive and would sob at the drop of a word. She appeared soft-spoken and mild by temperament. Based on her condition and overall personality, we prescribed Pulsatilla. The first few weeks of homeopathic treatment showed slow but encouraging improvement. It was only after eight months that there was a definitive, tangible and significant improvement in her condition. She was delighted with the results.

Dr Mukesh Batra, a homeopath of international repute, is Founder-Chairman, Dr Batra’s. In a career spanning four decades, Dr Batra has treated over a million patients, including presidents and prime ministers, and revolutionised the way homeopathy is practiced today. A writer, photographer, singer and philanthropist, Dr Batra has been honoured with several fellowships and over 50 national and international awards, including the Padma Shri by the President of India. He has authored several books, including the critically-acclaimed cyclopedic work, Healing with Homeopathy. He lives in Mumbai.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

MEDICAL MARVELS: LITTLE PILLS, BIG RESULTS

Skintillating By Dr HARIN DANI, BHMS, Vadodara Thirty-five-year-old Jacob first noticed a few white patches [vitiligo] on his palms. He approached a dermatologist –– a specialist in skin disorders –– for treatment. He was put on conventional [allopathic] medications. He took them for about ten months — there was no improvement. With his white patches now spreading, he opted for homeopathic treatment. During case taking, he recalled being exposed to certain chemicals in the past. This, he felt, could have possibly triggered his vitiligo. His paternal cousin, he reported, also suffered from the disorder. Jacob had no other health issue, or complaint, apart from this skin condition. His appetite was normal although he predominantly ate meat and chicken. His sleep was sound. He said he sometimes had scary, intimidating dreams. A smoker from his college days, Jacob puffed at least a pack a day. He was employed with a shipping company. He enjoyed travelling but did not like crowded spaces

which, he said, made him feel ‘intimidated.’ By and large, he had a peaceful life, although he’d experienced a period of stress before his marriage as his parents wanted him to marry a girl who matched their social status, whereas he was in love with someone else whom he eventually married. Jacob also ruled out major stress at work. Although calm by nature, he described himself as being ‘the stubborn type’ when required. Based on his symptoms and temperament, we prescribed him the homeopathic remedy, Calcarea Carbonica 200C. He was asked to initially continue with his conventional [allopathic] medicines. Slowly we tapered these off, and within two months we discontinued them entirely. His white patches started receding gradually — they now looked less distinct in appearance. They then started to fill with tiny, brown [pigmented] spots. After one year of homeopathic treatment, they were completely covered over with natural skin. A relieved Jacob said it best, “This is a happy, life-changing experience. Thank you.” HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

Psoriasis Sorted

By Dr NAVEEN KUMAR, BHMS, Amritsar Forty-year-old Nihan was plagued by psoriasis for over ten years. It all started with lesions on his palms and soles; this gradually spread to his arms, legs, abdomen and the rest of the body. All sorts of allopathic medications failed to provide any relief. Nihan decided to take homeopathic treatment with no great hope that it would resolve his decade-old health issue. He came to us with extensive, thick, dark patches covering large areas of the body. There was thick scaling and severe itching. He mentioned that the lesions would often bleed as scratching would dislodge the scales. Nihan worked in the defence sector and boasted of his short-temper. He added, however, that his anger would be short-lived and quickly brought into control. Sensitive and emotional, he would react excessively to even small incidents. Not an easy mixer except in familiar company, he had just a few friends to call his own. He reported that he had been under enormous stress for a few years as his wife was suffering from repeated miscarriages. Nihan had a history of bleeding haemorrhoids [piles], as well as herpes zoster in the past. He was a chronic smoker and regular drinker. Based on his case analysis, we prescribed the homeopathic remedy, Nux Vomica 200C, for his psoriasis. His lesions started reducing slowly and

he started feeling better. At the end of 12 months of homeopathic treatment, his lesions cleared up significantly. Even though the problem was gone, we continued his treatment in order to avert any relapse which is common with psoriasis. Nihan is now totally free from the condition. He has emerged from a decade of suffering to resume a normal healthy life. In his own words, Nihan is now ‘a very happy and extremely relieved man thanks to homeopathy.’

Not In Vein

By Dr SANTOSH GAIKAR, BHMS, Navi Mumbai Vinay, a seventy-one-year-old patient, presented with pain and swelling in his legs, which he had reportedly suffered from for over a decade. He was diagnosed with varicose veins and was progressively developing varicose eczema around the ankle. There was itching, dryness of skin and Shamburg’s purpura, a chronic discoloration of the skin, usually affecting the legs and spreading slowly — this can occur in people of all ages, especially men. Statistics suggests that 20 per cent of men and 35 per cent of women may have

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

varicose veins. The condition appears to be hereditary; it also tends to get noticeable when the person ages. When the veins become unusually thick, full of ‘twists and turns,’ or engorged, they are called varicose veins. In general, the veins in the legs and thighs have a tendency to become varicosed. The thickened, twisting, or dilated parts of the vein are called varicosities. There may sometimes be a typical appearance — ‘spider veins’ — in the affected leg, accompanied by ankle swelling and a brownish-blue shiny, discoloured appearance near the affected veins. Varicose veins are a persisting condition, typified by veins of the legs or dependant parts showing a convoluted and swollen appearance due to pressure on venous flow and congestion. The condition causes swelling of the veins and pain in the legs. It is often caused by standing for long hours and commonly

found among people whose jobs keep them constantly on their feet, such as traffic policemen and teachers. Conventional medicine offers little hope for this disorder, and surgery is often recommended as the only way to obtain pain relief. Vinay was advised surgery. He read up on the likely after-effects of surgery, such as heart complications, in the future. This was why he opted to try homeopathic treatment instead. We prescribed him the homeopathic remedy, Sulphur 200C, based on his presenting symptoms and after detailed case-analysis. After a few months, we added Lycopodium 200C. Within a year of homeopathic treatment, Vinay experienced substantial and lasting relief.

Fungal Cure By Dr MANISHA MEHABOOBANI, BHMS, Mumbai Thirty-two-year-old Smita was suffering from fungal infection for more than three years. Apart from severe, sometimes intolerable itching that it caused, it also made her social life difficult. She was extremely stressed out about the condition, because the infection was spreading. Besides, there was no relief with the usage of conventional medications. Smita was diagnosed with tinea corporis, also known as ringworm. Tinea corporis is a superficial fungal infection [dermatophytosis] of arms and legs, but may occur on any part of the body. It has a variety of appearances; the most easily identifiable are the enlarging raised red rings with a central area of clearing [ringworm]. It may occur on the scalp [tinea capitis], beard area [tinea barbae], or the groin [tinea cruris; also known as dhobi itch]. Other features are — the edge of the rash appears elevated and is scaly to touch. Sometimes, the skin surrounding the rash may be dry and flaky and, almost invariably, there could be hair loss in areas of infection. Tinea corporis is caused by a tiny fungus known as dermatophyte. These tiny organisms normally live on the superficial skin surface, and when the opportunity comes, they can induce a rash or infection. The disorder can also be acquired by person-to-person transfer usually via direct skin contact with an infected individual. Animal-to-human transmission is also common. Following case analysis, we prescribed her the

homeopathic remedy, Sepia Officinalis 200C. This was followed, after a while, by Graphites 200C. Smita experienced substantial relief from the infection within six months of homeopathic treatment. Her case demonstrates that homeopathy can effectively work, even in infections that are deep-seated and left uncured for a few years.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

HOW HOMEOPATHY HELPED ME

Ending Eczema

y son, Master S Prasad, as his paediatrician put it, suffered from erythematous plaques and crusts. His eruptions exhibited secondary infections too and he was in extreme pain and discomfort. He also experienced intolerable itching. The lesions first appeared when Prasad was sixmonths-old and for over four years his face had been disfigured.

His paediatrician prescribed him steroidal applications but these provided no more than short-term relief. Over a period of time, the lesions intensified. We were desperately worried at seeing him suffer, day-in and day-out, with no respite. We decided to try homeopathic treatment. A few months following homeopathic treatment, Prasad’s lesions started to dry up; the itching too reduced significantly. He did not develop any new lesions which had previously continued to happen. A year down the line, Prasad was completely free of his skin complaints. We are not just relieved and relaxed, but so happy for him and for ourselves. — Mrs J Prasad, whose son S Prasad was successfully treated by Dr Sujata Sake, BHMS, Mangalore

Skin Win

had been suffering from psoriasis for four years. I was under allopathic treatment. The side-effects of the steroids I was taking included drowsiness and dry cough. Since allopathy wasn’t helping, I approached our family doctor who suggested that I try homeopathy. Dr Padma diagnosed my condition and explained the treatment process; thereafter, I started my treatment. She is providing me with effective homeopathic treatment which I feel good about taking, not just because it is working, but also because I have not experienced any side-effects. I take my medicines regularly and the lesions, itching and redness are all under control. I thank Dr Padma and her homeopathic treatment whole-heartedly. — S Meenakshi, a patient of Dr Padma P, BHMS, Secunderabad

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

YOUR LITTLE BOX: HomeopatHic Kit FoR eveRy Home

rUTA: MOrE THAN JUST FIrST-AID Ruta Graviolens is a safe, effective remedy for pain and soreness in the bones, joints, tendons and cartilage.

By Dr BINDU SHArMA

uta is a strongly scented evergreen shrub that has many homeopathic medicinal uses. It belongs to the family Rutacea. It is about 20-60cm tall. A native of the Mediterranean and Australia, the shrub’s leaves are blue or green in colour with a feathery appearance. Its yellow flowers have 4-6 petals. The fruits are 4-5 lobed capsules with numerous seeds. Ruta Graviolens is extensively used in Middle Eastern cuisine notwithstanding its bitter taste. Its leaves and oil are used in some beverages. Its strong pungent smell makes it an effective insect repellent. The oil has been used in soaps, creams and lotions. MEDICINAL USES Ruta contains a number of active compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins and essential oil. The flavonoid has the ability to decrease blood capillary permeability and fragility — this has a clinical action on the eye. The alkaloids have anti-spasmodic action, especially in pain syndromes and soreness of bones, joints, tendons and cartilage. Ruta’s efficacy in treating degenerative problems of the knees is well known, and the remedy has for long been the mainstay of first-aid treatment for sports and other injuries, strain, bruised bones or pulled ligaments. Ruta is also a useful remedy for ankle sprains, soreness in the feet, heel and lower back pain. The Ruta homeopathic personality has a proclivity for feelings of anxiety and panic. They tend to weep at trifles. They may be quarrelsome and suspicious — with a paranoia that they are being constantly watched. The classic symptom picture is of connective tissue problems with marked stiffness and pain in the muscles and tendons, primarily due to sprain, overuse of muscles or injury.

The typical Ruta pain is a sore, bruised, aching feeling, accompanied by restlessness. Ruta has a good clinical record in repetitive strain injuries, ganglion and arthritis as well as sciatic distress. HOME USE Backache. Deep pains; thighs feel broken. Pain is often relieved by lying on back, or pressure. Weak, bruised feeling in the lower back is a characteristic symptom Carpal tunnel syndrome. Ruta is of great benefit for those who spend long hours punching a computer keyboard, musicians, and sportspeople who use their wrists extensively Eyestrain. Ruta is the remedy you need to think of for noninflammatory disorders of the eye caused by working at the computer for long hours, needlework, knitting etc. Or, for headaches and vision disturbances caused by eye strain. Headache. Piercing pain as if from a nail accompanied by heaviness in the forehead as a consequence of excess eyestrain Injuries to bones. Bruised, lame sensation all over; feels as if the bone covering is bruised Sciatica. Worse at night or when lying down; pain from back down the hips and thighs Sprains. Tendons and ligaments sore; feet and ankles painful; aching in heels; painful stiffness in wrists and hands Tennis elbow. Ruta is a specific remedy for this nagging condition. All Ruta symptoms are worse from cold, wet weather, rest, overexertion, cold wind and prolonged sitting. DOSE Ruta in 6C potency, 4-5 pills, twice or thrice, daily. Locally, as a tincture for ganglia, or as advised by your professional homeopathic doctor.

Dr Bindu Sharma, BHMS, PG [Hom], UK, a gold medallist in homeopathy from Hahnemann College, UK, is Director, Medical Services, with leading speciality homeopathic healthcare group. She is actively involved in monitoring quality patient care, including regular training of all doctors across the group. Her medical expertise in the treatment of difficult cases, as well as those not responding well to medication, has received appreciation from her patients and peers.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

CHILD HEALTH

ATOPIC DERMATITIS & HOMEOPATHY Homeopathy assesses each child as unique— and, treats them individually based on their distinctive or characteristic symptoms. By Dr RUSHI VYAS

en-year-old Radhika was visiting her grandparents along with her parents who are conventional [allopathic] medical doctors. She presented with dry, cracked, itchy eruptions — atopic dermatitis, or eczema — on her arms and legs. Her skin also showed a dark, murky appearance — a result of long-standing eczema. Her parents reported that Radhika’s skin eruptions would ooze and bleed whenever she scratched the itchy areas. They also said that after discontinuing her conventional medications recently, their daughter applied only baby bath soap and Vaseline on her skin. According to her parents, Radhika had been awfully distressed by her skin problem for the last 3-4 years. To make

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

matters worse, no amount of conventional prescription creams or lotions including steroidal preparations had helped her. Now they were turning to homeopathy for help. During case-taking, we found that Radhika was academically inclined. She also loved sports especially tennis, as well as art and painting. She enjoyed clothes and dressing up as well. She was a generally cheerful and talkative child. Conversely, she did not like being alone and was mortally afraid of the dark. We prescribed Radhika the homeopathic remedy, Phosphorus, based on her presenting symptoms and temperament. To start with, her eruptions were slow to respond. Gradually, they began to recede and her skin began

to look relatively better. After 10-12 months of homeopathic treatment, her eczema complaint was satisfactorily resolved. Atopic dermatitis or eczema is actually one of the most common disorders in children. The word, eczema, comes from a Greek term that means ‘to boil, or flow out.’ The definition is used for a group of skin conditions that show a pattern — redness, itching, serum-filled blisters, crusting and scaling. Atopic eczema is possibly the best known form, followed by contact eczema which is the name given to some forms of eczema that occur as a result of contact with irritants or allergens in the environment. • In the early years or infancy, the eczema rash often starts on the face with eruptions and discharge. The distribution is uncertain and it may sometimes spare the napkin area • As the child grows, the eczema may affect the knees, elbows, wrists and ankles, while the skin becomes increasingly thickened, dry and excoriated. This is called ‘lichenification’ [leathery surface]. Studies suggest that 65-70 per cent of cases present before the age of six months. This is reported to rise to 85-90 per cent before age five. Atopy, or ‘personalised’ allergy, is evidenced to affect three per cent of infants. It has a tendency to persist for several years. CAUSES OF ECZEMA People with eczema often report of a family history of either this condition or other allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis [nasal allergy] or asthma. • Contrary to popular belief, the disorder is not contagious. It does not spread from one person to another • Eczema may be a consequence of several factors working together, and not just one factor in isolation • Research suggests that abnormal immune function may be a factor, just as much as genetic disorders that cause abnormalities with regard to certain proteins that help maintain normal skin such as filaggrin • Some forms of eczema are triggered by substances that come in contact with our skin such as certain soaps, cosmetics, clothing, detergents, jewellery, perfume and/ or sweat • Environmental allergens may also cause outbreaks of eczema. Changes in temperature or humidity or even emotional stress can lead to outbreaks of eczema. Researchers at the University of Bristol, UK, suggest there are certain small nerve fibres in the skin that transmit ‘itch’ signals to the spinal cord and, thereafter, to the brain. It is likely that a flaw in these nerve fibres and chemical signals [neurotransmitters] that they contain, may be related to eczema and its extreme itching. There are three types of eczema that affect children, the most common being irritant eczema [nappy rash]. It affects nearly all babies to some extent. The trigger is urine and faeces. These are an annoyance to the skin when left in contact for long periods. Atopic eczema seldom affects the nappy area. It most often appears in the skin folds around the elbows, or behind the knees. Seborrhoeic eczema does not itch. It is often associated with greasy yellow scales on

the scalp [‘cradle cap’]. ECZEMA AND GENETICS A research team in Ohio State University recently found that eczema can be triggered by inadequate CTIP2, a protein and master regulator that affects other genetic functions. The team identified two modes in which improper functioning of CTIP2 can lead to eczema — they found that CTIP2 controls lipid biosynthesis in the skin and fats are needed to keep skin healthy and hydrated. Secondly, the study’s researchers concluded that normally CTIP2 suppresses TSLP, a protein produced by skin cells that is evidenced to prompt inflammation and alter our immune response. GUT HEALTH AND ECZEMA A new study published in BMC Microbiology reports that children with eczema have a more diverse set of bacteria in their gut than non-affected children. The types of bacteria present were also more typical of adult gut microbes than those normal for toddlers. The gut bacteria of children, with or without eczema, were examined when they were six and 18 months old. At six months all the infants had the same types of bacteria, but by 18 months the children with eczema had more of a type of bacteria normally associated with adults [Clostridium clusters IV and XIVa], while healthy children had a greater amount of Bacteroidetes. Lotta Nylund who led the study explained, “The composition of bacteria in a child’s gut depends on its environment and

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

causes the eczematic distress of one child, may not be the reason for another child’s seemingly similar condition. Homeopathy assesses each child and treats them individually, based on their unique, characteristic presenting and latent symptoms. A study on a group of eczema patients, published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine, reported that homeopathy was as effective as standard conventional ECZEMA AND LONG-TERM ALLERGY LINK treatments in the short-term and more effective than them in Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and My 15-year-old daughter gets far too moody or hypersensitive before her menses and the long-term. Infectious Diseases, US and other institutions enrolled cries for no reason. Her mood swingsstudy rangeoffrom good to bad.at Please suggest a suitable A six-year patient outcomes the Bristol more than 500 children, between the ages of three and 15 homeopathic remedy for her. Homeopathic Hospital, UK, found that 82 per cent of eczema months, who had a convincing history of milk or egg allergy Nearly 75 per cent of women with under regularage menstrual cycles unpleasant physical patients 16 said they felt report either ‘better’ or ‘much and moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The study found or psychological symptoms before their menses — they don’t generally need medical better’ with homeopathic treatment. that children who had more severe eczema are less likely to treatment, unless it is serious. Since you report that your daughter’s mood swings range outgrow their allergies to milk and eggs. between two extremes, you could give her the homeopathic remedy, Pulsatilla 30C, 4-5 pills, twice daily for one week prior to the onset of her periods. This should be continued every EFFECTS OF ECZEMA month till her symptoms subside. Eczema is a common problem — it accounts for 15 per cent Encourage your child to wear cotton clothing; try to of medical consultations. Its effects are not just physical. It maintain an even in their medicines surroundings I get severe pain in my abdomen during my temperature periods. Allopathic provide only psychologically affects, not just the affected individual, but since temperature changes problem? can cause itching marginal relief. What should I dorapid to get rid of this nagging also family, friends and others. Painful menses are common, butclothes if they are severe asmade to interfere with your normal Avoid andso bed covers of scratchy • Eczema can impact a child’s school life synthetics, wool and other materials with a rough for painful routine, seek proper treatment. Homeopathy offers safe, effective treatment • It can affect self-esteem and self-confidence as root. theseYou canmay irritate child’s skin periods as it treats the problemtexture from the takeyour Magnesium Phosphorica 30C, • It can lead to depression 4-5 pills, three times daily during your periods. This should be continued every month till Hot baths can cause itching; tepid water would be • It can affect social interaction — others may feel symptoms recede. If symptoms better persist, consult a professional homeopathic doctor in your awkward touching or having any close contact with a locality. child having eczema Keep your child’s fingernails short to help prevent • It can cause repulsion even among other members of the damage to the child’s skin caused by scratching I am a 25 year old computer engineer. I regularly get mouth ulcers. I am fed up of them. family. Avoidremedy. any known triggers that you, as parents, feel can Please suggest a homeopathic aggravate yourby child’s eczema Recurrent mouth ulcers could be caused deficiency of vitamin B12, iron and folic HEALING WITH HOMEOPATHY acid. Other causes include stress, fatigue, illness, or injury accidental biting. Dab your child’s sweat away withfrom a damp cloth and pat Take Homeopathy recognises each child as a unique entity and, the homeopathic remedy, Mercurius Solubilis 30C, 4-5 pills, once daily. Meanwhile, please dry or wash, because sweating can irritate the skin and unlike the allopathic approach, that treats all childhood make sure that your diet includes dates, figs, yogurt, green vegetables as well as citrus fruits lead to itching. conditions similarly, homeopathy understands that what like as sweet lime and oranges. Avoid hot or spicy food and excessive tea or coffee as these can irritate the mucous membrane. Use a soft brush to clean your teeth. Visit your dentist at regular intervals to check your oral hygiene status. Increase your fluid intake, do not skip meals. the food it eats. You would expect that as a child’s diet changes, so will the bacteria that is present. The number of Bifidobacteria naturally falls with age and we found a total of 21 groups of bacteria which changed in this time period. However, it is the early change towards adult-type bacteria which seems to be a risk factor for eczema.”

Q A

Self-help

Q A Q A

Q A

I am a college student. I often get a twinge in my upper back and around shoulder. This interferes with my studies too. Please help. Prolonged periods of sitting in one place and studying for long hours can strain your upper back muscles and cause pain. Take frequent breaks while studying. Perform regular exercises for the neck, upper back and shoulders — but, be gentle during exercise sessions and avoid jerky movements. Take the homeopathic remedy, lachnanthes 30C, 4-5 pills, twice daily, till symptoms subside. If the problem persists, consult a professional homeopath and seek constitutional treatment.

Q A

My right big toe gets swollen quite often. The swelling is extremely painful and lasts 2-3 days, following which it eases to an extent. I also suffer from tummy problems, especially gas. Please prescribe a homeopathic remedy for me. You seem to be suffering from a type of arthritis called gout. This happens due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. The diagnosis can be confirmed by a simple blood test. In the meantime, you should avoid foods such as fish, meat, creamy sauces and dried peas as well as alcohol. Foods that are known to ease gout include blueberries, cranberry and lemon juice. Drink plenty of water — at least 8-12 glasses a day. This will help the body to flush out excess uric acid. Take the homeopathic remedy, Colchicum 200C, 4-5 pills, twice daily. Please let me know your progress.

Dr Rushi Vyas, BHMS, is a Mumbai-based homeopath.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

DOCTOR’S ORDERS

By Dr MUKESH BATRA lCEH, FSRH [MED] P [lOND], MDH [USA], FBIH [UK] PADMA SHRI RECIPIENT

Q A

My 15-year-old daughter gets far too moody or hypersensitive before her menses and cries for no reason. Her mood swings range from good to bad. Please suggest a suitable homeopathic remedy for her. Nearly 75 per cent of women with regular menstrual cycles report unpleasant physical or psychological symptoms before their menses — they don’t generally need medical treatment, unless it is serious. Since you report that your daughter’s mood swings range between two extremes, you could give her the homeopathic remedy, Pulsatilla 30C, 4-5 pills, twice daily for one week prior to the onset of her periods. This should be continued every month till her symptoms subside. I get severe pain in my abdomen during my periods. Allopathic medicines provide only marginal relief. What should I do to get rid of this nagging problem? Painful menses are common, but if they are so severe as to interfere with your normal routine, seek proper treatment. Homeopathy offers safe, effective treatment for painful periods as it treats the problem from the ‘root.’ You may take Magnesium Phosphorica 30C, 4-5 pills, three times daily during your periods. This should be continued every month till symptoms recede. If symptoms persist, consult a professional homeopathic doctor in your locality. I am a 25-year-old computer engineer. I regularly get mouth ulcers. I am fed up of them. Please suggest a homeopathic remedy. Recurrent mouth ulcers could be caused by deficiency of vitamin B12, iron and folic acid. Other causes include stress, fatigue, illness, or injury from accidental biting. Take the homeopathic

remedy, Mercurius Solubilis 30C, 4-5 pills, once daily. Meanwhile, please make sure that your diet includes dates, figs, yogurt, green vegetables as well as citrus fruits like sweet lime and oranges. Avoid hot or spicy food and excessive tea or coffee as these can irritate the mucous membrane. Use a soft brush to clean your teeth. Visit your dentist at regular intervals to check your oral hygiene status. Increase your fluid intake; do not skip meals.

Q A

I am a college student. I often get a twinge in my upper back and around shoulder. This interferes with my studies too. Please help. Prolonged periods of sitting in one place and studying for long hours can strain your upper back muscles and cause pain. Take frequent breaks while studying. Perform regular exercises for the neck, upper back and shoulders — but, be gentle during exercise sessions and avoid jerky movements. Take the homeopathic remedy, Lachnanthes 30C, 4-5 pills, twice daily, till symptoms subside. If the problem persists, consult a professional homeopath and seek constitutional treatment.

Q Do you have a health question? Need an answer?

E-mail your health questions to: expertadvice@ homeopathyandyou.com Renowned homeopath Dr Mukesh Batra will answer your questions.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

FOR WOMEN

OvArIAN DILEMMA The basic cause of ovarian cysts is hormonal disturbance. Homeopathy corrects the imbalance and brings about harmony without the risk of side-effects.

By Dr SEJAL PArEKAr

woman is a born multi-tasker, daughter, wife, mother, homemaker and professional. She steps into all her myriad roles seemingly effortlessly and tries to cater to everyone’s needs. In order to perform her duties, she is also inclined to, at times, neglect her own health and well-being. Women’s disorders are soaring at an alarming rate today — they range from simple menstrual disturbances and infertility to malignancies. One frequently encountered complaint which is currently on the rise is polycystic ovary syndrome. Most women, who have polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS], have experienced only limited success in getting the problem treated with conventional medicine. COPING WITH COMPLEXITY PCOS is a stressful challenge. It is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age and is the leading cause of infertility. Although, it affects as many as 10 per cent of all women, women with PCOS who have difficulty in conceiving often feel they are alone. Hormonal changes are the hallmark of the disorder and almost every bodily system could be affected. Some women may experience irregular ovulation or menstruation, increased hair growth in odd places, or excessive effects of masculinising hormones and weight

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problems. Though the precise cause of PCOS is not known, research suggests that one cause could be insulinresistance diabetes, which leads to hormonal imbalance and disruption of normal menstruation. The adrenal gland is, likewise, said to produce more testosterone in PCOS. This increased level may prevent ovulation and produce symptoms related to the disorder. PCOS has been linked to a number of health complications too, including type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular [heart] disease and endometrial cancer. The earlier one begins to monitor and treat PCOS, the sooner one can manage symptoms. Conventional treatment of PCOS aims at restoring the normal menstrual cycle, fertility, lowering of insulin levels, treating excessive hair growth and prevention of endometrial cancer with drugs, dietary therapy and/or use of contraceptive pills. The downside is it provides merely temporary relief whilst causing dependency — without eliminating the problem from its origin. In recent times, researchers have shown that alternative treatments, such as homeopathy, offer better results than conventional treatment. DIAGNOSIS The most common symptoms of PCOS are menstrual irregularities, increased body and facial hair, acne and

an early sign of an underlying undiagnosed illness such as diabetes, heart issues, thyroid problems and irondeficiency anaemia. Most clinicians suggest that the basic cause of PCOS is related to hormonal disturbance. Homeopathy corrects the hormonal imbalance and brings about accord without the risk of any side-effects. It also helps one to avoid the use of surgical procedures, while bringing about regularisation of the menstrual cycle, and increasing the chances of conception, or preventing PCOS recurrence. In a clinical study on a group of women suffering from PCOS, fitting the remedy picture of the homeopathic Pulsatilla 30C, 70 per cent of the subjects had complete resolution of PCOS symptoms, followed by the production of normal ovulating follicles. A further 25 per cent became asymptomatic. The study results were published in Boletin Mexicano de Homeopatica. According to clinical studies conducted in Europe, 83 per cent of women, having ovarian cysts and hair loss, treated with homeopathic remedies started ovulating, while their ovarian cysts resolved — along with a tangible reduction of hair loss on the scalp.

infertility. Women with PCOS also find it difficult to get pregnant, because during the normal maturation process of a woman’s ovum, the egg develops within a cyst inside the ovary. Besides, lack of ovulation in women with PCOS does not allow the egg to mature. • Your doctor will look into your complete medical history, periods, reproduction and weight gain • S/he will conduct a pelvic examination to determine the size of the ovaries and ascertain unusual hair growth, acne or other changes • Blood tests that measure hormonal levels, glucose and insulin may be ordered • An ultrasound [USG] is often used to determine the size and shape of the ovaries and diagnose the condition and evaluate treatment outcomes. Self-diagnosis is not recommended. When one suspects PCOS symptoms, it is imperative to consult a doctor. HEALING WITH HOMEOPATHY No one faces as distinct or unique a health challenge as women do. Besides, no medical system understands them better than homeopathy — the most humane system of medicine. Homeopathy not only treats health and mind-body concerns, from a women’s perspective, it also understands their subtle emotions, which are as changeable as their moods. Nothing can be more devastating for women than even the mere thought of hair loss. Their ‘dwindling’ glory is as worrisome as the presence of hair in areas that ought not to have any, such as the face and hands. When hair loss actually happens, it makes them feel anxious, depressed and unattractive. Interestingly, hair loss can be

SELF-HELP • Be active. Exercise regularly. Exercise ‘ups’ your metabolism and helps you manage your PCOS symptoms better. This is because individuals having PCOS tend to have slowed, or sluggish, metabolism • Avoid processed foods, because they contain chemicals, additives and artificial colourings. They worsen your PCOS symptoms and also hair loss • Avoid sugar, fruit-soda juice and refined carbohydrates; they affect insulin resistance • Avoid cold foods and ice-cold drinks; they take longer to go through the digestive tract; they also slow down your body’s metabolism • Avoid alcohol and smoking. They affect hormonal balance and fertility — a consequence of PCOS. Smoking and alcohol cause hair loss • Add flaxseed and soya to your diet — flaxseed is good for hair loss, while soya is good for hormonal ‘balance’ and hair loss. A calcium supplement [1,000mg] fortified with folic acid [400mcg] is just as useful.

Dr Sejal Parekar, BHMS, is a Mumbai-based homeopath.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

HOMEOPATHIC HAPPENINGS

HOMEOPATHY EFFECTIVE AND SAFE FOR MUSCULOSKETAL PAIN

large study conducted in France showed that patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders had a 50 per cent reduced usage of conventional pain medication by being under the care of a physician who specialises in prescribing homeopathic medicines. This study of 1,153 patients with musculoskeletal disorders compared treatments from conventional physicians, physicians who specialised in homeopathic medicine, and physicians who engaged in a mixed practice of conventional and natural treatments. Some of the musculoskeletal disorders of patients who were included in this study were: osteoarthritis, rheumatism, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, tendinitis, rotary cuff syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, intervertebral disc disorders, neck pain, torticollis and spinal stenosis. The study was approved by the French National DataProtection Commission and the French National Council of Physicians. Prior to the start of the study, a higher percentage of patients who received care from a MD homeopath were found to have a ‘chronic’ musculoskeletal disorder [61 per cent], as compared with those going to conventional MDs [50 per cent], or to MDs who practiced a mixed treatment [52 per cent]. Despite the fact that the homeopathic patients were considered ill for a longer period of time, this study showed that patients with chronic musculoskeletal

pain had a 50 per cent reduced use of conventional pain medication, while patients with acute musculoskeletal pain had a 38 per cent reduced use. In addition to this significant reduction in the use of painkillers, the patients who received homeopathic treatment showed a similar clinical progression of their musculoskeletal disease as assessed by standardised functional scales. Since homeopathic medicine in France is only practiced by MDs, the researchers asserted that maintaining the present reimbursement schedule for homeopathic treatment — and its safety of use — keeps healthcare costs down.

EVIDENCE FOR HOMEOPATHY BUILDS UP

he recently published English translation of the Swiss Health Technology Assessment [HTA] report on homeopathy offers a clear endorsement of the benefits of this form of complementary medicine. This important report addresses the evidence for the effectiveness of homeopathic therapy in everyday use [i.e., the real world], its safety and its cost-effectiveness. The authors, Dr Gudrun Bornhöft and Prof Peter Matthiessen, state, “There is sufficient evidence for the pre-clinical effectiveness and the clinical efficacy of homeopathy and for its safety and economy compared with conventional treatment.” Following on from the initial publication of this report, a public referendum in Switzerland in 2009 supported the inclusion of homeopathy and other complementary and alternative medicines [CAM] in the Swiss national health insurance, with 67 per cent of the people voting in favour. The Swiss government also passed legislation to enact the referendum’s conclusion. The 234-page HTA report exhaustively reviews the clinical research in homeopathy. It includes a summary of 22 systematic reviews of clinical trials, 20 of which show a positive direction of evidence for homeopathy. It includes an assessment of the original clinical trials of homeopathy

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

in allergies and upper respiratory tract infections providing supporting evidence for the effectiveness of homeopathic

treatment for the conditions. Speaking on behalf of the UK’s Faculty of Homeopathy, President Dr Sara Eames said, “The publication of the Swiss HTA report on homeopathy in English makes an important contribution to the field of homeopathy research. Its thorough and constructive approach will contribute to informing patients, doctors and decision-

makers who are evaluating homeopathy. Bornhöft and Matthiessen have given us an academically rigorous document which will enlighten more and better quality research in homeopathy.” The study was commissioned by Switzerland’s Federal Social Insurance Office [FSIO] for overall evaluation of complementary and alternative medicines [CAM].

ECZEMA IS ‘TOP’ REFERRAL FOR HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT

new study shows eczema is the most commonly referred condition to the National Health Service [NHS] homeopathic hospitals in the UK. Follow-up patients from all five NHS homeopathic hospitals were analysed over a one-month period in the first collaborative study of its kind. Chronic fatigue syndrome, menopausal disorder, osteoarthritis and depression complete the ‘top’ most referred conditions. The study clearly shows that the medical problems referred to the hospitals are chronic conditions where available conventional treatments are not fully effective. The NHS homeopathic hospitals play a vital role in filling these so-called ‘effectiveness gaps’ in conventional medicine. In total, the study identified 235 separate medical complaints — a third of follow-up patients reported an improvement after only two appointments.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

WHAT LIES BENEATH: MYSTERIES OF HOMEOPATHY

HOMEOPATHY: EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE At a time when sceptics are going croaky with their self-propelled, bias-driven tirade against homeopathy, more than 200 studies and evidence-based realities exemplify the latter as a safe, dependable and effective mode of medical treatment. By Dr RAjGOPAL NIDAMBOOR

omeopathy focuses on the individual that presents with the illness — not merely the illness in isolation. It has drawn admiration from unbiased conventional [allopathic] practitioners and scepticism or orchestrated tirade in certain quarters, especially in the UK. Sceptics argue that homeopathy is just water, or ‘belief’ medicine, and that there are no large-scale studies to suggest that it is no better than placebo [dummy pill] — because one study published in the much-favoured conventional medical journal, The Lancet, by A Shang et al, ten years ago, said so. However, the study, in question, has been called ‘poor’ innumerable times, since it appeared in print. On the contrary, a host of large-scale studies — over 200 — have shown that homeopathy is more effective than placebo. For sceptics who also resort to using phrases like dogma, faith healing, ‘cult’ therapy and snake oil, for homeopathy, they only need to look at themselves, again. The respected British Medical Journal reports that just 11 per cent of treatments used today — primarily conventional medicine — carry actual evidence of medicinal or clinical efficiency. No one has ever died from taking homeopathy, due to side-effects. Also, have you ever wondered why professional homeopaths keep patients away from the real 11 per cent conventional ‘evidence-based’ treatment? The reason is simple. Conventional drugs are the third largest ‘killing-agents,’ after heart attacks and other illnesses, in the US alone — just think of their iatrogenic, or drugtriggered, disease global ‘score’ too. Now you know where the real harm comes from. Yet nobody writes about it

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

anywhere. This is how tricky critics of homeopathy can get. • In an observational study of 6,544 consecutive patients during a 6-year period, and over 23,000 homeopathic consultations, which was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a few years ago, results showed that 70.7 per cent reported positive health changes, with 50.7 per cent recording their improvement as ‘better’ or ‘much better.’ Of the 1,270 children that were treated, 80.5 per cent showed some improvement, while 65.8 per cent were ‘better’ or ‘much better.’ • The Experience of Care and Health Outcomes [ECHO], in Europe, that correspond to economic, clinic and humanistic survey results, have also demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of homeopathic treatment. 19 publications, using validated scores for quality of life [QoL], evaluated the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines in 19,804 patients. Results showed that homeopathy is as efficient as conventional medicine in general practice. SAFE & EFFECTIVE Homeopathy has proved itself as a safe and effective preventative line of treatment in epidemics too. To highlight just one example. The Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy reports that during the major outbreak of meningitis in Brazil, in 1974, 18,640 patients were given the homeopathic nosode, Meningococcinum [prepared from diseased tissue], as a preventative. Only 4 cases of meningitis were reported in this group. On the contrary, 6,340 people, who formed the control group,

and did not receive any treatment, developed 32 cases. The homeopathic efficacy was evident. Over 2 million Cuban citizens at high risk in a leptospirosis epidemic, in 2007, were given preventative homeopathic preparation. Researchers found that there was a significant decrease in the incidence of leptospirosis in the group that received preventative homeopathic treatment. It must be highlighted [sceptics, please note] that the lead researchers or authors of the Cuban homeopathic leptospirosis programme were not homeopaths. “They were,” to paraphrase an article, written by Des D Spence and published in The British Medical Journal, “veteran conventional medical researchers and scientists who had been manufacturing, testing and implementing the use of conventional vaccinations [for decades]. [Highly respected in their field], their work had previously been published in leading vaccine journals, viz., Vaccine, Human Vaccines, Expert Review of Vaccines, and so on.” They were, and are, in fact, among the world’s leading experts on leptospirosis vaccination. They were also no homeopathic apologists. They had no ‘skin in the game’ prior to the leptospirosis study whatsoever and no reason at all to defend or advocate for homeopathy. They implemented, as the article illustrates, the use of the homeopathic leptospirosis prophylaxis as a desperate measure, when Cuba was overwhelmed by a record hurricane spell; there were insufficient resources and time to produce enough of the conventional vaccine. They tried homeopathy primarily because they had no other option; the reason also being that the homeopathic product could be produced in less than two weeks [compared to 6 months for a conventional vaccine], at just 2 per cent cost of the conventional vaccine and far more easily stored and administered. SUCCESSFUL RESULTS The results of using the homeopathic product, as research validated, were far more successful than any previous use of the conventional vaccine, despite what was objectively one of the worst hurricane seasons. Within two weeks of administering the homeopathic product, the researchers observed a 90 per cent decrease in the incidence of leptospirosis in the intervention region [comprising of 2 million individuals], while in the lowrisk areas which did not receive any intervention [either conventional or homeopathic], the incidence of the disease continued to rise — a set of facts that would have been drastically reversed if the homeopathic product had no efficacy. The homeopathic prophylaxis was, in the subsequent years, administered to the entire Cuban population [11 million], to the effect of near-eradication of the disease on the island — a result not achieved with the use of the conventional vaccine product. “[Despite the fact that] the researchers,” as Spence observes, “had for decades published papers in leading vaccine journals, none of the [conventional] journals

were willing to publish this groundbreaking assessment — by all accounts, one of the largest-ever conducted in medicine.” This was no ‘big’ surprise, because, right from the beginning of homeopathy, the conventional medical community has repeatedly sabotaged homeopathic research. Homeopathy is conventional medicine’s ‘whipping boy.’ Just think of it — all through the 19th century, and after, conventional medical authorities simply confiscated and destroyed records of successful homeopathic studies. In recent times, they have only ‘upped’ their ante to discredit homeopathy, in every which way possible. “[Notwithstanding all this],” as Spence elaborates, “the researchers and scientists involved with the study [in Cuba] still advocate for and use conventional vaccination in many diseases. Unlike homeopathic ‘sceptics,’ these people are actually committed to science —as unbiased and objective observers. They care only about what works; they are not blinded by dogma and ideology.” What also stands out and adds a new dimension to the whole saga is the Cuban Ministry of Health replicated the results achieved with leptospirosis, by using homeopathic prophylaxis and treatment for other infectious epidemics — including dengue, swine flu, hepatitis A and conjunctivitis — all with similar success. HOMEOPATHY: PIONEERING STEPS It would be, in the context, equally interesting to note that homeopathy championed the double-blind, placebocontrolled homeopathic provings in the early 1800s. Conventional medicine embarked on its first placebocontrolled study only in 1948, when researchers published a trial conducted by the Medical Research Council on Streptomycin in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The term double-blind means that neither the participants nor researchers, in a study, know which substance specific participants are given and/or are receiving. In like manner, placebo-controlled studies indicate that an active substance — a preparation, or medicine, of any kind — is being compared with a neutral substance, such as a dummy pill. The aim of these studies is to arrive at nonbiased results. Homeopathy pioneered the concept of multicentre study, no less. The study eliminates the influence of unexpected variables, including ethnic factors and human error. When results are replicated, or reproduced, while conducting the same research in more than one location, or country, it verifies that the results are extremely trustworthy and accurate. The first multicentre study of a homeopathic remedy, Belladonna, was conducted in 1906. Just think of it — the first multicentre study of a conventional [allopathic] drug, Patulin, a metabolic product of the Penicillium Patulum mould, was conducted 38 years later, in 1944. This should set the record straight and also reflect homeopathy’s scientific underpinnings, precision and evidence-based therapeutic effects.

Dr Rajgopal Nidamboor is a board certified wellness physician and editor-publisher, H&Y

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

HOM[E]O TRUTHS

HOMEOPATHY IS NOT SLOW Homeopathy, contrary to public perception, acts quickly and is as effective in acute as well as chronic conditions. By KAVITA NADKARNI

everal types of diseases, chronic or acute, can be treated with homeopathy effectively. However, people tend to go to a homeopath only when the acute problem becomes chronic, i.e., when it becomes severe and difficult to treat. They resort to homeopathy when other systems of medicine fail to treat or completely cure their medical condition, most often arthritis, asthma, or chronic skin conditions. Such stubborn cases naturally take a longer time to respond to homeopathy because they have stayed put for long in spite of being treated by various systems of medicine; so is the case with homeopathy. IN-DEPTH ACTION It is a widespread myth that homeopathic treatment acts more ‘slowly’ than conventional medicine. In certain chronic cases, homeopathy does work slowly in comparison to antibiotics, pain killers, and cortisone, but that is because, in such cases, homeopaths look for long-lasting recovery rather than just quick or short-term relief. In this context, the slow pace of homeopathy is not a limitation, because in most cases patients are interested in treatment that is more deep-acting rather than just a

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

temporary quick-fix. Before we decode the myth about homeopathy being slow to act, let us talk about the popular belief about antibiotics being the fastest way to treat illnesses of any form. The fact is this may not be actually true — there is no ‘one antibiotic fit’ for all illnesses. ANTIBIOTICS: THE DOWNSIDE When used appropriately, antibiotics are effective; however, like any drug, antibiotic side-effects can occur and may interfere with the patient’s ability to tolerate and even complete the course of medication. Antibiotic reactions range from mild allergic reactions to severe and debilitating adverse effects. An antibiotic allergy or hypersensitivity reaction can happen as with any other drug and lead to emergency room [ER] admission. Certain severe allergic reactions, called anaphylaxis, can lead to shortness of breath, wheezing, hives, and swelling of the face, lips or tongue and life-threatening situations. The fact is antibiotics are most often used to ‘kill’ bacterial infections and are not effective against viral or fungal infections like ringworm and vaginal yeast

infection. When it comes to viral infections, thousands of practitioners the world over, have repeatedly and regularly observed and validated that they respond well to homeopathy and no antibiotics are required. It is only in rare cases when the infection is massive and the body has lost the vitality to recover that antibiotics may be required, along with constitutional homeopathic treatment. MAKE HOMEOPATHY YOUR FIRST CHOICE OF TREATMENT One major reason for the widespread perception of homeopathy being slow to act is most often people turn to homeopathy when everything else has failed to cure their medical problem. After years of allopathic treatment an illness becomes chronic and, therefore, the treatment naturally takes longer than when homeopathy is used right from the beginning. For example, certain disorders like acute urticaria, a condition where an itchy rash suddenly develops, is usually not deep-seated; it is superficial. It can be treated quickly with verifiable success. When urticaria becomes chronic and recurrent, its intensity has obviously heightened. This form of urticaria is still curable, but it takes longer. When the same urticaria presents itself in its severe form [angioedema and dermatographism], it becomes all the more difficult to treat, since the disease is now far more deep-seated. All diseases need to be understood in this manner. The recovery period for an ailment is less in case homeopathy is used from the beginning of the treatment rather than the second choice after conventional medicine fails. Besides, ailments like arthritis, allergic asthma or skin conditions take a longer time to be treated with any other system of medicine too. However, in acute ailments like fever, diarrhoea, acute cold, cough, etc., homeopathic remedies act just as fast as conventional medicines, sometimes even faster. In certain cases, it produces results more quickly than other forms of therapy. For optimum results, remember that homeopathic medications should be taken from the early onset of symptoms.

For example, while the surgical removal of tonsils increases one’s susceptibility to catch infection and the patient often develops allergies especially in conditions like sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma, homeopathy helps to reduce the size of the tonsils, converting enlarged, unhealthy tonsils to a healthy status. It increases the resistance [immunity] to repeated infection or exposure to allergens and reduces the intensity and frequency of recurrent attacks of cough and cold. Even in difficult or resistant chronic illness where homeopathy is considered the last resort, one can see marked improvement such as in severe rheumatoid arthritis [RA] or osteoarthritis [OA], motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis and certain forms of cancer, as well as emotional illnesses. IDEAL MEDICATION FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN Homeopathic remedies are particularly recommended for pregnant women because they are not toxic. They can alleviate morning sickness, ease labour and delivery, and provide relief from after-effects. Naturally and as with any other medication, pregnant women should consult their doctor about homeopathic remedies to treat persistent symptoms. Right from children’s’ behavioural problems such as bed-wetting and the usual childhood illnesses, to hormonal changes in women during puberty –– acne to premenstrual irregularities, fibroids, polycystic ovaries –– to menopause, homeopathy has proven to be extremely effective. To sum up, homeopathy takes a holistic approach to treatment and works on both the emotional and physical aspects of the individual. It is suitable for children as well as adults. It is non-toxic, non-addictive and free from side-effects. It can effectively treat acute as well as chronic disorders. It is recommended for quick, safe recovery from illness. This is reason enough for homeopathy to be used from the beginning or as the first line of treatment, rather than being used as second choice after conventional medicine has failed.

Kavita Nadkarni is a writer and healthcare communications professional. She holds a degree in microbiology with a master’s in bio-informatics. She has managed editorial teams in media groups, specialising in healthcare and pharmaceutical publications. Her other areas of interest include complementary medicine and alternative healthcare. She is Assistant Editor, Homeopathy & You.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

GRIN AND BEAR IT

LAUGHTER,

THe beST MeDIcINe MAKING ‘EM CRY!

BAD, VERY BAD NEWS

After delivering the baby, the doctor dropped it into the bucket. Fortunately, it wasn’t harmed. Then, he dropped it a second time, and again, the baby was unharmed. And, what was the doctor’s quick remark to the parents? “Sometimes we have to drop them twice to get them to cry.”

Doctor: I have some bad news and some very bad news. Patient: Well, might as well give me the bad news first. Doctor: The lab called with your test results. They said you have 24 hours to live. Patient: 24 hours! That’s terrible! What could be worse? What’s the very bad news? Doctor: I’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday. \

SPIRIT EFFECT As the doctor completed an examination of the patient, he said, “I can’t find any cause for your complaint. Frankly, I think it’s due to drinking.” “In that case,” said the patient, “I’ll come back when you’re sober.”

MUSICAL NOTES A doctor has come to see one of his patients in a hospital. The patient has had major surgery of both hands. “Doctor,” says the man excitedly and dramatically holds up his heavily bandaged hands. “Will I be able to play the piano when these bandages come off?” “Why not,” replies the doctor. “That’s funny,” says the man. “I wasn’t able to play it before.”

CERTIFIED EMPTY Patient: Doctor, what does the X-ray of my head show? Doctor: Absolutely nothing!

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

MEMORY CRISIS Patient: Doctor, I have a serious memory problem. I can’t remember anything! Doctor: So, since when did you have this problem? Patient: What problem?

FIGHTING MOOD Patient: Doctor, what I need is something to stir me up; something to put me in a fighting mood. Did you put something like that in this prescription? Doctor: No need for that. You will find that in your bill.

EXTRACTION BENEFIT Patient: How much to have this tooth pulled? Dentist: `2,500. Patient: `2,500 for just a few minutes’ work? Dentist: Well, I can extract it very slowly if you like.

CELEBRITY SPEAK

FAMOUS WORDS It is not as if our homeopathic brothers are asleep: far from it, they are awake — many of them at any rate — to the importance of the scientific study of disease. Sir William Osler, MD, ‘The father of modern medicine’

There have been two great revelations in my life: the first was bepop, the second was homeopathy. Dizzy Gillespie, American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer

Homeopathy is a progressive and aggressive step in medicine. John D Rockefeller, American business magnate and philanthropist; co-founder, Standard Oil Company Actor ko sirf teen cheezon ki zarurat hoti hai, empathy ki, sympathy ki, aur homeopathy ki [An actor needs only three things: empathy, sympathy and homeopathy]. Shekhar Suman, actor

An enormous mass of experience, both of homeopathic doctors and their patients, is invoked in favour of the efficacy of these remedies and doses. William James, American philosopher and psychologist

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

LIVING WELL: LIFESTYLE

WATER OF LIFE Water is indispensable for life. No system in our body can do without it. The big question is: what is appropriate intake to maintain fluid balance? A review.

rinking large quantities of water has become one of the mantras for good health. Fitness gurus, celebrities and every health magazine alike advocate the idea of drinking your way to wellness. Eight glasses a day has long been considered the standard daily water requirement. The question is — do we really need to drink these eight glasses every day? Human beings are made up of 75 per cent water. This makes water the most vital component of our body. Nearly two-thirds of water in our body is found inside the cells, while the rest exists in-between the cells and our blood. Every system in our body depends on water. It provides the medium in which all the body’s chemical reactions take place while the nutrients we eat by way of food are dissolved and transported. Water also helps to regulate our body temperature through sweating. Just a 2 per cent loss in the water surrounding our cells can result in a 20 per cent drop in energy levels. Therefore, while our bodies can survive without food for around three weeks, we can only live without water on an average for around three days. Only if a person is in a normal temperature zone and not exposed to the wind would he probably last longer than three days — may be

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

as long as a week. We cannot live long without water because we have no reserves of it in our body. As water is vital for our body to function efficiently, it tries desperately hard to retain water if there is no intake of it for a longer duration. However, the amount of water your body needs depends on several factors and drinking more than the required quantity may be harmful, even fatal. ILL-EFFECTS OF DRINKING MORE WATER THAN REQUIRED According to clinicians, drinking water when not thirsty can impair concentration instead of boosting it. Separate evidence suggests that chemicals used for disinfection in bottled water could be bad for your health. Drinking excessive amounts of water can also lead to loss of sleep as people have to get up in the night to go to the washroom. It can also cause kidney damage instead of preventing it. Some doctors warn that high water intake can lead to a rare but potentially fatal condition called hyponatraemia, which sees the body’s salt levels drop. This can lead to swelling of the brain. In 2003, actor Anthony Andrews,

who starred in the ITV adaptation of Brideshead Revisited, was struck by this illness after drinking just too much water during rehearsals for his role. Further, there is no basis for claims that water helps people to lose weight by suppressing appetite. According to Professor Stanley Goldfarb, a metabolism expert from the University of Pennsylvania, US, the current evidence for such a belief is that there really is no evidence. ‘If children drank more water rather than getting extra calories from soda, that’s good, but there is no evidence that drinking water before meals reduces appetite during a meal.’ EIGHT TIMES A DAY? On an average, our body loses 1-1.5 litre of water a day. Only in case you have an extremely active life would you sweat and lose more. Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming a requisite quantity of water. So, is the popular idea of 8 glasses of water a day what you need? The answer is simple –– drink when you are thirsty and don’t just gulp 8 glasses of water for the sake of doing it, especially when you are also meeting your body fluid requirements by having fluid-rich foods. Evolution has provided us with an intricate mechanism to regulate when and how much we drink. When our total water content falls below a certain level, we feel thirsty. This is controlled by mechanisms similar to functions like breathing. We don’t need to consciously think about breathing! For a majority of people, there probably isn’t any need to worry about water intake at all. The thirst instinct is reliable. Having said that, if you are sweating a lot, make sure to replenish the lost water by drinking adequate amounts of water. Athletes or people who do intense exercises may also need to replenish electrolytes along with water. Water needs are also increased during breastfeeding, as well as illness states like vomiting and diarrhoea. Older people may need to consciously watch their water intake, because some studies show that the thirst

mechanism can start to malfunction in old age. As far as the rule of 8 glasses of water is concerned, it should include beverages and foods that contain water. While measuring your water intake, it is also important to keep in mind the water found in fruits, vegetables, milk and juices. Water from such sources go some way to meeting your daily requirements; so people need not always drink a full eight glasses of water on top of this. WATER CONTENT OF SOME FOODS Food

Water Content

Apples [100gm]

84.5gm

Grapes [100gm]

81.8gm

Milk [1 glass]

531.8gm

Broccoli [85gm]

77.43gm

Sweet corn [85gm]

59.42gm

Tomato soup [220gm]

185.24gm

— Source: British Nutrition Foundation

The Institute of Medicine, UK, determines that adequate intake [AI] for men is roughly three litre of total beverages a day. The AI for women is 2.2 litre of total beverages a day. Remember, this corresponds to the total intake of beverages and not just water. It includes fluid content from other fluid-rich foods as already cited. HYDRATE WELL • Drink around 2-4 glasses of water [roughly amounting to 800ml] after waking up • If you work in an air-conditioned environment and follow a sedentary lifestyle, do not drink more than 2-2.5 litre of water per day • For moderate workers, for instance, sales people, it is important to drink around 2.5-3 litre of water • During summers, keep yourself well hydrated by drinking water at regular intervals, but do not overdo it • If you don’t suffer from diabetes or blood pressure, having electrolyte or glucose water is advisable, especially if you have active lifestyle. HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

LIVING WELL: LIFESTYLE

BRIDAL ELEGANCE Every girl wants to look her best on her wedding day. This is possible and also achievable with a regular skin and hair care regimen.

he first preparation for every bride is to drink plenty of water and supplement a balanced diet with natural fibre such as flaxseed daily to detoxify the digestive system. This will show up on your face and your hair which will glow with optimal health and well-being. • Do not skip your exercise regime as you get busy planning your wedding or you will pile on the pounds • You can’t risk having a bad hair day on your wedding. Adopt a hair care regimen in the run up to the big day that includes cleansing, good hair nutrition, and traditional beauty aids like the use of natural turmeric • Consult a trichologist, a medical doctor trained in the science of scalp and hair, and choose a mild, preferably natural shampoo, which is free of sodium lauryl sulphate [SLS], and a hair conditioner that suits your hair type • You should include skin and hand care in your beauty regime. Use a natural body lotion. To keep your hands beautiful, use a gentle hand wash that will keep skin

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

soft and supple. Dry with a soft towel and moisturise daily with a hand cream. Keep fingernails clean • Include your feet in your beauty regime. Wash your feet a few times a day with a gentle soap and water and dry thoroughly • Cut your toenails regularly to avoid them accumulating dirt The happiness of a beautiful bride is reflected through her eyes. To keep your eyes bright and healthy on your wedding day, include foods rich in vitamins A, E, and C such as carrots, spinach, citrus fruits in your diet, and take a multivitamin and mineral supplement with your meals. If you work long hours in office, or on the computer, splash your eyes with water at regular intervals and rest them whenever possible. Remember, your eyes should sparkle as brightly as the ring on your finger. Most important, catch up on your beauty sleep, nature’s natural way to help you look fresh and beautiful on your wedding day.

GOOD FOOD

OK BATATA Batata vada, a popular streetfood that has found a place in our hearts need not show on our waist. Here is a light, low-calorie form of the delicacy.

By TArLA DALAL

otatoes ensure that batata vadas are filling while the ginger, green chillies, coriander and lemon juice pep up the flavour. This makes your taste-buds crave for more long after your tummy is full! But the monkey in the mix is that batata vadas are deep-fried and hardly healthy for all those who should avoid excess oil in their diet. Here then is a non-fried, guilt-free version of batata vada, Enjoy! Preparation Time: 15 min Cooking Time: 12 min Makes 6 vadas.

IngreDIenTs • 2 cups boiled, peeled and mashed potatoes • 2 tsp oil • A pinch of mustard seeds [rai/sarson] • 4-5 curry leaves [kadi patta] • A pinch of asafoetida [hing] • 1-1/2 tsp ginger-green chilli paste • 1 tsp garlic [lehsun] paste • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder [haldi] • 1 tbsp chopped coriander [dhania] • 1 tsp lemon juice • Salt to taste. For the Batter • 1/2 cup besan [bengal gram flour] • 1/4 tsp chilli powder • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder [haldi] • A pinch asafoetida [hing] • Salt to taste. OTher IngreDIenTs • 3/4 tsp oil for cooking.

MeThOD Heat the oil in a non-stick pan and add the mustard seeds • When the seeds crackle, add curry leaves and asafoetida and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds • Add the ginger-green chilli paste and garlic paste and again sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds • Add the potatoes, turmeric powder, coriander, lemon juice and salt, mix well; cook on a medium flame for 1-2 minutes. Keep aside to cool. For the Batter Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl; add enough water to make a batter of pouring consistency. Keep aside. • Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and shape them into flat round vadas. Keep aside. • Dip each vada in the batter and place them in a hot broad non-stick pan. Cover and cook on a slow flame for 3-4 minutes using 1/8 tsp of oil. Turn upside down, cover again and cook for another 3-4 minutes, or till they turn golden brown in colour. Serve hot with dry garlic chutney or whole wheat pav.

Tarla Dalal was a noted Indian food writer, chef, best-selling cookbook author and host of cooking shows like Tarla Dalal Show and Cook It Up With Tarla Dalal.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

LIVE & HELP LIVE

NO LESS HUMAN All of us work with different labels and at different management levels. Management principles and practices hold good for animals too even to the extent of how to deal with stress.

By MANEKA GANDHI

y sister is a middle child and she says that part of her personality is shaped by being that. The eldest is the boss. The youngest is the cutest baby of the family. But middle children, especially if they are the same sex as the eldest often feel left out and invisible, as if they are not unique at all and nothing belongs to them. Studies say that middle children are more flexible, better listeners and better talkers than their siblings, but are far more prone to depression. A manager in the middle rung of the government or company would probably be also stressed terribly. He is not senior enough to be followed implicitly. He has to maintain

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

order and progress, yet he can be unseated whenever the bosses want. He has to toady to the people upstairs and rule the people downstairs and yet his salary is as insecure as the people he rules. He faces challenges both from above and below. No wonder most of the heart problems occur in the middle ranks. Is this a unique human feature or does it exist in all animals too? I am certain all colony creatures like ants, wasps and bees would have different management executives as well. Monkeys, who live in troops, certainly have all the features and probably as much intelligence as humans, would also have management levels.

STRESS RESPONSE A recent study conducted by Liverpool’s Institute of Integrative Biology on Barbury macaques showed that middle-ranking Barbury macaques experience the most stress of their troop. The team spent 600 hours monitoring a group of varying ranks. They were monitored on how long they spent eating or resting and recording any threatening behaviour or chases and positive group behaviour, such as grooming or close contact. This was combined with hormone readings taken from their faeces. Macaques, like humans, release specific hormones to cope with periods of high stress, including hydrocortisone [cortisol] to increase blood sugar and accelerate the ‘fight-or-flight’ response. Samples were collected throughout the day and analysed to take into account differences between morning and afternoon samples. The study also took into consideration personality type, availability of social support within the group, or previous experience. The findings showed that when an individual faced antagonistic behaviour, such as threats, chases and slaps, their levels of cortisol were highest. Middle-ranking monkeys recorded the highest levels of cortisol almost all the time. In any group with a hierarchy, there are rules on who can have the best food and the best grooming partners. A middle monkey might want them, but if high-ranking monkeys want the same, then the middle ones have to give them up. This could be done passively — the lower-rankers moving away from the source of food or aggressively with threats. Similar to human beings, those in the middle were more likely to be challenged by those higher up, while simultaneously batting away advances from lower-ranking individuals that would not dare attack those at the top of the hierarchy. The team found that unlike the small fry monkeys on the front lines — and, unlike those that reign supreme who distance themselves from any conflict, middle-managing monkeys are getting hit from both sides while being ‘tasked’ with keeping the peace amongst everyone. Other macaque observers say that middle monkeys have a really hard time. Says National Geographic macaque observer Agustin Fuentes, “Middle-ranking individuals are under more stress because their interactions are less predictable. They’re not exactly sure how others are going to respond to them and how they should respond to others.”

said they are under excessive pressure every day, or once or twice a week — 12 per cent more than the top or the bottom of the hierarchies. The report revealed they were generally less satisfied with their work-life balance, more concerned about job security and most likely to be looking for a new job. And, this doesn’t apply to civilians in a cubicle but also to middle-rankers in the military. How are the monkeys stuck in middle-management taking out their frustrations? A common stress reliever among macaques is taking care of infants. Both males and females spend time and groom younger members of the troop, whether they are their own infant or someone else’s. This helps them to calm down. This is similar to how humans pet their dogs or cats when they come home from a long and stressful day. Macaques scratch themselves more if they are stressed. So do people [Watch out for an ‘itchy’ boss before you confront him!]. A stressed-out macaque will seek an individual within their network for companionship. Female macaques, which tend to stay close to their relatives, will go to their mothers to be embraced. Those that are really annoyed at being where they are will use threats, slapping the ground and chasing opponents till they calm down. The report records “agonistic behaviour like threats, chases and slaps, submissive behaviour like displacing, screaming, grimacing and hind-quarter presentation.” Can you see the same happening in your office?!

WORK-LIFE BALANCE According to the 2012 Annual Employee Outlook Report by The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development [CIPD], Europe’s largest professional institute for people management, 49 per cent of middle managers Maneka Gandhi is a noted politician, animal rights activist, writer and environmentalist. She is well-known for her books in the areas of etymology, law and animal welfare. She lives in New Delhi.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

GOOD FOR YOU

REVERSING ASTHMA Asthma involves the immune and nervous systems and can be triggered by a host of factors. Combat it with some useful nutraceuticals.

Kris’s story is not unusual. Asthma calls ris is twenty-eight-years-old, a fashion into play the intricacies of the immune and executive, slender and elegant, but nervous systems, which are profoundly linked when she first came to see me, she by a vast web of chemical messengers. This had not been able to work for six months. is one reason asthma can be triggered by a “Several years ago I was on a family vacation host of factors — from foods to pollutants, in Colorado, and I suddenly noticed that I By Dr RICHARD changes in temperature, stress, allergens, couldn’t breathe and suddenly had to go to FIRSHEIN and unsuspected toxins, anywhere from the the hospital. Since then, I’ve been hospitalised bedroom to the boardroom. All these stresses almost every year, and I feel like I’m addicted strain the body, leading to nutritional deficiencies and to my medications.” cellular damage. “Last January, I was running around from five in the In Kris’s case, nutritional supplements were crucial to morning to seven at night working constantly to put regaining her health. Her diet had been poor for years. together a campaign, and then one night, I woke up She ate on the fly-slices of pizza, hamburger, and diet and couldn’t breathe, and my inhaler just didn’t work,” Coke. She took no vitamin supplements, and her tests she told me. “I kept taking puffs and I still couldn’t showed that she was deficient in magnesium as well as breathe. It was terrifying. I was hospitalised for five most B-vitamins. days.” “It worked so quickly, I was amazed,” she said, “The doctor said he couldn’t believe I let myself get referring to her nutritional supplementation, which that sick, but I hate doctors and hospitals. When they included magnesium, the natural bronchodilator, and a give you a shot of adrenaline, you feel horrible, like good sleep-promoting nutraceutical. “I felt, at first, kind you’re speeding and yet you’re a million miles away. of strange, because I was taking loads of vitamins, but There’s this roar of nurses and doctors around you, but within two weeks I felt great. I had more energy, I didn’t you’re so disoriented you can’t understand what they’re have trouble breathing, I could even walk down the saying. And, then they pump you up with antibiotics street and go up and down the steps without feeling and steroids. The steroids make you feel so out of out of breath. I have to go to lots of appointments all control, like hyperactive.” day long, so feeling better made a world of difference. “I’ve been in and out of emergency rooms [ER] and Now, I’m sleeping well, not always waking up at night. each time they just send me home with a handful of My overall health has been so much better. Most medications. I feel completely frustrated. I have to important — I’m off that ‘merry-go-round’ of asthma think about my asthma all the time. I can’t even laugh medications.” without coughing.” Dr Richard Firshein, Founder-Director of The Firshein Center for Comprehensive Medicine in New York City, is a leading innovator and authority in the field of preventative and nutritional medicine, integrating both Eastern and Western medical practices. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and has served as professor of family medicine. An internationally recognised leader in the field of integrative medicine and healthy aging, a cancer researcher, prolific author and writer, Dr Firshein has written several groundbreaking books, including the bestselling Reversing Asthma, Your Asthma-Free Child, The Nutraceutical Revolution and, most recently, The Vitamin Prescription [For Life].

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | april 2014

FIGHTING FIT

FAB ABS! Varied crunches, from flat to incline, will not only add variety to your abs routine, but also help ensure that you target a host of muscles in the abdominal panel.

go for the least mild burn before stopping. Wait bs are sexy. I know it and you know it. If this for a minute, or so, and complete a second set, was not the case then you would not see followed by rest and then a third set. Unlike well-defined abs on the cover of all fitness larger muscle groups, the abs recover well magazines and advertisements. Every one of them and can be trained every other day. If you have is trying to sell you something and using abs and By KERRY access to the ab machine include it in your sex appeal to lure you into their marketplace. DULIN workout by all means. It is important that you Unlike others, however, the magazine you are vary your routine to avoid acclimatisation to any one reading right now cares enough about you to tell you the particular programme. One of my favorite ab workouts is truth. While most people try to pump you up with some two sets of hanging knee raises followed by one set of bullshit story about how you can use the latest fitness programme or supplement that will melt away fat, while you incline crunches. I want you to know that this plan works and, if done sit on your ass and do nothing, this one is going to tell you properly, you will see results. It is important to consider, the truth. however, that abs are only one part of the equation of I receive regular fan mail for my abs, so it may surprise your entire physique, but they are great. So, what are you you to learn that my preferred abdominal exercise is the waiting for? Get going for amazing abs. traditional crunch. Infomercials describe crunches as However, remember one thing in anything you do. archaic and outdated. They show people grimacing in back Building muscles, a healthy body or being fit is a lifelong pain as they try to complete just a few simple reps. pursuit, not a short-term goal. It’s all Well, unless you have a health right to treat yourself occasionally or medical condition that would to something that you truly enjoy as prohibit you from doing crunches, long as it is just that: a treat. Look just do them. Variations of crunches, at a ‘treat’ as you would a paycheck, from flat to incline, will not only add something that you get once a variety to your routine but also help month. More than that and you’re to ensure that you target a variety of just kidding yourself. muscles in the abdominal panel. Now, I want to be honest with you. What I am about to advocate is CRUNCH EFFECTS not easy. It is extremely important if It is important to flex [crunch] your goal is to reduce body fat in the the abdominal muscles while in shortest time possible. Plan your last the upper [positive] portion of the meal at least two hours before bedtime. This is critical. movement. Most people fail to do this and simply rely on If you take extra calories to bed with you, you will end momentum and speed to get them through the set. If you up sleeping with them for several nights to come. Your want results, don’t do this. You should deliberately crunch last meal of the day should be low in carbohydrates and down on your ab muscles for about a second with each rep. high in protein. To avoid a catabolic state while sleeping You will not be able to perform as many repetitions, but the — a condition where muscle tissue is broken down to ones that you do will be more effective. contribute to the body’s protein requirements — a slow If you have access to elbow slings and an overhead bar, digesting food source is preferred for this meal. hanging knee raises is another great way to work the abs. Many people ask me to design a diet for them stating The number of repetitions that you do is not as important that they will eat whatever I tell them to. The fact is, as the quality of repetitions. Each set of exercises should however, that I don’t know what you like or don’t like to bring you to an honest burn. It is important that you also eat. Many people like broccoli, for instance, while others use some judgment here. You should be able to distinguish might abhor its sight. Do some homework here. All food between a muscular burn and back pain, or pain from any products carry labels that describe their content. Learn other source. to read them. Make a habit of it. Take responsibility for it and before long you will know just as much as the soTRAIN WELL called experts. As long as you know the difference, don’t cheat yourself; Kerry Dulin, a world-renowned fitness guru, first got into professional bodybuilding at age 40. He won his first bodybuilding competition at 41. Now 54,with a physique that would put someone half his age to shame, Dulin has what he calls “a manageable programme,” 12 top trophies to show for his fitness endeavours and three health and fitness websites. He lives in the US.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

All is WELL

OF LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK A leader or manager should play the lead role in setting the most appropriate environment for the development of teams and teamwork.

By NELRESSA STALLINgS

ost leaders, or managers, are often inclined to stimulate the development of high-performance teams, but do not see themselves as active players in the process. Sometimes, this comes from an incorrect notion that a team should be self-contained and owned by team members. Yes, teams should be owned by its members. Also, if leaders want to encourage team functioning, it is most likely that they, as leaders, need to change. If they don’t, any team approach is destined to malfunction. When you look at teams in other contexts, you will quickly realise that leadership determines success. A football team, for example, has a coach; a symphony orchestra has a conductor. These teams don’t spontaneously develop without effective leadership. However, they can develop and grow with the help and guidance of a leader whose job is not to control, but to teach, encourage, and organise when necessary. THE LEADER AS CATALYST An appropriate word to describe the role of the leader is — catalyst. A force that makes things happen for other people and the team. A leader’s role is critical, but it is subject to change over the lifespan of the team-building process. In the beginning of the process of team-building, team members may need a good deal of help to developing their mission and purpose, identifying what they want to accomplish. In addition, they need to look at interpersonal and group skills such as conflict resolution, meeting management aspirations among other attributes. In other words, they may also need constant reminders that the leader is earnest about the team — meaning, that its activities and decisions or recommendations will be implemented wherever humanly possible. Needless to say, the leader may also be called upon to act as a mediator, when disagreement cannot be resolved by team members. Most importantly, when a team grows and matures, the leader might become an equal team member. In addition, s/he would also need to concur whether or not the team

requires any on-going involvement. POINTS TO PONDER It is imperative that teams have the following elements in place to sustain, and succeed: • Well-developed inter-personal skills and a basic understanding of psychology so as to know what makes people perform • A balance between the importance of getting the job done — and the people doing it. In other words, team members need to also be satisfied with what they are doing • Leaders and team members should have a readiness to listen and the facility to communicate well. They should also possess the ability to listen and understand, not merely talk and control • They need to have a constancy of purpose. Leaders must also commit themselves to the team; they should not give up when the going gets tough because success is an uphill task • Leaders must behave in a consistent manner, regarding team-work. It may be mentioned that leaders sometimes encourage team process and sometimes bypass the team. This will perplex everyone. When leaders don’t have consistency, nobody takes teams seriously. A leadership model is most desirable. Remember, every team takes its cues from its leader, or manager. You cannot break inter-personal rules, ignore suggestions, and exercise autocratic prerogatives, and expect members of your own team to believe that you really value working together. You need to deal with problems effectively. Sometimes a team does not have the internal resources to deal with a member who is not supportive and/or unskilled in group behaviour. This can lead to a chasm. How a leader/ manager is able to coach when necessary, problem-solve, or establish consensus and mediate, will determine his/her effectiveness in managing barriers and getting the best out of team-players who may not be always co-operative.

Nelressa Stallings, a copywriter-PR consultant, writer, teacher and ESL instructor, is a qualified life-coach. An Indophile, Stallings has worked and consulted at top companies like HarperCollins, Pentagram Design, Exceed Communications, Scholastic, and DirecTV, aside from Dow Jones. A resident of New York City, Stallings now lives in the Middle East.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

CHEW on THIS

YES WE CAN With Holi just gone by, there’s already the feeling of the year slipping by. So much to do, so little time! Without further ado, here are some quick ‘picks’ from recent animal news. Each demonstrates how easy it is to help animals, how important and how urgent.

Doggie doctors. Maureen’s doctor was not ids for dogs. Even before legal exaggerating. Recent research shows that dogs luminaries Fali Nariman and T R can actually sniff out both cancer and diabetes. Andhyarujina rolled up their sleeves and There is a California centre that is working on dished out their arguments to protect street the question of whether cancer has a smell dogs, guess who was fighting for their fourand whether dogs can help in early detection legged friends. Mumbai’s munchkins! Then of ovarian and pancreatic cancer which are Municipal Commissioner M Phatak revealed normally never caught in time. Dogs are known that his office was deluged with mail from By AMBIKA to alert epileptics to impending seizures and children as young as 11-years-old, protesting SHUKLA diabetics to low blood sugar as they can pick up any plans to target homeless dogs. From the the scent of hypoglycaemia. So, that the night nurse is a mouths of babes and we’re not just talking Baywatch babe, dog may not be an insult anymore but a reality. Pamela Anderson who also wrote to Phatak. So, all those Pooch over puff. Having an animal brings all sorts of who plan to help animals when they ‘grow up,’ why wait. health benefits. Studies show that people are willing to quit Helping animals helps grow you up. smoking if it harms their pet. With evidence showing that Quiet heroes. While still ‘muttering,’ here’s something passive smoking is as harmful for household animals as to ponder. When the NSG entered the besieged Nariman humans, what a great way to get smokers to give up. Pets House, on 26/11, fearlessly marching ahead of them were also help relieve stress among students. Those with pets two sniffer dogs. After they emerged from a gruelling cope better during exams and are less likely to feel lonely 15-hour battle, while the commandoes received a rousing and depressed. welcome, not a thought was spared for the dog-tired dogs Bulls that bear. A celebrity campaign has stopped in its who’d successfully combed and secured the building. There tracks the terrible practice of bulls pulling heavy kerosene was not a biscuit or a bowl of water for these bravehearts, tankers through Mumbai. Tethered for hours without shade, only more stress in the form of flashbulbs and a shouting, food or water, these bulls would be whipped and beaten, clapping crowd. Next time, you see a security dog, buy him denied veterinary care, housed on mounds of dung and a biscuit. Even heroes get hungry. garbage, and left to die when they finally collapsed. Actors, Three legs and nine lives. People who are so quick to authors, dancers, singers and industrialists joined a petition ‘put to sleep’ or put out their sick pets could learn from a that has put an end to this cruelty. Good going guys! lady who would not give up on a three-legged stray who Fish squish. Over the last five years, seven species was crushed under a car. With seven pelvic fractures, Rex of coastal fish have been lost due to industrial pollution would have been a candidate for ‘mercy killing,’ but for a and oil drilling. The remaining fish are toxic. National true angel of mercy who took responsibility for the cost of Environmental Engineering Research Institute [NEERI] and his treatment. Within a month, the fractured area started to the Marine Fisheries Research Institute have stated that fish heal and from a walking trolley, he’s now perched prettily caught in Mumbai waters have “high quantities of heavy on his own three legs. Bravo! metals such as lead, nickel, chromium and chemical dyes.” Pet payback. For every person that helps an animal, The best for the last. Turning veggie has never been there are scores of animals that help humans. Here’s an easier as demonstrated by globe-trotter Bhupesh Kumar, amazing story of a dog who saved his owner’s life. Maureen owner of We Sell Dreams, a company that represents the Burns’ ten-year-old crossbred Max, suddenly started tourism board of several countries. Being vegetarian has, behaving strangely. He became subdued and would sniff for him, proven a blessing not a burden. “Almost all cultures her breath and repeatedly paw at her right breast. Alerted have a vegetarian component to their cuisine, it’s just they by his behaviour, Maureen had a mammogram followed have not defined it as such.” Without resorting to Indian by a biopsy which revealed a malignant tumour in her right restaurants or home supplies, Kumar has never missed breast. When she told her doctor she already knew she had having a meal of his choice whether in Alaska or Africa. So, cancer because her dog had told her so, instead of laughing, there goes that last excuse for eating dead bodies. Maureen’s doctor said that was not uncommon. With his mistress well again, Max too has recovered his wag. Ambika Shukla is Trustee of People For Animals, India's largest animal welfare organisation, and Director of Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre. She shares her home in New Delhi with ten dogs. E-mail: ambikashukla@yahoo.com

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

POISE & BALANCE

SUBTLE, YET PROFOUND Sukshma yoga helps to develop awareness of bodily movements. It is useful as a warm up as it flexes all the major joints and relaxes the muscles.

By PREETI MANDAWEWALA

ukshma vyayama or yoga means ‘subtle exercise.’ It is one of the most important series of asanas with a profound therapeutic effect on our body and mind. The series may be practiced by anyone, beginner or advanced, young or elderly, healthy or sick. The series removes blockages which prevent the free flow of energy in the body and mind. For instance, bad posture, disturbed bodily function, psychological or emotional problems, or an imbalanced lifestyle all cause energy blockages. When such blockages become chronic, a limb, joint or physical organ may malfunction, fail or get diseased. he regular practice of sukshma vyayama removes such energy blockages from the body; it also prevents new ones from forming. Sukshma vyayama is most effective for people having arthritis, rheumatic disorders, high blood pressure, heart problems, or other disorders, especially when vigorous physical exercise is not recommended.

1 Dandasana [base position]. All practices of sukshma yoga are performed while sitting on the floor in the base position. Sit on the floor with legs outstretched. Feet together and hands on the sides. This is the starting position for all asanas in the sitting position. 2 Toe bending. Sit in dandasana position with legs a foot apart. Keep head and spine as straight as possible. Slowly move both feet backwards and forwards, bending them from your ankle joints. Inhale as the toes move backward and exhale as the toes move forward. Try to touch the floor on forward movement. Practice ten times. 3 Ankle bending. Follow the first three steps of toe bending [see 2]. Focus on your toes. Inhale slowly and move your toes

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

backwards; exhale and move them forward. Practice ten times. 4 Ankle rotation. Sit in the dandasana position. Keep 2-3 feet distance between both feet. Slowly rotate them, clockwise from the ankle ten times, and then repeat them anti-clockwise. Do not allow the knees to move. Inhale on upward movement and exhale on downward movement.

FORM IV Statement about ownership and other particulars about newspaper Homeopathy & You. 1. Place of publication: Mumbai 2. Periodicity of its publication: Monthly 3. Printer’s Name: Rajgopal Nidamboor Nationality: Indian Address: Dr Batra’s Media Pvt Ltd, 2nd Floor, H Kantilal Compound, Andheri-Kurla Road, Sakinaka, Andheri [E], Mumbai – 400 072 4. Publisher’s Name: Rajgopal Nidamboor Nationality: Indian Address: Same as above 5. Editor’s Name: Rajgopal Nidamboor Nationality: Indian Address: Same as above 6. Names and addresses of individuals who own the newspaper: Dr Mukesh Batra, 2nd Floor, H Kantilal Compound, Andheri-Kurla Road, Sakinaka, Andheri [E], Mumbai – 400 072 I, Rajgopal Nidamboor, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Date: March 1, 2014

[Signed] Signature of Publisher

5 Hand clenching. Sit in a comfortable position, crosslegged or legs outstretched. Hold both arms straight in front of body at the shoulder level. Open the hands, palms down and stretch the fingers as wide apart as possible. Close the fingers to make a tight fist with thumbs inside. Open the hands and stretch the fingers again. Repeat 10-20 times. 6 Wrist bending. Sit in a comfortable position. Hold both arms straight in front of body at the shoulder level. Keep elbow straight, palms open and fingers straight throughout the practice. Bend the hands upwards from the wrist so that the hands are perpendicular to arms. Bend the hands forward and then downwards from the wrist, so that the hands are perpendicular to arms. Do not bend your fingers. This is round one. Practice ten times. Inhale with the backward movement and exhale with the forward movement. 7 Wrist joint rotation. Sit in a comfortable position. Hold both arms straight in front of body at the shoulder level. Keep arms and elbows straight throughout the practice. Slowly rotate the fists about the wrists in clockwise direction ten times. Reverse the direction of wrist joint rotation and practice ten times. Ensure that the palms are facing downwards throughout the practice. Inhale on upward movement and exhale on downward movement. 8 Elbow bending. Remain in the base position and stretch your arms in front at shoulder level. The hands should be open with the palms facing upwards. Inhale and then exhale, bend the arms at the elbows and touch the fingers to the shoulders. Straighten the arms again. This is round one. Repeat ten times. Inhale while straightening the arm and exhale while bending the arm.

9 Shoulder rotation. Remain in the base position and stretch the arms in front at shoulder level. The hands should be open with the palms facing upwards. Inhale and then exhale, bend the arms at the elbows and touch the fingers to the shoulders. Straighten the arms again. This is round one. Repeat ten times. Inhale on the upward stroke and exhale on the downward stroke. 10 Neck movement. Sit in a comfortable position, crosslegged or legs outstretched, or any other meditative asana. Stage 1. Inhale slowly and move the head backwards as far as is comfortable. Repeat ten times. Stage 2. Slowly move your head to the right and try to touch the right ear to the right shoulder without turning the head, or raising the shoulder. Move your head to the left side trying to touch the left ear to the left shoulder. Inhale on upward movement and exhale on downward movement. Stage 3. Inhale deeply, and while exhaling gently turn your head to the right so that the chin is in line with the shoulder. Slowly turn the head to the left as far as is comfortable. Slowly turn your head to the left as far as is comfortable. Do not strain. Inhale while bringing the head back to the front. Inhale while turning to the front; exhale while turning to the side. Stage 4. Remain in the same position with eyes closed. Slowly rotate the head downward to the right, backward and then to the left side in a relaxed, smooth, rhythmic and circular movement. Slowly rotate the head downward to the right, backward and then to the left side in a relaxed, smooth, rhythmic and circular movement. Feel the shifting stretch around the neck and the loosening up of the joints and muscles of the neck. Practice for ten rounds both clockwise as well as anticlockwise. Inhale as the head moves up; exhale as the head moves down. Note: People suffering from low blood pressure, high blood pressure or cervical spondylitis should not perform neck movements. Individuals having cervical spondylitis should avoid forward bending of the neck.

Dr Preeti Mandawewala, PhD, comes from a traditional Marwadi business family. She first discovered, as housewife, her love for yoga and completed Yogacharya certification followed by Yogavachaspati. A few years later, she learned all she could about chakra meditation and pursued her doctorate in the subject. She conducts regular workshops and has found chakra meditation to be therapeutically effective for acidity, spondylitis, diabetes, high blood pressure, migraine, thyroid disorders and tennis elbow, among other health issues.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APril 2014

WHOLE & SOUL

DON’T WORRY. BE HAPPY When you transparently reveal the love of god that is within your heart, you will connect with happiness.

with pure water that is transparent, our body hile travelling through a forest, a becomes clean; in association with a saintly great king named Yadu saw an person, our heart becomes clean. Why? Because, avdhut, a person who apparently was they transparently reveal the love of god that is a social outcaste. From a material and social within their hearts. consideration, he was a failure. But, Yadu, The avadhut learned detachment from the wind. being a religious man, could see the person The wind sometimes blows over a field of roses was happier than anyone he had ever met. So, and carries sweet fragrance. It sometimes flows he asked, “How is it that despite your poverty, By RADHANATH over a waterfall and carries refreshing mist of you are so happy? Who is your guru? Where did SWAMi cooling, soothing waters. It sometimes flows over you learn this from?” The answer spans several a sewage pit and carries the disgusting stench of chapters in the Srimad Bhagavatam. He replied, “My dear king, I am completely satisfied with human excrement. But, in all cases, the wind remains the same. It is unaffected, and is neutral. Similarly, a person whatever I have, with whatever I am, and with whatever whose mind is fixed in god, even after passing through is happening around me. Why? Wherever I look, I see so many auspicious and inauspicious situations in life, is god teaching me. I have learned from 24 gurus who have always fixed in his/her purpose. instructed me.” As we pass through life, we come across unexpected The avadhut said, “One of my gurus is the earth. I have experiences: crises, disasters, failures, successes, honour, learned from the earth the spirit of selfless service. Even dishonour, pleasure, pain, happiness, distress, health, though Mother Earth is harassed and plundered by so disease, birth and death. But, a great soul, like the wind, many people, she continues to serve. Greedy people are passes through all circumstances of life with his/her mind drilling oil from the earth, polluting the earth, soaking the earth with the blood of innocent animals, with the blood of fixed on the remembrance of the Lord. What can we learn from the ocean? During the rainy soldiers, and they are cutting the lush forests and making season large volumes of water flow into the ocean and them into wastelands to make money from wood, to grow during summer all those rivers dry up and nothing flows tobacco, or grow grains for alcohol. Although subjected to untold abuse and harassment, our Mother Earth continues into the ocean. But, is the ocean bigger in the rainy to provide all necessities for all living beings. I learned this season and smaller in the summer? Not at all. A saintly person is like the ocean; so many desires, so many spirit of selfless service from her.” sensual experiences flow into his/her mind through the The avadhut learnt the same spirit of selfless service senses, but s/he is unaffected. from the sun. The sun evaporates water, and what does Because of the ocean’s depth, because of the ocean’s it do with the water? It creates rain and gives the water back to the earth. Sea water is useless for us. The sun will volume, it is simply unaffected by all the rivers that flow into it. Similarly, when a person has deep knowledge evaporate sea water and make it into pure rain water. The and realisation, when a person is experiencing the joy sun just takes that sea water, making it into something wonderful, and giving it back to society. Similarly, a saintly of spiritual love, all the dualities — pleasures and pain, honour and dishonour, success and failure — do not affect person, whatever they learn they use it for the welfare of him/her. They understand them and they deal with them, others. There is a saying, “One who has knowledge but but because of the depth of their internal experience, they does not enlighten others with that knowledge is like are unaffected. The soul is sat cit ananda — it is eternal, a lamp covered by a pot.” What is its import? Not just full of knowledge and full of bliss. Then, why are we not knowledge, but also skills, talents, and wealth; whatever we acquire, we want to give back for the welfare of others. blissful? Because, we are looking for bliss everywhere else, except where it really is. What can we learn from water? When water is pure, it The Gita says that one who is illuminated within, one sounds sweet when it flows. Similarly, a saintly person is a who rejoices within, is a person of real intelligence. That person who speaks and behaves in a way that is pleasing same oceanic experience of happiness and love lies within to the hearts of others. And, just as water purifies, the us — try to connect with it every day. saintly person’s acts and words purify us. In association

Radhanath Swami, a spiritual guide, is the author of the bestselling book, The Journey Home. To know more about his work on leadership and spirituality, visit www.tulsibooks.com. Website: www.radhanathswami.com

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

CORPORATE WELLNESS

THINK, PLAN AND ACT TO SUCCEED A high degree of mental and emotional alertness is indispensible for a good, healthy career in the corporate environment.

By BADRINATH DURVASULA

he key challenges that confront us, as each of us heads to work every morning, are twofold. First, there are issues that require resolution on priority; two, we all need to deal with different people and score a point. The ‘duo’ demands smart thinking and the ability to perform. Besides, one requires a high degree of mental alertness — the prerequisite component, or indispensible element, for a good, healthy career in the corporate environment. In engineering projects, the degree of mental alertness is complex, as the tasks are rigidly challenging. Further, the complexities associated with each project are unique and novel. On the one hand, the individual has to ‘manage’ the internal team; on the other, s/he has to secure everything to receive plaudits from the client, while managing every likely, or unlikely, problem. The two are no ordinary tasks, but they can be accomplished by developing a clear outlook to commit through mind processing and good mental, or emotional, health. This holds good for any field, industry, or business, you work in, or lead. Put in context, mental fitness has three corners of performance: thinking, planning and acting. Orientation towards the ‘trio’ would obviously result in emotional, social and physical development. A manager is the best performer, if his/her actions are perceived to be satisfying and also fulfil the emotive needs of co-workers. In the process, s/he becomes a natural leader. This, in turn, motivates all individuals to aim, reach and also attain the next level. In the process, organisations will have a pool of managers, who are fit and raring to go under all circumstances, come rain or shine. During my long years of observing and analysing

corporate situations, including ‘ping-pong’ games in pressure-situations, not to speak of stress, I’ve ‘zeroed-in’ on a few handy ‘tools’ to nurture mental fitness. Here goes — 1. Exercise daily — a simple, regular 20-minute workout would pump-in oxygen to the brain, improving memory, reasoning and reaction time 2. Supplement with vitamin B and ‘multi-vitaminerals.’ Vitamin B helps in mental toning and ‘multi-vita-minerals’ ‘up’ your levels of holistic health. Add green leafy vegetables and dairy products for good health too 3. Challenge your intellect and memory. A conscious effort should be done to augment your thinking and thought processes. The best thing to do is to solve crossword puzzles, or write articles, or blogs. This will keep the brain engaged in a creative way 4. Take up manual activity. Get involved in gardening, or problem-solving in normal situations, for they formulate healthy reaction time and also make you smart and fit 5. Engage in multilevel conversations. Try to discuss with friends or colleagues on as many topics as possible, for it tests one’s memory and hones your ability to communicate as a regular practice. Practice, as you know, makes it perfect. Keshub Mahindra, Ratan Tata, Narayana Murthy and Satya Nadella, to name a few, consciously practice to be on top. Why not we? It is simple, also profound. Just use your thoughtful ‘chill pill’ always — to be mentally fit and be recognised instantly.

Badrinath Durvasula is Vice-President and Head, Legal and Strategy, Larsen & Toubro Ltd, Mumbai. He holds master’s degrees in nuclear physics, law and management.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

Funny bone

HAIR-A-KIRI You are never too young or too old to have your hair chopped by a scissorwielding psychopath!

I say it’s me and they ask, “What ou’re never too young or old to have happened to your hair?” your world shattered by a scissorI once surprised my husband with a wielding psychopath. And, you never Meena Kumari-type kiss curl hanging forget. When I was about seven, my mom seductively over my right eye. He took me to the Taj and told Madame thought it was a caterpillar and tried to Jacques to give me a ‘very short hairstyle.’ flick it off. Then one day, inspired by a The French lady chopped and chopped as style I saw in a magazine, I had my hair if her life depended on it. All I remember cut extremely short which made my is that after she had finished, I sobbed and By RUBY husband most unhappy. I had to give sobbed and refused to go to school for LILAOWALA several assurances that I wouldn’t act on the next two days. When I finally went to impulse again. school, friends looked at me and teased, Since then, as the years rolled-by, I have cut, frizzed, “You’ve become a boy.” trimmed, shaped, coloured, streaked, rolled, sprayed I refused to go to any hair dresser after that and and permed my hair, and gone through various moods grew my hair past waist-length till my college days; and swings depending on what the end result was. the only concession being a fringe on my forehead like Sometimes, I scream because the hair on either side Audrey Hepburn, or may be Sadhana, or Laloo Prasad, of my head does not seem to be on speaking terms, that Mr Rocco of ‘Rocco Saloon’ gave me when I was each deciding to go their separate ways. I try to make in 10 th standard in school. an immediate appointment with the saloon, only to be Charles Revson, the founder of Revlon, used to say told that the hair-dresser required by me is busy or on that even though he made his fortune with cosmetics, leave and am left to wonder how to face the world for he understood that no matter how perfect a woman’s make-up, no matter how gorgeous her dress, if her hair the next few days. When the big day arrives I get up in the morning didn’t comb just the way she thought it should, she felt insecure and hated the way she looked. I think he’s looking perfect. It never looked better. But, I’m committed. I’ve an appointment. So, I go with some absolutely right. No one can talk us into believing that apprehension, wondering whether I will come out a bad haircut is good fashion. It’s our hair, just as it’s happy or sad. Am I exaggerating? Of course, not. I am our life, and we have every right to do what we know usually in tears when I come home, because I looked makes us look nice. better before I entered the saloon. It was the same Since variety is the spice of life and since I was sometimes ragged in college, because of my hip-length with my recent perm inspired by Raveena Tandon and Madhuri Dixit. My grandkids were wide-eyed again, hair, which I tied in a pony-tail, or as some boys called “Granny, what happened to your hair?” “Nothing jhadoo-hairstyle, I went to ‘Blue Heaven’ and my hair happened and don’t stare — it’s rude,” I tell them. cut to shoulder length bob. Not satisfied, I teased it My busybody neighbour asked, “You actually paid to into a beehive hairstyle to look glamorous like Asha look like this?” “No, the Samaritans did it for free,” I Parekh or Babita. Even on my wedding day, I had a answered. So you see, you are never too young, or too bee-hive and today my grandsons flip through the old, to have your hair chopped by a scissor-wielding black and white photo album to ask, “Granny, who is psychopath. grandpa getting married to in these photographs?” Ruby Lilaowala, a former special correspondent for Gulf Times and an ex-censorship officer for the government of Qatar, is a writer, columnist, life-coach and counsellor. She lives in Mumbai.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

HEALTH HAPPENINGS The tests showed favourable results in all three models, as vitamin C effectively targeted the ovarian cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells. The benefits of high-dose vitamin C were also observed in conjunction with conventional chemotherapy treatments, which destroy all cells — both healthy and malignant, eventually leading to patient death. The next step for this type of research would typically involve applying the same parameters in a large-scale clinical human trial to see if they can be replicated and confirmed. While this new study is admittedly convincing on its own, the hurdles to gaining widespread acceptance of its findings VEGETARIANS LIVE LONGER A study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, links vegetarian diets to longer life. Among over 70,000 study participants, vegetarian habits reportedly reduced mortality risk by 12 per cent overall, with even more dramatic risk reduction [28 per cent] reported for vegan men. Plant-eaters, rejoice; meat-eaters, reform. The study assessed death rates within a group of 73,308 people from the US and Canada. Participants were followed for an average of just under 6 years. Subjects were divided into 5 groups: non-vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, pescatarian, ovo-lacto vegetarian [29 per cent of the study population], and vegan [8 per cent of study population]. 2,570 individuals died during the course of the study, with statistically significant differences observed between rates of death for vegan/ vegetarian versus non-vegetarian participants. The most dramatic results involved reduced death for male subjects due to ischaemic heart disease [IHD], or other forms of cardiovascular disease [CVD]. Mortality rates among vegan men were 28 per cent lower than those for non-vegetarian men; women’s rates of mortality from CVD didn’t show such large differences, compared to other groups. The ‘adjusted hazard ratio’ for all vegetarians combined — a measurement reflecting all causes of death during the study — was reportedly 12 per cent lower than that of all non-vegetarians participating in the study. VITAMIN C: THE CANCER FIGHTER A team of researchers from the University of Kansas, US, reportedly tested the effects of vitamin C given in high doses intravenously on a group of human subjects and found that it effectively eradicates cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact. Building upon earlier research pioneered by the late Linus Pauling, PhD, a two-time Nobel laureate and chemist from Oregon State University who is today recognised as the world’s foremost proponent of therapeutic vitamin C, the new research involved injecting high doses of vitamin C into human ovarian cells. The tests were conducted in vitro in a lab, as well as directly in both mice and a group of 22 human subjects.

include replicating them across a much larger human sample size. The conventional medical industry’s response to these and similar findings over the years has been nothing short of derisive, which is to be expected. Having to rationalise decades of ushering cancer patients through the gauntlet of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery — with dismal results — while ignoring natural cancer-fighting alternatives, like vitamin C, is a hard pill to swallow for this powerful, high-profit industry, which would rather have everyone ignore such findings than think critically about them. Research suggests that oral doses of vitamin C act as antioxidants, protecting cells from damage caused by reactive compounds that contain oxygen. Vitamin C given intravenously can have the opposite effect by promoting the formation of one of those compounds: hydrogen peroxide. Cancer cells are particularly susceptible to damage by such reactive oxygencontaining compounds.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

HEALTH HAPPENINGS

NEW PHONE APPS DETECT SEIZURES AND STROKES Two new studies reveal smart phone apps that may help people detect epileptic seizures and get better stroke treatment. In the first study, an epilepsy app was designed to help non-doctors determine if a person is having an epileptic seizure. To create the app, researchers asked 67 people, questions about their seizures and used the most helpful answers. This was tested on 132 people in India and Nepal, and 96 per cent agreed with the doctor’s diagnosis. “This app will help health professionals evaluate and make the diagnosis, especially when doctors are not available,” says study author Victor Patterson, MD, a neurologist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. For the second study, researchers looked at a stroke app which makes it more efficient for doctors to manage care for acute stroke patients. “Those who treat acute stroke patients often need to accomplish many tasks simultaneously,” the app creator Claude Nguyen, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, US, was quoted as saying. “Not only do we need to deliver acute therapies such as intravenous tPA both safely and expeditiously, but also evaluate them for clinical trials, and mobilise appropriate resources towards these goals.” THE BRAIN UNDERSTANDS SOCIAL SETTINGS In a new study, researchers from Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, demonstrate that brain cells in what is called the mirror system help people make sense of actions they see other people do. By using magnetic stimulation to briefly disrupt normal processing of the areas of the brain involved in the production of action, the researchers showed these areas are also involved in understanding actions. The study is the first to demonstrate a clear causal effect. Earlier studies primarily looked at correlations, which are difficult to interpret. “There has been a great deal of hype about the mirror system, and now we have performed an experiment that finally provides clear and straightforward evidence that

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

the mirror system serves to help people make sense of others’ actions,” researcher John Michael was quoted as saying. “The findings may be interesting to therapists and psychiatrists who work with patients with schizophrenia or autism, or even to educational researchers.” ‘VOICE AREAS’ COMMON IN DOG AND HUMAN BRAINS The first study to compare brain scans of non-primates and humans has revealed that both dogs and humans have dedicated brain areas for voices, and they react in similar ways when processing emotional cues. First author

Dr Attila Andics, of MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group in Budapest, Hungary, and colleagues report their findings in Current Biology. “Although parallel evolution cannot be excluded,” write the researchers, the study suggests specialised voice areas in the brain began developing over 100 million years ago, when humans and dogs last shared an ancestor. This is much earlier than expected. The findings also reveal new clues about mechanisms of brain and behaviour that may explain the unique connection that has existed between humans and dogs for tens of thousands of years. To conduct their unique experiment, which involved taking the same functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI] brain scans of both humans and dogs, the researchers trained 11 dogs to lie still in the scanner. Dr Andics says they were interested in finding out, for example, “How do dogs process dog sounds, and how similar it is to the way humans process human sounds.” While in the scanner, the canine and human participants listened to nearly 200 different vocal sounds of people and dogs, many with emotional connotations, such as whining, crying, laughing and playful barking. The fMRI images showed that the same areas in the brains of both dogs and humans respond to vocal sounds. It came as no surprise to researchers that the responses were strongest when the participants listened to sounds of their own species. Dr Andics says the social environment of dogs and humans is similar, and their results show they may also use similar brain mechanisms to process social information. This may explain why the two species make such successful companions.

HIGH STRESS LEVELS AND HEADACHES Whether a result of our work, home or social lives, all of us go through stressful periods. Now, new research has linked high stress levels to increased occurrence of headaches — an association that has long been

suspected. The research team at the University Hospital at the University Duisburg-Essen, in Germany, analysed 5,159 people between ages 21 and 71. For two years, all participants were questioned about their headaches and stress levels four times each year. They were asked to report the number of headaches they had each month and to rate their stress levels on a scale of 0 to 100. Over the two-year period, 31 per cent of participants reported a tension-type headache, 14 per cent had migraine, 11 per cent suffered a tension-type headache combined with migraine, while 17 per cent reported a non-classified headache. Participants who had a tension headache reported their stress levels at an average of 52 out of 100. Those who experienced migraine had average stress levels of 62 out of 100, while those with combined migraine and tension-type headaches reported average stress levels of 59 out of 100. Migraine sufferers had a 4.3 per cent rise in the number of headaches each month for every 10-point stress increase, while those with combined migraine and tension-type headaches demonstrated a 4 per cent increase in headache frequency each month. THYROID CANCER: DIAGNOSIS OR SCARE? According to a new study published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, increased incidence of thyroid cancer may not be because of an increase in the disease, but an increase in diagnosis. Several types of cancer can affect the thyroid, a gland in the neck that produces hormones. Factors that make people more at risk of getting thyroid cancer include: • Being between the ages of 25 and 65 • Being female • Being Asian; having a history of thyroid disease in the family; having previously had radiation treatments to the head or neck. To diagnose thyroid cancer, doctors use a combination of physical exam, blood tests, imaging tests and a biopsy. Since 1975, the incidence of thyroid cancer has nearly tripled, from 4.9 to 14.3 in every 100,000 people. Despite the increase in diagnosis, the researchers did not find any increase in the rates of death from thyroid cancer. About 0.5 per 100,000 people die from this cancer, which has remained stable since 1975. Because of this, the researchers suspected that ‘overdiagnosis’ may be responsible for the rise in thyroid cancer incidence. Overdiagnosis is when a patient is diagnosed with having a condition that has no symptoms and may never cause them any harm. The researchers found that increased detection of small papillary cancers — a less aggressive form of thyroid cancer — is responsible for the increase in thyroid cancer incidence. As a response to this overdiagnosis, the researchers make valid suggestions. They think that some of the small papillary cancers may benefit from not being labelled as cancer, and instead of treating them, monitoring them through active surveillance may be imperative. [Culled and collated from media reports]

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

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HOME[O]PATHY

GOOD FOR YOUR BODY. GOOD FOR YOUR HAIR Your hair needs feeding as much as your body does. A hair mask for tress nutrition produces delicious results.

vocado and yogurt, honey and coconut oil are great tasting, healthy foods with a host of beauty benefits including strong, lustrous hair. Just like your body, your hair and scalp need essential nutrients. Foods that contain oils, proteins and nutrients make naturally excellent hair masks.

HOME SPECIAL Your kitchen is a beauty treasure trove. Many herbs, fruits and veggies not only nourish your body but also your hair. 1 Avocado. Avocados are full of essential oils, healthy cholesterol and vitamin E — a great antioxidant. Avocados make effective moisturisers; they are also packed with protein to strengthen hair. Mash half an avocado to add to your hair mask and eat the other half to help lower ‘bad’ cholesterol in the body and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. 2 Coconut oil. This highly saturated oil leaves your hair with a pleasant scent as well as shiny, silken locks. It is best to apply coconut oil directly to your hair and scalp. However, make sure you use organic and not hydrogenated coconut oil. Coconut oil has natural antioxidant properties — it helps to keep your hair from turning grey. Research also shows that coconut oil in your diet could help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol. 3 Flaxseed is rich in essential fatty acids [EFAs], or omega-3 — it is not only good for your health, but also for your hair. Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoonful of flaxseed powder or roasted seeds into your breakfast cereal — it moisturises your body from the inside out. 4 Honey. Honey is one of the most popular, natural hair

and face mask products. It offers a host of benefits for your hair. Honey can invigorate dull, dry hair when applied as a mask. Honey is naturally antiseptic — it can fight dandruff or scalp psoriasis and prevent scalp infection. A tablespoonful of honey can make a great hair mask. Add a teaspoonful of honey to a cup of green tea to sip while your hair mask nourishes your hair. 5 Yogurt. Yogurt or curd [dahi] is made by fermenting milk. It adds proteins for hair strength and a shiny, glossy finish to your mane. Add a splodge of yogurt to your hair mask — it will soften your hair leading to fewer split ends and fly-away strands. Yogurt also contains healthy or ‘good’ bacteria that fights ‘bad’ bacteria and other germs in your gut, the seat of good health. Good bacteria are also said to assist in creating vitamin D and serotonin, the feelgood brain chemical. Calcium-rich yogurt is essential for healthy bones and nerves. D-I-Y FOOD HAIR MASK You don’t need to visit a parlour for hair treatment, simply step into your kitchen. Take these five super foods and combine them in a blender or food processor and apply the mixture gently to your hair. • Massage your hair mask through your hair and into your scalp • Leave the hair mask on for 10-15 minutes to deep condition • Wrap your head in a hot towel. This will help the essential nutrients to infiltrate your hair shafts. Wait for 5-6 minutes • Rinse thoroughly; air-dry your hair. You could wash out your hair with a mild natural shampoo to squeeze out the hair mask ingredients. However, if your hair is dry or curly, it is best to rinse it out with water — for refreshing results you may add a teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar to the final rinse. Your hair will thank you for a wholesome, nutritious treat.

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

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FITNESS EQUIPMENT

THE HEALTHY BICYCLE Cycling is a low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Regular cycling is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle — such as obesity and arthritis, stroke, heart disease and diabetes.

ycling is one of the best ways to exercise. You can ride a bicycle almost anywhere, at any time of the year and day, and that too without spending much. A bicycle costs much less than other cardio fitness equipment. Moreover, it does not require any vigorous training for you to learn cycling and once you have learned it, you don’t forget it. All you need to get started is a bike, and a place where you can enjoy a half-hour ride. Cycling gives a good muscle workout. It uses all the major muscle groups as you pedal. It has been shown to get you fitter than walking as it lifts your heart rate to a more beneficial level. BENEFITS • Cycling is good not only for your legs, it also builds strength in a holistic manner since every single part of the body is involved • Cycling helps you lose unwanted weight. Steady cycling burns approximately 300 calories per hour • Cycling is easier on your joints than other highimpact activities such as running, but still helps you get into shape • It increases muscle tone. Regular cycling is great for the mobility of the hip and knee joints. You will gradually begin to see improvement in the muscle tone of your legs, thighs, rear end and hips • It is a good exercise to build and increase stamina. The best part is you might have gone farther than the last time you went cycling without even knowing that you did it. This happens because you actually enjoy cycling rather than keeping track of the distance covered • Studies show that moderate activity, such as cycling, can strengthen the immune system and contribute to fighting illness • It makes your heart pound in a steady manner and improves cardiovascular fitness. Cycling 25 km a week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease [CVD] by 50 per cent • Cycling can help reduce stress and depression

•

and improve your well-being quotient and raise self-esteem Cycling outdoors is a great way to be close to nature and enjoy fresh air.

SAFETY Though cycling has immense health benefits, one needs to take a few simple precautions for a safe ride. It is recommended to start slowly and then increase your cycling. Beginners should cycle three times a week. Doing it two times a week is also fine, but this depends on your capacity and capabilities. A gradual increase in speed is an important aspect of fitness cycling. Cycling can be strenuous to the body — the key towards successful fitness cycling is to be patient and not hurry in escalating your limits. One should wear a suitable helmet while cycling. If fitted correctly your helmet should not tilt backward to expose your forehead, forward to cover your eyes, or sideways to uncover the side of your head. Wear protective pads on your elbows and knees. They will reduce the severity of injury to your limbs in case you fall from your bicycle. • Check and make sure your bicycle is in good condition • Wear bright or light-coloured clothing during the day and reflective or fluorescent clothing at night or in poor visibility conditions • Ride along the left side of the road and well clear of the kerb. Do not drift from side-to-side or zigzag through traffic • Ride at a safe speed, especially on the road with other vehicles plying alongside • Keep a safe distance from any vehicle you are following — they may stop suddenly • Always keep an eye for traffic signals, road signs and road markings • Keep an eye for signals from other road users • Check for obstacles on the road • Take care of elders and children who may not see you approaching • Always keep an eye for parked cars. When passing a row of parked vehicles, be aware that doors might be opened suddenly — in front of you. HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

THE WAY WE WERE & ARE

ARTFUL SCIENCE Many of our traditions are actually well camouflaged scientific practices. We may observe them as a mark of respect to elders, religion or god, but they have a definitive practical value. HEALTHY HALDI Applying turmeric paste to their bodies is considered by most women to be a sacred practice. In actual fact it has roots in reality. Formerly, women routinely performed several household duties which involved bringing water from the river, washing clothes, utensils and the home. With homes made primarily of mud and clay, these often remained wet during cleaning. As a result, women were required to be in contact with water for extended periods. Turmeric paste was applied in order to protect their legs and feet from fungal and bacterial infections. Even today, turmeric’s antiseptic properties are well-recognised. WINNING COMBO It is considered auspicious to have a bit of yoghurt sweetened with sugar before leaving for any important work such as an exam, interview, business meeting etc. This

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‘lucky charm’ is actually based on logic. Curd is a coolant and an effective digestive agent. It prevents heartburn and gas formation. Sugar is an instant energiser. You get the point — one needs to be cool, collected and energised when setting out to accomplish an important task. Dahi shakkar [curd-sugar] gives you that extra edge. FOLLOW THE SUN Hindus observe Suryapujan [praying and offering water to the Sun God] as an essential early morning religious ritual. In actual fact, scientists have discovered that exposing your eyes briefly to the early morning sun everyday helps to avoid cataract and other eye-related disorders. Doctors also suggest that ‘bathing’ in the sunlight for a few minutes just post-dawn, helps in vitamin D synthesis. The early morning hours are the most suitable as we are exposed to the least quantity of UV rays than any other time of the day.

MINERAL WEALTH

CHROMIUM: THE ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT Chromium is increasingly becoming the much-preferred nutraceutical in the management of diabetes.

hromium is the most recent mineral to be found necessary in humans. The mineral was identified as an essential mineral in the late 1970s. While researchers have been interested in chromium and its role in the metabolism of glucose since the 1950s, it is only now that the mineral is being recognised as a most efficacious nutraceutical supplement in the management of diabetes. While it is deduced that the absorption of chromium may be poor, with less than 2 per cent of inorganic chromium and 10–25 per cent of organic chromium being absorbed, as observed in studies, clinicians propose that chromium potentiates the action of insulin by combining with nicotinic acid and amino acids to form the glucose tolerance factor [GTF]. The outcome is simple and profound — the effectiveness of insulin is greater with chromium than in its absence. It is also postulated that chromium may play a useful role in lipid metabolism.

and maintaining a normal blood glucose level may most likely lower the incidence of type-2 diabetes in individuals at risk. Contrary to popular opinion, chromium does not help build muscle mass. This is despite the plethora of advertisements ‘celebrating’ chromium supplements as an aid to losing weight and building lean muscle. Research does not support the claim. A review of over 20 research studies has not determined any benefits from taking up to 1,000mcg of a chromium supplement daily. If you are planning to cut your waistline, or become lean and ‘mean,’ taking chromium supplements may not help. FOOD SOURCES Grains are a good source of chromium. Fruit and vegetables also provide chromium. However, dairy foods are low in the mineral. DAILY NEEDS Adult men: 30-35mcg Adult women: 20-25mcg For diabetics: 200mcg

USES Helps insulin’s effectiveness. Chromium increases insulin’s effectiveness in cells. The hormone, insulin, plays an important role in the metabolism and storage of carbohydrates, fats, and protein in your body. Individuals who were intravenously fed a chromiumfree diet experienced high blood levels of glucose, weight loss, and nerve problems — all obvious signs of uncontrolled diabetes and poor blood glucose control. This was resolved when chromium was prescribed. Reduces pre-diabetes. A study suggests that a chromium supplement [200mcg] may reduce the risk of insulin resistance [pre-diabetes] and, therefore, favourably affect the regulation of glucose in the body. Improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

SELF-HELP

8 REASONS TO GIVE UP SMOKING

‘World No Smoking Day’ falls on April 7. The best thing one can do is to say No to smoking, right now.

o quit smoking is not easy, but it is not impossible either. You can definitely do it. To have the best chance of quitting, you need to know what you are up against, what options you have to quit smoking, and where to go for help. The only thing a smoker needs to quit smoking is to get rid of the craving. Find out how you can kick the butt. Mark Twain once said, “Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a thousand times.” You have probably experienced the same on-again off-again relationship with this dangerous addiction. Here are 8 good reasons why you should quit smoking. 1 TWO Ds: DISEASE & DEATH Smoking is evidenced to be the principal cause of avoidable disease and death. It can cause cancer of the mouth, throat and lungs, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema, to name a few. Smoking can also lead to high blood pressure, elevated LDL [‘bad’] cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke. Smoker’s risk of sudden cardiac death is 2-4 times greater than non-smokers. Furthermore, tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. At least 60 of these are known or suspected carcinogens [cancer-causing substances]. Nicotine is one such chemical in tobacco products that sends your brain the signal leading to addiction, or dependence. Smoking also reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry. This

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may lead to early onset of atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries] and stroke. 2 BREATHING DIFFICULTY Smoking leads to a sticky, black tar build-up in the lungs. This affects the flow of oxygen to the lungs and the blood, which carries oxygen to the whole body. This is one reason why smokers tend to have a tough time breathing. In addition, they are susceptible to chronic coughing [smoker’s cough] due to increased phlegm [mucous] production. The good news is that if you stop smoking, your lungs have the ability to clean up tar and heal quickly within a span of 6-8 months. 3 DEPRESSION Smoking is suggested to be a major cause of depression. Research suggests that smokers are twice as likely to suffer from major depression as compared to non-smokers. Giving up smoking may prove the most useful antidote against depression. 4 BAD INFLUENCE Smoking in the presence of your kids is a dangerous indulgence. Kids are notorious for trying to impersonate their parents. Smoking is no exception. An American Heart Association study demonstrated that 50 per cent of kids of

SELF-HELP smokers thought smoking was ‘cool,’ and also stylish. An equal percentage of kids of smokers intended to take up smoking themselves. Also, kids of smokers tend to be, by and large, less active. They have poor nutrition status and awareness. 5 SECOND DANGER Smoking not only affects your health and well-being, it also affects the health of those around you, including children and pets through second-hand smoke. Studies suggest that second-hand smokers are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer and heart disease, along with other respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath, cough, excess phlegm and asthma. 6 PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS Women who smoke during pregnancy often develop ectopic pregnancy — in which the fertilised egg develops outside of the uterus. This is a condition that may be grave for both mother and baby. Other risks for the baby’s health may include lower birth weight and birth defects. There is also the likelihood for smoking mothers delivering premature babies with notable fatality risks. Women smokers can also have difficulty getting pregnant. 7 LOW SPERM COUNT Male smokers often have a lower sperm count. Recent studies suggest genetic mutations of the sperm in smokers can cause infertility and/or impotency. 8 SPOILS BEAUTY Smokers will always look like smokers — fire at one end, and fool at the other! Jokes apart, smokers have more wrinkles — 10 times more — than non-smokers. Their skin appears dull and ashen, their teeth and fingers are stained yellow. Their hair and breath smells. Hardly an attractive picture. Giving up smoking helps you regain your looks and health. SELF-HELP: TIPS TO QUIT SMOKING Smokers often say, “Don’t tell me why to quit, tell me how.” Here are a few tips on how to quit. • Decide a date to quit and mark it on your calendar • Get rid of all the cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and at work • Stock up on oral substitutes — sugarless gum, hard candy, cinnamon sticks, etc. • Practice saying, “No thank you, I don’t smoke” • Set up a support system. This could be a group programme or a friend or family member who has successfully quit and is willing to help you. Ask family and friends who still smoke not to smoke around you, and not to leave cigarettes out where you can see them • Think about your past attempts to quit, if any. Try to figure out what worked and what didn’t • Keep active — try walking, exercising, or doing other activities or hobbies on the day you decide to quit and maintain the habit in the future as well • Drink lot of water and juices

• B egin using nicotine replacements if required [The nicotine transdermal patch, and nicotine gum provide small dosages of nicotine, 2-4mg. The best part is: they do not contain disease-causing agents, tar, or carbon monoxide] • Avoid situations where the urge to smoke is strong • Drink less alcohol or avoid it completely • Think about how you can change your routine. Use a different route to go to work; drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a different place or eat different foods • If you still feel the urge, tell yourself you must wait for at least 15 minutes. This simple trick will allow you to move beyond the strong urge to smoke • Reward yourself. What you’re doing is not easy, so you deserve a reward. Put the money you would have spent on a cigarette in a jar every day and then buy yourself or your family a weekly treat. One important thing to be kept in mind is not to be affected by what others say about your resolution to quit smoking. There will always be people to push you to take just one more cigarette, or those who will discourage you from quitting. However, in the end, it’s you, only you, that has to decide what’s best for you, your health and your family. HOMEOPATHY CAN HELP Tabacum is a homeopathy remedy that helps you curb the craving for smoking. It also helps tide over nicotinewithdrawal symptoms including nausea, giddiness and lack of concentration. Caladium Seguinum is another useful remedy that helps one to quit smoking without experiencing major withdrawal symptoms. Speak to a professional homeopath for appropriate dosages and treatment.

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SUPER FOODS

SPICE COUPLE Coriander has been traditionally referred to as an ‘anti-diabetic’ herb, while celery has been praised for its cancer-prevention properties.

oriander, or cilantro, is one of the world’s oldest spices. It has references in the Bible and is found in the tombs of the pharaohs in Egypt. A native to the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Asia, the name coriander originates from the Greek, koris, meaning bug, owing to the ‘buggy’ smell it emits before it ripens. Coriander [dhania, in Hindi] has been traditionally referred to as an ‘anti-diabetic’ herb. It has digestive, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, aside from its reported ability to lower LDL, or ‘bad,’ cholesterol and increase HDL, or ‘good,’ cholesterol. Coriander [Coriandrum Sativum] is considered both an herb and a spice — the reason being it has both leaves and seeds. Apart from being a delicious seasoning condiment, coriander contains an anti-bacterial compound that is evidenced to be safe and effective in nullifying Salmonella — a frequent and sometimes deadly source of food-borne illness. Fresh coriander leaves are available all through the year, providing an aromatic flavour evocative of both citrus peel and sage. Chopped coriander leaves are used as a garnish in most Indian preparations. The fruit of the coriander plant contains two seeds which, when dried, are used as dried spice. When ripe, the seeds are yellowish-brown in colour with longitudinal ridges. They are available whole or in ground powdered form. Coriander seeds and coriander powder should be kept in an opaque, tightly sealed glass container in a cool, dark and dry place. Ground coriander will keep good for about 4-6 months, while the whole seeds will stay fresh for about a year. Fresh coriander is highly perishable. It should always be stored in the refrigerator. Place the roots in a glass of water [as you would with flowers] and cover the leaves with a loosely-fitting plastic bag. If you cut the roots, just wrap coriander leaves in a damp cloth, or paper napkin and place them in a plastic bag in the fridge. Whole coriander will remain fresh for one week; coriander leaves will remain fresh for just 3-4 days. DO YOU KNOW? That coriander can taste frothy and distasteful to some people who have a specific genetic peculiarity — one that

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gives their saliva a certain enzyme profile. Celery is an aromatic herb. It has a distinctive flavour — this makes it a much-favoured add-on to salads and other cooked dishes. Celery — called shalari, ajmud, or randhuni in Hindi — contains vitamin C and other antioxidant nutrients that promote health. Research suggests that celery may be useful in cancer prevention. It boosts the action of white blood cells [WBC], soldiers of health, or, immune defenders, that target and eliminate potentially harmful cells, including cancer cells. In addition, certain compounds in celery have been attributed to prevent the growth of tumour cells. Studies also indicate that celery may help reduce cold symptoms, or the severity of its symptoms. Besides, it prevents free radical damage and reduces the severity of inflammatory conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis [OA] and rheumatoid arthritis [RA], while promoting cardiovascular health. It lowers cholesterol levels too. The seeds of celery have for long been used as a diuretic in certain cultures. New studies report that celery regulates fluid balance while stimulating urine production and ridding the body of excess fluid. Celery, a good source of potassium, calcium and magnesium, has blood pressure-reducing properties. This has long been recognised by Eastern medicine. Most dieticians recommend 3-4 stalks of celery in one’s daily diet. However, they also suggest that one should make sure to eat low-sodium foods along with celery, which is rich in sodium. FACT-FILE • A tablespoon of honey in celery juice effectively reduces appetite when taken before a meal. Hence, it may be useful in weight management • A tablespoon of honey in celery juice, taken before bedtime, promotes good sleep • Celery juice prevents the formation of kidney stones • The whole celery plant is gently stimulating and nourishing; it acts as a digestive remedy and liver stimulant too • Celery roots are useful for treating cough, mild anxiety, restlessness, loss of appetite and fatigue.

READ. WATCH. LISTEN. EXPLORE HELPFUL BACTERIA You will live longer and healthier and look better by making the most of your inner bacteria! This is simply because 90 per cent of our body’s cells are bacteria. Did you know that the bacteria that cause meningitis live in our body all the time, without troubling us at all? In All About Bacteria, health aficionado Ravi Mantha explains that, in order to remain in the pinkest of health, we need to understand and maintain the human ecosystem — which includes ‘looking after’ our bacteria — and, preventing the onset of illnesses, rather than searching for cures to diseases.

This insightful book highlights the latest in medical research, while laying emphasis on prevention and wellness techniques. It will transform your focus from pills and products to holistic living as a way to achieve and maintain optimal health and wellness.

All About Bacteria Ravi Mantha HarperCollins India pp: 280 Price: `299.00

VALLEY VIEW Kodaikanal’s Lilly’s Valley is a uniquely beautiful resort set amid terraced gardens on three acres of wooded land ringed by lofty eucalyptus trees. It is the keeper of the old Kodai tradition. The resort’s 21 traditional stone cottages are constructed in the colonial British style, with handcrafted woodwork details throughout. The eco-focused resort is dramatically devoid of concrete structures. For reservations, call: 0-94422 41558.

CHOCOLATE FEAST Ever thought of a quaint little place to sample and savour a dainty smorgasbord of chocolates in different forms. Think of chocolate pizza, chocolate aeroplanes and Taj Mahal? You get them all. The choco-menu is as varied as the chocolate preparations. You’d have your fill of handmade chocolates anytime and order gift boxes — a great gift for every occasion.

The Chocolate Room http://thechocolateroomindia.com

SPIRITUAL PRIMER The Eight Spiritual Breaths are a set of powerful breathing exercises designed to help the listener realise his/her highest potential. These breathing exercises and affirmations can augment your creative potential, increase calmness, improve health and achieve higher energy levels, while helping you to fulfil personal goals with focus and ease. A perfect guide to aspirants embarking on the spiritual path.

The Eight Spiritual Breaths [Audio CD] Santosh Sachdeva Yogi Impressions `310.00

HOMEOPATHY & YOU | APRIL 2014

CELEB FITNESS

DEEPIKA PADUKONE’S FITNESS MANTRA

any admire but few can aspire to her perfect hour-glass figure and naturally glowing skin. With several smash hits in her kitty, Deepika Padukone is the current queen of Bollywood. How does she manage to look so good while working so hard? Let’s find out, courtesy celebfitness.blogspot.in DEEPIKA’S EXERCISE PLAN Gym. I think working towards maintaining a healthy body should be a priority for everyone. I try and workout as often as possible. Since I am regularly travelling, it becomes difficult to have a daily workout routine, but whenever I hit the gym I do cardio and lightweights. I have an athletic body, thanks to my years of badminton. Even when I am travelling I make it a point to workout in the hotel gym. Yoga. I do yoga in the evenings. It helps in rejuvenating the mind and the body and makes for a great overall body workout. Sports. Till a few years ago, I played basketball and even some baseball for the state. When I played badminton I used to get up early and run for 40 minutes and do heavyweight training. I was fitter and

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played several sports. But it helps me now in terms of flexibility. Dance. During my modelling days, dance training gave me grace and poise. Today, it helps to keep me fit. I firmly believe in the positive impact of extracurricular activities. I think it’s important for all kids to learn some form of sport, dance and music. Fitness. If a person is aiming to losing weight, just dieting or exercising won’t help. You have to combine the two. I combine cardio with weight training. If I can’t go to the gym, I walk twice a day for half-hour in the morning and half-hour in the evening. For me fitness is not about being skinny or slim. It’s about being healthy from inside too. I think one should combine exercising along with eating the right kind of food — healthy wholesome food. DEEPIKA’S 5 ‘CHEER-ME-UPS’ • Music • Dark chocolate • Curling up and watching a nice movie • A good home-cooked meal • A day of good work.

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