When will we have a healthy world ?

The World Health Organisation(WHO) was founded on 7 April 1948 as an off shoot of the UN. It was meant to take up a leadership role on world health platform. Today, WHO is really not a formidable body and was currently criticised for overplaying the H1N1 scare (2010) and wasting large sums of public money.

At the governmental levels few have been able to keep politics out of their healthcare schemes and policies. The big pharmas have a giant role to play in the economics of Europe and UK homeopathic hospitals are closing down.It has taken UK-NHS (one of the foremost in research) so many years to realise that homeopathy does not work ?  Haha....

At the hospital levels it is all about returns and profits. Big hospitals are run not by doctors/physicians but MBAs who are wired for profits. So if you are not admitting more patients you can be replaced by a doctor who does. The most advanced diagnostics has to be available at the hospital -so you can charge patients more. No consideration that your area may not need it to the extent or cases in your area does not warrant its use.As a result what happens is that a hospital buys this big costly diagnostic facility, finds not much use-then sort of manipulates patients to use it and hence add to the headache of recovering the costs.
Oh please its only diagnosis-the major part is to treat and get results, get health !

At the level of clinics which directly cater to the patients its all about what works and what does not. I as a homeopath may feel it works, an ayurvedic may feel the same about ayurveda etc.We directly connect and work closely with people.We too are looking at our kitty at the end of the day. Some of us run 2 clinics and are constantly competing with nearby doctors, hospitals, different treating methods. Few can really say how their patients are doing or whats working for them.
We in the alternative healthcare need to take a neutral and unbiased stand to study what in our therapy is working and where is its scope.Also where other therapy can work in a complimentary manner to better health.

Healthcare at various levels have their own agendas and non of them is improving health of people.Nobody is studying the outcomes enough to reach any conclusions. The latest being supplements for women after menopause. A great talk and noise about giving supplements to women after menopause since the eastrogen effect is gone and bones become porus--only to discover later that there was no real advantage and the excess formed stones. Oh supplement company made their money....

The common man as I see them does not want to do anything for his health. Eat less -no, eat healthy-no, eat smart -no, exercise -no, medicate timely-no, patience-no, sleep-no, rest-no, relationships-no.There is very less investments in terms of meaningful behaviour, control. Except spending on  surgery, diagnostics, procedures-any quick fix. Unfortunately body is just not designed for it.

If nobody is making health as their sole focus how can we achieve it ? We need to rise above all our objectives and personal goals to be able to deliver good health. Appropriate for that person, for his body, culture, genetic pattern. We need to INTEGRATE healthcare systems because there really is no one-fit-all medicine. There are places where allopathy works and places where homeopathy works and prayers work and talk works ...You need to choose what is good for you.

From my experience I can say that many times you dont know what worked. Body has self healing capasity if your basic body is not too bad(your body basic is also decide by health genetics of your family). You just have to aid it-help it a little. That can be done by allopathy, homeopathy, prayers whatever....I prefer homeopathy. Do you ?  

Homeopathy is a girls best friend ..

Womens health should be one of the top priority in every home. Since on this is dependent lives of many others to whom she is mother,wife,daughter,teacher,friend etc.

The most important is the menstrual cycles and sexual development. A regular menstrual cycle is a reflection of good health. All menstrual irregularities can be treated safely and effectively with homeopathy.It is a good option especially in young girls with menstrual irregularity. However it is important to have the diagnosis clear and hence the understanding of pathology.So the reason for menstrual irregularity should be ascertained and then the scope for homeopathic treatment. The need for unnecessary hormonal pills that could have side-effects can be avoided.

In the young women many problems can be treated with homeopathy. Small sized fibroid, lumps in breats like cysts,fibro-adenoma , abscesses, boils can completely disappear with homeopathy. Vaginal discharges from fungal infections, dryness of vaginal, boils or abscesses can be treated. Acne chronic or acute -pus filled or leaving scars respond beautifully to homeopathy.

In young women pregnancy related problems like excessive vomitting, lethargy, infections (cannot take allopathy) can be effectively treated. Problems of lactation, cracked nipple in young mother are treated by homeopathy.

Besides all the other ageing problems homeopathy has good medicines for menopausal problems like flushes,thyroid, depression, weakness etc. Pain in muscles or fibromyalgia , joint pains, uric acid can be treated by homeopathy.

The more serious women related problems like infertility, cancer palliation, PCOD respond well. Homeopaths today use all the modern diagnostics inorder to prove their results and also monitor progress.In India homeopaths have worked to establish homeopathy as a modern science. There are no side-effects in homeopathy and the treatment is gentle, kind and wholistics with all the emotional considerations that are so vital to women.

Homeopaths and homeopathy truely cares for women. We understand the hyper-state, the high-strung state, the mood swings, the empty nest syndrome, the sleeplessness, the relationships gone wrong. We listen to body and mind and soul. Listening is the first step in productive help.

Homeopathy is a womens best friend NOT diamonds...

Surgeries and healthcare costs

The recent paper by Dr Aseem Malhotra in JAMA (Journal Of American Medical Association) has caused a stir and I hope he causes a revolution in the entire thought process in healthcare. He says that most of the stenting done for heart patients is not necessary and not required and neither really beneficial.EUREKA !
Its out in the open (refer my earlier post on heart and common sense).In India its been going on for a long time but what do I say? India is just coming out from the joint family and with economy ok most have disposable income and healthcare is becoming fancy.

However, in USA who has been lamenting about the high healthcare costs this is important. Maybe a lot of surgeries are not required because if the totality of the body is taken into account surgeries may not change the outcomes for the patient. With rising costs hospitals can also refrain from such procedures.There is plenty of evidence that many know this -but still it goes on...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/health/stents-show-no-extra-benefits-for-coronary-artery-disease.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20120227/stents-overused-stable-heart-patients

What is stent implantation ? Lets say that you have diabetes and high cholesterol. This is like "extra" and it starts to accumulate in your heart arteries (coronary artery) or the arteries that supply blood to your heart. Now heart is the blood supplier to the whole body (like a pump) and hence important and it needs enough blood.The result of this accumulation is that the arteries collapse/block/jammed and blood cannot flow through. Angioplasty means with balloon and pressure you mechanically sort of open it.But often it open and collapses back-so a STENT is put-sort of metal mesh-to hold it in place.

This does not work well because there are many issues with this-the body can reject it, you can have allergies to dyes required for procedures, there can be bleeding and rupture.Many times for a single patient multiple stents are advised doubling the risks.There are NO long term benefits in fatal heart attacks, death or emergency operations.

Why are they of no benefit ? Simply because this stage of arteries have happened over a period of time due to high cholesterol levels, stress, emotions, diet, lack of exercise.Have any of these significantly changed ? No, after operation within 48 hrs I am back at work. Great ! back to work, stress, cholesterol-heart block.
So how can we expect things to reverse ? You are just emptying the bucket-close the TAP for good results.

What do we need to do ? Take a wholistic view of person, his needs, his mobility, his stress. If there are multiple blocks and he has severe diabetes, high cholesterol, wants only simple mobility why do this operation.? I had once a patient 73yrs old who was advised 5 stents who was diabetic (controlled) and walked 2kms daily. One of his block was the carotid artery(goes to brain) for which they dont do stenting.
So I told him it was no use cause if carotid is blocked you will die anyways-no point in surgery.He is 80 today without surgery and still walks 2kms.

What happens if stenting is not done ? In most cases the other small arteries of the heart start supplying blood to heart much like we using small lanes when the highway is closed. This is enough for a normal non-hectic life.

Much like heart there are many unwanted surgeries done-hysterectomy(removal of uterus), gall bladder stone removal , bypass surgery, varicose veins surgery.

As I see it surgery is a serious issue and specially the heart. Not from money point of view though thats important as well. Its heart not some plumbing in your kitchen. Heart is  tough enough to cope with many things but its important for us to assist it by our behavior. It self heals with time and patience and little help.

Imagine 400,000 non emergency stenting procedures are done in US each year.

There should be addressing the underlying causes, then medication, then evaluation and then surgery if not better with all that was done.Even one-third reduction can save 6billion$.

Alternative therapy like homeopathy does exactly the way it needs to be done.And I am not saying its a miracle. Homeopathy helps heart self heal ! And dirt-cheap !

Why do you sneeze ?

Global climatic change is here and will stay in the foreseeable future.The changes are acute, rapid and varied.In my initial years of practice there would be few cases of allergy or sneezing.Now a days no matter what complaint the person comes with -he/she does have sneezing once in a while.This itself is proof enough for the massive levels of atmospheric changes.





Sneeze perhaps is one of the most sensitive index of atmospheric changes on us. Sneeze is a forceful expulsion of air from lungs through nose and mouth. This happens because something has irritated the lungs and should be thrown out of the body-natures defense mechanism. It is necessary so that the important organ -lungs -can be protected from particles that irritate/harm it. So if dust particles go in lungs we start sneezing. This inner lining of the lung is also sensitive to atmospheric changes and often produce phlegm.Production of phlegm is also lungs response to cope with changes so that it can protect itself.

The factors that can cause sneeze are many. Most common are dust, house dust, minute powdery material like talc-powder,spices.Climatic changes like sudden cold, cloudy, hot, humid,rains,snow. Changes in body temp like after swimming, cold showers, breeze.There is also photics -people who sneeze due to sunlight.

Sneezing actually represents two things 1) Your immunity -the status of your body to fight 2) Your sensitivity-the body's ability to get affected by stimulus.It is the heightened state. Sneezing is normal under certain circumstances but sneezing all the time or with even slightest of dust etc is an aggravated state and needs treatment.A few days of homeopathic treatment is all that is required. Often we see that untreated cases of chronic sneezing progressing into asthma, bronchitis which are also allergic problems.

In trains or buses I often see people making faces when someone sneezes-now that is silly. Though its said that around 100,000 germs are released in a single sneeze they are essentially not harmful. If your immunity is low or you are already unwell then only you may be affected.

As a homeopath I find sneezing a healthy body response-the body knows that there is something that needs to be expelled from the body.Ars-alb, Arum, Allium cepa are my favorite medicines for sneezing !
Achooooo god bless you.

Why homeopathy for your kids ?

All parents love their kids and want the best for them. Do we give them the best ? Are we ready to be patient, tolerant, and put our biases aside in order to give them the best ? In today's hectic world we are choosing easy options rather than right options.

So what is best healthcare option for kids and why ? Something that does not harm the basic-body structure, is easy to take, is safe and does not have side-effects and is therefore good for long-term health. Is it right to apply that cream and make the rash vanish so that as a parent you feel better or should you find out more. ?
Most parents tell me -i have an important meeting tomorrow -his fever HAS to get better. Now first the fever does not know you have a meeting-jokes apart-if the fever is malaria its not going to get better.So get someone to baby-sit for that meeting. Have patience to diagnose more about fever rather than giving fever suppressants like crocin etc.Easy and quick fix options are not good or advisable. We also see abuse of medicines in repeated complaints to say nothing of the side effects.

How does all this harm the kids ?
1) Like in fever since we keep giving crocin we dont know what the actual state of fever is -and fever is because of infections and hence we dont know if infection is better. Many times it may suddenly come up in more serious forms
2)Over medication has harmful effects on our body
3) Misplaced medication also upsets the expression of our body and hence we may have difficulty in diagnosing complaints. Expression of body is important to quickly diagnose and treat it.
4)Prolonged mis-use of medicines/drugs causes genetic changes which can be transferred to next generation.They in turn will have problems because of their weak genetics.Later generations will also have compromised health.

Hence it is important that we have a healthcare that is gentle and safe with no side-effects. Treating children with homeopathy is not easy -it requires lots of patience on part of parents, along with faith in system and trust in the homeopath.But it works beautifully ! Latest research (by AC Neilson) says that once a person has taken homeopathy -above 95% or so stick to it.Awesome !


2)

Patient Satisfaction Reports !

What is patient satisfaction ? How is it achieved ? What we need to do to improve it ? These are the questions every hospital is grappling with and few have got it right. Surprise surprise those who have got it also are not necessarily happy about it. Because good reports do not mean anything-sometimes all technically is correct and yet something is amiss.

Recently I read a report online about patient satisfaction which was hilarious...one of the query was "were the nurses curteous and respectful"-do you need respect when you are sick in bed in a hospital ? I would be looking for just simple help and sympathy.The next was "were the doctors curteous and listened carefully and explained ..."-he may listen but what sort of communication is required for patient to be satisfied ?
Next was "did you get help as fast as needed " -this can almost never happen.Because the urgency is felt only by patient and no healthcare can come close to providing it to patients satisfaction.

The perspectives are different -what patient may feel as emergency may not be one.And providing it just because patient wants it is also not the answer.These questions are more a commercial analysis as in it does not have any human elements.Its technical-nurse smiled ? doctor listened ? We all know we can smile without the smile reaching the eyes and we can pretend to listen. So the analysis is fooling nobody.

So are we really ready to connect with the patients? The human element is a very demanding and seeks a lot out of us.It cannot be evaluated by these so-called constructed questioners designed to help.A whole new perspective is required as to how we see our healthcare.Its important cos these are the elements incorporated in alternative healthcare like homeopathy and ayurveda.

In my practice almost all patients report better in their first follow-up.Thats because we have a min 45mts first interview with patients.And all patients say-nobody lisetened so much.! Receiving the patient accepting him as he is, body and mind and soul (not just his stomach or knee) is an imp part of connection and healing.

The problem includes the large hospitals being run not by doctors but MBA like businesses. I repeat you cannot run HEALTHCARE like a BUSINESS. Doctors always complain about the rigidity of hospitals where they work that cramp their style,human side, help-nature.Hence one cardiologist is as good as the other and easily disposible especially if they dont admit their patients.Expertise is below profits and good doctor is nowhere in picture.As a result horror of horror the doctor soon becomes like the organization and CARE goes to the dogs.

I suppose the most important thing is do we care about the patients ? Care means not your hospitals profit but what is patient COMFORTABLE with. If he says he does not want surgery are you providing him choices without getting upset/angry/irritated ? Are you unbiased and happy treating patient of any religion, country, sex, habit? If you dont like a particular patient -he definately knows it.You dont need to say or do anything bad.

Focus has to be on patient -what are his fears, worries, needs, wants.These need to be answered properly.
Connection happens ! Give him space, options, alternatives, support.Prepare them and let them be ready for what you want of them.The connection should be from the heart, where patient feels that the doctor, nurse , hospital understands.

Hospitals need to understand that patients need hospitals so they will be back.Nothing to worry.If these value-added service is given there will be profits.
Hospitals should be like temples in India where people keep going even if none of their dreams materialise-its the TRUST & CONNECT.

Senior Ctizens And Homeopathy

Otherwise practicing medicine is boring-same complaints, same solutions for years on end.A hilarious moment I can recollect-this old man came to see me and said "dont give me medicine for my bedwetting -i have been taking a medicine for it for years and it still works"."So you did not get treated at all -after so many years"I said.The penny dropped and the person realised that though he had been taking this medicine for years it did not solve his problem.

This is what happens-the person found a way to get rid of his problem in a way which was easy and convenient.Did he have a choice ? Are adult diapers the solution ? No. They are not solving the core problem just providing facility to deal with it.

                                                          
There are many such problems due to old age incontinence of urine, easy fractures and delayed healing of bones, joint pains and bodyache, sleeplessness, memory loss. In people suffering from multiple problems like diabetes, hypertention, post-by pass surgery, failing kidneys there are issues of unfit for surgery. There are also many small awkward complaints-like this 77yrs old who had hiccups, or 80yrs old women with knee pain and did not want surgery. For most of them the regular allopathic medicines are not working, causing too much of acidity, side-effects. Hence they are searching for solutions that are safe and effective.

The conventional doctors are in a fix.There is really nothing that they can do for that knee-pain except give pain-killers.Again pain-killers are treating the pain on a temporary and superficial basis. Nothing much can be done to damaged knee-cartilage but surgery to fix it.So they dont know what to say to their old patients if they refuse surgery.

I do understand the view of the old people.Every surgeon says "oh its easy, small stuff, no problem " -while reality is different. When laser surgery came first there were these people who believed in it and found a wonderful solution to their eye-problem.However few people did get dryness of eyes for which there was no solution.So what did the patient get and did he benefit? You decide.
So senior citizens are hesitant , critical and fearful of medicines, docs, procedures, tests etc.

Senior citizens are also dealing with whole social scenario, loneliness, isolation, boredom. They are coming to terms with life-out of central activity, dependency, fear of death. Also the failing body-its difficult and painful and nobody has the patience .....

In view of all this homeopathy is a big help.I have had MD docs practicing all their lives suddenly discovering homeopathy.We do have miracles to stop that knee pain, leaking urine, constipation, sleeplessness...And the solution are simple sweet pills or liquid medicines-perfect !

Dignity for senior citizens with homeopathy !