Intelligent plants and we the dumb people

Some time back in a seminar, I heard a very concerned botanist and ayurveda expert talking about how most of the research in Ayurveda is going in the wrong direction. He said that currently most of it is aimed at discovering the active ingredients in various plants, extracting that ingredient and using it for the benefit of people. He simultaneously pointed out that most of the molecules used as ‘active ingredients’ in various medicines have proved to have relatively short useful life of few decades. Either the germs become resistant to this purified form of chemical or its effectiveness in humans start to drop over time. Compare this with herbs (crude mixture of several compounds) which have served mankind over several centuries without going out of fashion.

Ayurveda normally defines properties of herbal medicine as its ras (taste), gun (attributes), virya (potency), vipak (attributes of drug assimilation), and prabhav (dominating influence). For decades we have not added any herbs to Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia as we do not know how to identify these 5 properties of any new herb. His view was that new research should be aimed at solving this problem.

I heard another very senior and respected physician talking about how we try to simplify (over simplify) the traditional medical knowledge and try to put it in neatly drawn boxes. Think of coca leaves (from which cocaine is extracted) which are traditionally used in Latin America for both diarrhea as well as constipation. It might sound totally counter intuitive but it is true. Several herbs when used in their original form actually act as balancing herbs. So different ingredients become active based on the body’s condition. Nature surely is much more intelligent that most of us believe it to be.

I intuitively felt that these voices made a lot of sense but recently found some modern scientific proof for the same. It came from a very unusual source though. I recently met an old friend who works in open innovation area and he shared something very interesting.

A large MNC thought that it’ll be good business to be able to sell products with claims of health benefits derived from wisdom of traditional medical knowledge. Soon a big budget and high profile team was allocated for the project. Work began by empanelling doctors and Ayurveda institutes. Soon the team realized that they need scientific evidence to be able to make claims. More modern immunologists, doctors and labs were empanelled. A high profile researcher asked for an expensive piece of equipment, MALDI-TOF/TOF, and it was quickly sanctioned.

Trials started with some known ayurvedic remedies and soon team reached conclusions that most ayurvedic physicians know intuitively.

1.       There was no single molecule acting and triggering a change in the metabolism but there were multiple molecules acting at different stages of metabolic cycle and bringing about a change.

2.       Chromatography and Spectrophotometry revealed that the molecules were not the simple ingredients present in the plant but actually reaction products formed during processing of the herbs, through processes which are meticulously defined in ayurvedic reference texts.

The team realised that it is too complex a phenomenon to be explained through simple scientific tools and even more difficult to synthesize and incorporate these in everyday foods or products.

I wonder how something studied, invented, and documented centuries ago perhaps without help of any sophisticated equipment is so difficult for us to even understand today in spite of all the help from advanced measuring equipment and highly brainy computers. This reminds me of Buddha, who 25 centuries back discovered the nature, cause, and remedy of all sufferings just by looking deep inside himself and we with all advanced understanding of anatomy, physiology, and neural networks are still unable to comprehend. May be more on this in my next post.

When nephrologist says, you'll soon need dialysis...

.... he / she may not always be right.

Kidney failure is one of the most dreaded diseases. Even when one knows, it is coming, there is not much that one can do. Mainstream treatment normally means dialysis or transplant. Both are expensive and very taxing on the patient. Not to mention the difficulty of finding right donor in time. Economic cost of Dialysis in India would be about Rs 2-3 lakhs per year.

But there is a way out.

Some of the Naturopaths and traditional medicine practitioners have been working with kidney patients and I have the privilege of working with one of them. I write below what we do so, that more people can know and benefit from it. The note is written in collaboration with Dr Jay Sanghvi who has been treating kidney patients through combination of Naturopathy, Ayurveda, and Yoga for more than 25 years.

We combine various simple and safe treatments to enable patients take care of their kidney.


Over the years various patients have had following benefits:
- Decrease / stabilisation of creatinine levels
- Decrease frequency / Avoid dialysis
- Avoid / postpone surgery
- Symptomatic relief e.g. reduction in vomiting, blood pressure, oedema, loss of appetite, pain etc.

How does Naturopathy work?
- By reducing load on kidney by changing diet pattern
- By allowing time for kidney to rest & repair
- By activating other cleansing organs e.g. Bowel, Liver, and Skin to support kidney

Which Naturopathy treatments are used?
- Kidney pack – It’s a combination of hot and cold packs
- Fomentation – Alternative use of hot and cold towels near the kidney area.
- Hip Bath – Immersing the lower abdomen in tub filled with water.
- Friction Bath
- Reflex and meridian points

How Naturopathy treatments work: Main aim of treatment is to give proper blood supply to kidney.
- treatments to improve functioning of kidney which is weak and malfunctioning.
- treatments to remove impurities sticking to kidney
- treatments to remove infection in chronic infective condition

Herbs for kidney care: Time tested safe herbal medicine
- Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa); Red or Spreading Hogweed – It is a good diuretic and anti-inflamatory.
- Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris); It is a diuretic herb useful in kidney dysfunction, renal stones, and dysuria.
- Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia); Helps in improving immune system

Diet in kidney diseases:
Main aim of dietary plan is to decrease load on kidney by eliminating food that produces lot of by-products which in turn need to be filtered by kidney. The dietary plan also ensures that all the essential nutrients are made available thus allowing cleansing, repairing, and reconstruction. It also works towards restoring the natural balance of the body chemistry.
The diet plan is designed taking into consideration individual’s body constitution, state of disease and general health condition.

Main food items used for kidney care:
- Bottle gourd juice
- Rice & Rice water
- Green gram water
- Banana water
- Vegetables – bottle gourd, pointed gourd (parval), ivy gourd (tindora), ridged luffa (galka), smooth luffa (turiya), papaya, radish, pumpkin.

Normal course of treatment:
- 6 weeks at a Nature Cure Centre directly under supervision of doctor
- 2 to 3 months of treatment to be continued at home
- 3 weeks follow up treatment at Nature Cure Centre
This is general plan but varies as per need and condition of the individual.

Kind of conditions that can be treated through Naturopathy:
- Chronic Renal Failure - If kidney function > 30%
- Chronic Infective condition
- Inflammatory Condition
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Hydro Nephrosis
- Renal Insufficiency

Ideal cases for treatment through Naturopathy:
- Not yet started dialysis or doing dialysis for less than 3 months
- Haemoglobin level > 10
- Creatinine < 5
- Age < 60 yrs
- No other complications with kidney disease
- Clinically stable and other parameters under control
- One who has faith in Naturopathy & wishes to go for this treatment.

How we deal with current medication & treatments? 
- Normally we continue the medication being taken by the patient before starting treatment
- When symptoms and parameters show improvement, medicine is reduced or replaced with herbal medicines e.g. when blood pressure is controlled, medicine is tapered and / or replaced with Ashwagandha, Gokshur, Punarnava
- Main goal is to reduce the load on kidney which is burdened by chemicals from medicines.

Role of Yoga in Treatment of Kidney:
Asanas are selected to promote blood flow towards kidney e.g. Uttanpadasana. Yogasana which gives gentle twisting, stretching, contracting spine through which natural massage to kidney is experienced and smooth muscles are also involved in the practise (this doesn't happen in exercise), thus decreasing lethargic tendency of kidney & increasing functioning of kidney.

Pranayama and Meditation - Ancient breathing technique called Pranayama and meditation, bring perfect balance between Sympathetic Nervous System and Parasympathetic Nervous System, increase anti-stress hormone, and help to completely get rid of stress e.g. Nadi Suddhi Pranayama (Anuloma- Viloma), Bhramari, meditation etc.

Suddhi Kriya - Through different Suddhi Kriyas like Kapalbhati lot of toxic element is thrown outside through breath. This brings purification in blood as well as purification at cellular level thus decreasing work load on kidney.

Prana (Vital Force for life) - Above mentioned details are medically approved, but something which can only be experienced is Prana, Vital Force. Prana is major factor for health either physical or mental. All above practices brings balance in Prana (Vital Force) at subtler level of our existence where chemical or medicine can't reach, this opens many possible doors when medically we find the disease is un-curable.

For more information contact us at 02837-286812 or write at info@swashealthcare.com

Disclaimer:
This note is designed to help fellow Doctors understand our line of treatment better in order to use it for benefit of their patients. When shared with patients, it is just to serve as information on our line of treatment.
This note is not a substitute for expert medical advice and patients are advised not to use this note for self medication as it may harm the body.
Any medication or treatment should be taken only under guidance of an expert and treatment be started only under supervision of a qualified physician.

KUTCH: India’s Naturopathy Hub

Who could believe that a desert like area would ever become a hub of naturopathy centres. People normally relate nature to greenery and think that for building a Naturopathy centre, a high rainfall area with lot of natural flora would be ideal. This notion is misplaced as Nature comprises of 5 elements water, soil, fire, air, space and greenery is just one of the topographical presentations of nature.

Kutch has emerged as the hub of Naturopathy in India. Dry climate of the area lends itself well to faster healing and a conducive environment propagates Naturopathy.
It has the highest concentration of naturopathy centres in the country, 5 prominent ones at last count.

Credit for this should go to two dedicated doctors who gave up their lucrative practices to establish and promote naturopathy in Kutch. Dr Savla (now involved full time with Vipassana center at Bada, Kutch) was the first qualified paediatrician of Kutch. He practiced in Bhuj and charged handsome fee for his very effective but simple treatments. Legend has it that more than 3 decades back, he charged someone Rs 100 for curing their son by simply feeding water. To avoid any misinterpretation, I must say, even then it was less than the money spent by the couple for taxi to Bhuj and back. He believed in Nature’s power and its simplicity.

Soon he started a Nature cure centre in Bhuj, with an aim to apply his rigorous medical training and understanding of Nature’s means to treat people using simple Natural therapies. He would treat people for all kind of diseases and disorders using mud, water, fire (heat), air, and space. He also used yoga, massage and some elements of Ayurveda.

Then one day, he had an unusual patient, a doctor. The doctor was a qualified Ayurveda physician and going with the trend, used to practice allopathic medicine in a remote village of kutch. Due to lack of medical infrastructure in the area, he had a roaring practice. Unfortunately he cut his tongue and no treatment would work. Someone suggested Dr Savla’s clinic and he was cured mainly using ice and water.

The doctor became a convert, closed down his practice and joined Dr Savla as his assistant. His name is Dr Jay Sanghvi, one of the most prominent and renowned Naturopaths in the country. Their Nature Cure Centre in Jubilee colony, Bhuj attracted poor and rich alike. They always found ways and means to treat people with chronic diseases, many a times called irreversible conditions in modern medicine. Kidney disorders, heart problems, arthritis, fibromyalgia, ulcerative colitis and several other medical conditions were treated in this centre using Natural remedies and warmth of the doctors. Though the centre no longer runs in its previous form, people treated fondly remember the time spent there. Isn’t it unusual for a hospital!

Soon the place became hub of activity for all naturopathy related activities in the area. As they say, ‘log judte gaye aur karva banta gaya’, (people kept coming together and caravan was formed).

They along with Late Sri Sugnaram ‘Dada’ Ladkani started ‘All India Natural Life Association’ to spread the goodness of Naturopathy beyond Kutch and Gujarat. They started ‘Tulsi School of Naturopathy’ to train youth in skills of treatment through Naturopathy. They collaborated with Dr Nipun Buch to incorporate more elements of Ayurveda in their suites of treatment.

More importantly they motivated huge number of people to adopt Natural remedies and lifestyle through camps in several cities as well as in foreign countries, radio talks, talks and lectures to youngsters in colleges, rotary club members, Mahila Mandals etc. They motivated several philanthropists to set up Nature Cure Centres and guided them through their immense knowledge and experience. They really used 360° communication to propagate Naturopathy in Kutch and beyond.

Today there are 5 prominent Nature Cure Centres in Kutch. Navjivan near Mandvi, one each in Bidada and Mundra, Sarvamangal in Bhuj and youngest among them, Ananddham in Kharoi near Bhachau.

Ananddham is yet another unique experiment of Dr Sanghvi. He collaborated with Sanjay Singh, an IIM Ahmedabad graduate to float Swas Healthcare, which runs this centre to serve poor as well as financially well to do on a commercially sustainable basis. The logic, commercial viability is important to expand quickly and take its benefits to large number of people. Recently Swas has opened a City Clinic in Rajkot to improve accessibility of its services. Jury is still out on whether Naturopathy would remain a philanthropic activity or society would be willing to pay directly for its benefits, but if this model succeeds, Kutch would be remembered as its birth place.