Holistic medicine involves detoxification. If one examines how cells and the lymphatic system work, one will discover that detoxification is natural to the body. That is why we pass stools, urinate, and sweat, we have fever, vomit and have skin issues or disease. The body abhors toxicity and sheds excess. The cells need an uncluttered environment to perform. They are burdened by waste and toxicity.
If we study cases of food poisoning we notice that the body resorts to elimination systems to detoxify. We supplement with stomach cleansing. We understand the value of this detoxification and do not stop the elimination unless it becomes life threatening.
In times of detoxification, the elimination organs like the liver and kidney are affected. If we conduct pathological studies, we will find abnormalities.
A DETRIMENTAL PROCESS?
Cure is not linear. The rectification process of the body follows a pattern. The mainstream confuses these attempts as disease. This happens because medical education does not teach how the body heals itself. Stalwarts like Bechamp, Osler, and Mendelsohn have pointed this out. Others who oppose the blind use of medication also agree.
It was not for nothing that the early doctors prescribed rest and a liquid diet for most acute conditions.
MAINTAINING GOOD HEALTH
They are the rectification efforts of the body. When we interfere we cause the chronic disease that is iatrogenic. It needs an ill informed doctor to do the harm. To reduce the intensity and prevalence of acute disease, maintain a good mentality. Lead a healthy lifestyle. Ensure the safety of food and environment.
Everyone has the right of expression, and the manufacturing giants of every system of medicine need to be ruthlessly questioned about their methods. The work is best left to practitioners of each system. There is now a ministry of holistic systems. They have departments for each system. They are well qualified and equipped to be approached. Creating sensation on social media by using fraudulent methods confuses the public. People who have no idea of holistic health are particularly affected. This is perhaps unbecoming of a profession that calls itself scientific.
The main problem with holistic systems lies in the reductionist approach that has been imposed.
They are essentially non drug preventive approaches. They talk of the basic determinants, mentality, lifestyle and environment. They oppose the polluting of the atmosphere and unsafe practices that harm. Instead the students of these systems are learning about the disease and drug approach. This is very sad.
I also feel sad that in the world of medicine, very few people genuinely think of the patient. They rarely consider their welfare. That thinking should result in good health and wellbeing as an outcome. Why should a person suffer when there are doctors around?
CONCEPT OF DISEASE MANAGEMENT
I do not understand how this is accepted. This is detrimental both for the patient and the doctor. The patient is denied cures and the doctor suffers because he is not able to do his best. Disease management can be used in the last stages. This occurs when the body is enfeebled by age or by the extreme loss of vitality. So long as the vitality is strong there is scope for cure.
Ayurveda with its concepts of space, air, fire, water and earth; vata, pitta, kapha; mental states tamas, rajas, sattva; the rasa (taste), prana (life, vital force), nadi (energy meridians, pulse), is the essence of the forces that determine health and can be harnessed for good health and cures.
The people can keep themselves healthy by just knowing the theory behind each holistic system. Policy makers can ensure public health. This is exactly the reason why these theories are detested. Health is not welcome for capitalist medicine. It desperately needs disease.
The doctors forte is not medical education, but his observation, analytical skills, experience, intuition, and intent. His ornaments are altruism, morality and ethics. His reward is good health and cures. His master is the vitality, the life force in all of creation. Nature is the best healer.
Another aspect is the loss of knowledge about constitutional disease. All patients are not the same. They can be grouped by their mentality, behaviour, thermal condition, intensity and direction of symptoms, parts affected, and the deviation on account of disease. Vata, pitta and kapha of ayurveda and psora, syphilis, sycosis, and tuberculosis of homeopathy are excellent determinants of the constitution. This forms the base of individualistic medicine that holds the key to cures.
The world is spending $ 4 trillion on modern medicine every year on account of seeking health. What is it getting in return? Must we not understand the import of this? What right have we to destroy health and impoverish people?
It is good to extol the merits of ones system of medicine but it is not wise to criticise other systems without studying them sincerely and understanding the logic and methodology. This applies to all systems of medicine. The patient seeks health. If an integrated system can deliver health it should be welcome.
A doctor without humility and willingness to learn is the greatest enemy of health.
If we really need to study something very critically I would suggest the germ and virus theory and its corollary that vaccines prevent disease. These two factors are behind our health woes. The world would be genuinely benefitted if the arguments against them and the studies exposing the hollowness of claims are made available to the public.
(Dr Naresh Purohit is Principal Investigator for National Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (NIDSP) And Advisor- National Communicable Disease Control Programme. The views expressed here are of the author)
