Tag Archives: Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicines like Ayurveda, acupressure, etc. can help is reducing or elimination certain lifestyle diseases.

3 New year resolutions for people with arthritis

Every year we take new year resolution to give up a bad habit or to begin a good  one. This years theme for World Arthritis Day on October 12th was “It is in your hand, take action” to live life to the fullest. Most of the people with arthritis, whom I know, put in lots of efforts so that they can keep in pace with the demands of the world and live life like normal human being. The excruciating pain, fatigue and disability are some of the hindrance for a arthritis patient. Some succumb to the condition, while other turn all the obstacles into opportunity. If those suffering from arthritis take some new year resolutions to improve their lifestyle then they too can live their life to the fullest.

Arthritis is becoming quite common in Delhi, especially after the yearly outbreaks of Chikungunya virus.  People experience joint pain and difficulty to walk even a few months after they had Chikkungunya. Now a days, if you stagger, people inquire if you were suffering from Chikkungunya.

There is lot of commonality between Chikkungunya and Arthritis pain, and in some cases Arthritis pain and deformation are triggered after a Chikungunya attack.  People of any age can get arthritis, but if you take some precautions you can avoid worsening of the  condition. If you chart out a healthy lifestyle pattern for yourself, some of the damages get repaired and you can enjoy a normal lifestyle.

Most of the arthritis patients I meet have come up with their own creative methods to mitigate the pain. Some rely on allopathic medicines, others on Ayurveda and some on herbal remedies. They now know which food causes pain and which one relieves pain.

On this New Year, those suffering from arthritis should take the New year resolutions to live life to the fullest. Here are a few, new year resolutions, ideas based on the experience of those arthritis patients who have overcome all odds by following a healthy lifestyle:

Eat the right Food

Preferably follow a vegetarian diet, which is easier to digest. Some fishes are good, but egg and meat are better not to be consumed regularly. Have lots of water especially on an empty stomach.

And sometimes it is good to fast. Most religions have fasting period in the religious calendar. If you follow the fasting with discipline that will help relieve the pain. If you have never fasted in your life, then consult a doctor before fasting. Arthritis is an auto-immune disease where the body cells are attacking one another. Experts say that  during fasting period the body cells get time to relax and repair.

Walking and Exercise

Of all the medicines, walking is the best prescription for arthritis. Some say that they walk instead of driving or riding a scooter. But that is not enough. Every day you must walk atleast 20 minutes, as part of fitness regime. Consult your doctor to find out how much time is recommended for your walking and exercise. Also find out if you are permitted to Jog. Walking is the best medicine for arthritis. If you walk atleast 5 days a week, you can maintain a healthy lifestyle. When you feel pain, doing exercise will mitigate the pain.

Meditation and Spirituality

Mental and spiritual well being is a crucial aspect of arthritis. The condition aggravates when one is mentally disturbed. Hence you should spend atleast an hour every day for Meditation. You must find the inner peace and the soul connect. Many patients with RA positive,and some even chronically bed ridden, claim to have been miraculously cured because of their belief in God. Some doctors recommend meditation  for an hour daily. Being at peace with oneself and avoiding stress helps in coping with arthritis.



Good news about rheumatoid arthritis

Two years back I spent a month in an ayurveda hospital to recuperate from the side-effects of an accident. While lying in the hospital I saw many patients of different age groups suffering from various forms of arthritis. Since I was undergoing ayurveda massage the only activity  I could do was to browse the net on my little mobile phone.

I read many online articles by medical practitioners and patients about the causes, symptoms and treatments for arthritis. There were many stories by arthritis patients about how they lived with the condition. Just like when you read the symptoms of any mental disease and you feel like you too got the mental disease, after reading about the symptoms of various forms of arthritis I felt I got one or all forms of arthritis. After reading the life stories of some arthritis patients, I imagined myself with a walking stick after few years. Then the doctor advised me to stop reading.

After returning to Delhi, I met rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients surviving on pain Killers and they felt doomed.  One even described arthritis as a ‘dirty disease’. The online articles about arthritis and the experience of the patients in Delhi were similar. They all felt the same way;

  • There is not cure for arthritis
  • One day you are going to be bed bound
  • The doctors only prescribe pain killer, which has side-effect

And so I concluded that there is no use in taking medicines for arthritis, and all you can do is learn to live with arthritis.

After two years when I went to Kerala last month, I met a few young rheumatoid arthritis patients in their early thirties who were mostly detected with the disease only after they fell paralysed. I found positivity in their and their care takers attitudes. The patients lead a normal life while still continuing with the medical treatment. Rewinding memories to my days in the hospital I remember meeting patients and hearing stories of recovery and how Ayurveda helped them stays active.

I saw some videos of interviews by ayurveda and allopathic doctors in Kerala who claim that if arthritis is detected at an early stage, the disease can be cured and that in the last two decades many medicines have been discovered to cure arthritis.  What I understand is that the people in Kerala approach arthritis not as a deadly disease but as a lifestyle disease like diabetes or cholesterol, which can be kept in control. There is no fear or phobia about the disease.

Delhi and the western countries, from where most of the articles on arthritis originates, are developed place, where people lead a fast life and so they follow only the allopathy treatment. Kerala is the land of Ayurveda, where even the Keralite diaspora living in different parts of the world rely on Ayurveda for many ailments – especially medications post delivery.  Nowadays some keralite patients combine ayurveda and allopathy, or allopathy and homeopathy etc.

  • Maybe there is a difference in the way Keralites deal with pain and deformity.
  • Maybe the lifestyle in Kerala helps them deal with the disease is a better manner.
  • Maybe the authors of articles online are those with acute arthritis.

I could sense that the approach to arthritis was different in both part of the world, so an interaction between patients on two sides of the globe will provide new hope for arthritis patients.

Fasting: A powerful therapy in healing chronic diseases

On Good Friday a 38 year old, obese, friend decided to fast by skipping breakfast and lunch. She ended up for the next 5 days in Intensive Care Unit of a hospital suspecting cardiac arrest. She vouched never to fast again. This was a unique experience for me as usually after religious fasts – fasting, prayer and denial of certain food – people say they feel better physically, mentally and spiritually. So I began the research to ascertain whether fasting is good or bad for health.

I discovered that fasting is not just a religious custom but the most ancient and cheapest form of treating diseases. Fasting Therapy is widely being accepted to drastically improve chronic and debilitating illness like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and diabetes. “Fasting is a simple, elegant therapy that has amazing medical benefits. It effectively treated high blood pressure, overcame Type II diabetes, consistently produced dramatic improvements in autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, and provided effective relief for asthma attacks and migraine headaches.” says Michael Klaper, M.D. a gifted clinician, internationally recognized teacher, and sought-after speaker on diet and health.


The cause of most of the diseases is the accumulation of excess and poisonous substance in the body. People, especially in the cities follow a sedentary lifestyle and consume excess food resulting in overburdening the digestive system. By staying away from food for a few days the elimination system in the body removes the poisonous substances accumulated inside. Read this post to find out knee replacement can be avoided by ayurveda.

Fasting sounds like an easy home remedy, because most people skip breakfast as part of dieting. Fasting however should be taken only for a certain duration of time, under professional guidance. Fasting for a prolonged period can be dangerous, so before fasting you must know the benefits and procedure of fasting. And also you must know when to fast, how to break the fast and when not to.

Only a well-experienced doctor, who uses fasting therapy as a treatment, can provide answer to the queries. So I had an interview with Dr. Matthew Brennecke, MS, ND, a board certified naturopathic doctor, in Colorado, who prefers fasting therapy  to pharmaceutical medication for his patients. Here is the interview with the doctor :


What are the benefits of fasting?

There are a lot of benefits to fasting. It gives the vital organs complete rest.  It stops the intake of foods that decompose in the intestines and poison the body.  It empties the digestive tract and disposes of putrefactive bacteria. It gives organs of elimination an opportunity to catch up with their work and further promote elimination. It re-establishes normal physiological chemistry and normal secretions. It promotes the break down and absorption of exudates, deposits, effusions, diseased tissue, and abnormal growths. It permits the conservation of energy. It clears and strengthens the mind. It improves function throughout the body. It can restore a youthful condition of the cells and tissue, which rejuvenates the body.

Does it cure any disease?

But it doesn’t cure anything.    Curing is possible,but it takes work and you can start by exercising and putting the right foods in your mouth.

Does fasting mean abstaining from food for a certain time?

Not only is there quite a bit of confusion regarding fasting, but there are also many fasts to choose from.  Are you going to water fast, juice fast, do a master cleanse, etc.?  Which one is right for you?  This usually depends on the disease we may be using it for.  Oftentimes, we choose fasting as options to decrease symptoms experienced by the patient when it comsto IBS, arthritis, thrombophlebitis, or skin afflictions.  But, we have to be careful to avoid starvation, in which vital organs can be broken down for proteins, unmonitoredketosis, which results from the breakdown of fat, or electrolyte imbalances,which can cause a whole host of issues.   If we want an opportunity to cure any of our chronic disease, we needto start making the right choices when it comes to diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices.

What are the procedures to begin and break the fast? 

(I’m a little uncomfortable answering this procedure question because if it is printed, it might encourage people to start a fast on their own without consulting a doctor beforehand).  I can say that when breaking a fast, do it slowly.  It usually takes about 4 days to get back to eating normally.  Usually starts with vegetables, then adding in fruit, then small portions of regular meals, then can start eating normally on fourth day.  The longer you fast, the longer it takes to break the fast.  This is where the doctor needs to be on-board.  These 4 days of breaking the fast is some of the hardest and vital parts of the fast as it is slowly introducing food back in the system. The most important thing is to no overeat when the fast is over.
Can a person undergoing medication take a fast?
This depends on the medication.  Most medications will be fine to fast with, but there are instances where taking medication while fasting is very dangerous and could be deadly.  For instance, taking insulin for diabetes while fasting could result in hypoglycemia, which can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, or even death.  I have to emphasize that seeing a doctor before starting a fast is vitally important.
How much awareness do general public have about fasting therapy?
Not much awareness at all.  Most people don’t fast or even understand why someone would fast, but they also don’t realize the benefits that can be had from fasting. Fasting is an underutilized therapy that has the ability to help the patient feel better in the long run.  But, then again, fasting also puts stress on the body in not having easily accessible nutrients flowing through the gut at all times.
Do people come to you asking for fasting therapy or you recommend it?
Both.  Most of the time I recommend it because it has the ability to help the patient out.  But, I always do a physical exam, run blood labs, and take into account the patient’s general constitution before I make the suggestion.  If the patient is emaciated, I don’t recommend fasting.  If the patient has any extreme weakness or degeneration, I don’t recommend fasting.  If the kidneys aren’t functioning properly, I don’t recommend fasting.  If the patient is low count in basic blood labs, I don’t recommend fasting.  If the patient is elderly or pregnant or a child, I don’t recommend fasting.  If the patient has problems with their nervous system or heart disease or difficulty breathing, I don’t recommend fasting.
Can an obese person of 40 yr, who has never fasted, successfully undergo fasting therapy?
Yes, but as stated above, the proper blood labs and physical exam must be done beforehand to determine whether this person is a candidate for fasting therapy.  There are many instances where middle-aged obese people have great success in fasting and reap some incredible benefits.  They can lose a significant amount of weight within days of starting a fast.  But, it does take the patient’s dedication to endure the fast.  Fasting can be extremely difficult for people, especially the first few days.  You oftentimes feel like you’re starving, get dizzy, have low energy, get headaches, but those feeling do pass most of the time by the third day.
About the Doctor
Dr MathreDr. Matthew Brennecke, MS, ND is a board certified naturopathic doctor practicing at the Rocky Mountain Wellness Clinic in Fort Collins, Colorado.  He prefers using natural therapies to pharmaceutical medication when possible, so as to limit side effects to treatment and sees a variety of patients with a range of chronic conditions.  He can be reached at Twitter@RockyDocFOCO or on Rockymountaindoc@yahoo.com

Acupressure points for cervical and other disease diagnose

Aren’t their times when the doctor says that the disease was diagnosed too late! You are confused! You have all the symptoms of some kind of disease, but do not know whether to consult a doctor or not. If the doctor diagnoses a disease then your money was spent right. On the other hand, if the doctor says that the pain was just a feeling out of fear of falling ill, you feel silly! So here’s how to diagnose an ailment, with acupressure points, at home, before consulting a doctor! Read how fasting a powerful therapy to cure diseases in this post.
To know acupressure points for cervical, you have to press the meridian under the big toe (here point 5), if you feel the pain that means you have a cervical problem. Similarly, there are nearly 40 such points on the sole of the foot, and palm, connected to the internal organs. When pressing the point, if you feel a pain, then you has an ailment related the organ connected to this point. Even if you do not know the name of the disease you know which organ is ailing, so press the point for 3 minutes two to three times a day and after some days the pain will disappear. The acupressure points treatment has the origin in China.
acupressure points for cervical
Press point 5 and if there is pain, it mean some kind of cervical problem

Story behind acupressure points and other touch-and-heal treatments

It is said that in ancient India some people realised that the elephants would settle down quickly when pressure is exerted on certain points behind the ear using sharp objects. Ancient doctors used the same technique on the human. Using such manipulative technique the first surgeon Sushruta sedated the patients before surgery and revived after surgery. In the West treatment similar to acupressure points is known as Reflexology.

How acupressure points cures

‘Acu’ means to remove the toxic materials in the body; acupressure means to apply pressure to remove the waste material from the body. By pressing the points, for a specific time, a number of times a day, the organ will be cured of some common types of ailments. The acupressure points work on the principle that the body has an inbuilt mechanism to revitalise itself and to relieve the organs of some kind of tensions.
Historically all traditional forms of medicine are based on the idea of ‘prevention is better than cure’. If the disease is detected in the early stages, then faster relief can be attained from acupressure points treatment. If the disease is mild then the pain will be reduced in 2 to 3 days. In severe cases, it may take one or two months.    
A good thing about acupressure is that you can detect the ailment in its initial stage. When you press the meridian point on the sole or palm you will feel the pain even in the initial stage of the disease. So you can visit a doctor with confidence for further treatment. 

Acupressure points of some ailments

  • Burns: Strongly massage the middle portion of the front of the wrist.
  • Toothache: Every tooth has a corresponding point on a finger. Press the point continuously for three minutes.
  • Backache: Massage the point between the index and the middle for some time.
  • Chest pain: Keep pressing the middle of the back of the forearm.
  • Asthma:  Rub from the middle of the chest to the sides for 5 minutes. Then press the joint in the middle of the dip on the neck for 1 minute.
  • Constipation: Press the middle of the chin for 5 minutes daily before your morning routine.
  • Digestive System: Roll the soles of the feet on a grooved wooden roller for 5 minutes daily to activate the digestive system.
  • Acupressure: Treatment is also effective for corns, controlling hunger, obesity, painless childbirth, etc. 

However, there are some exceptions where acupressure points treatment may not cure. For instance cancer, large gall stones, mature cataract, and kidney stone.

When you should not use acupressure points:
  • Open wound or fractured bone
  • Contagious diseases
  • Tumour
  • Lymph nodes
  • Some points during pregnancy

5 Reasons why Neymar should Opt Ayurveda for back injury treatment

ayurveda back injury treatment
‘Ayurveda for Neymars back injury treatment.’ Ever since Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, Neymar, met with that unfortunate injury, media is abuzz with news that he will go to Kerala for traditional Ayurveda treatment. According to the newspapers, this report is a rumour. It is not surprising that in football frenzy Kerala, people went berserk when they heard their Football Icon has chosen Kerala’s traditional medicine for his ultimate cure. Read how knee replacement can be avoided by Ayurveda in this post.
Nowadays Keralites, from the world over, are resorting to Ayurveda for curing all kinds of diseases. They have benefited from the goodness of traditional Ayurveda.  They know that Neymar can return to the field with rejuvenation, and a stronger back, if he takes up Ayurveda back injury treatment. There are many reasons why Kerala Football Fans think Neymar will benefit from Ayurveda treatment. Here are some of the reasons:

Cannot Heal the fracture but agility can be attained

In many cases after a bone fracture is healed, the patient in not as agile as before. In such situation ayurvedic massage, internal medicines and rest restore the patient’s strength and energy.

Follows a strict regime

The food is strictly vegetarian and there are some do and don’t of the movement of the person. In most ayurvedic treatment you have to refrain from any physical activity until the treatment is over. For Neymar, the period of treatment may be a month or two. Since Ayurveda doctors do not guarantee complete recovery if their instructions are not followed thoroughly, the patient is forced to be obedient.

Gets much-required rest

Rest, and only complete rest, for a prescribed period will only make the back stronger. Unlike a bone fracture, a back injury seems harmless at first but gets worse over a period of time. So someone who is active and pursuing a ‘goal’ will overlook the pain and continue with the work. Neymar, who seems to be the ‘backbone of the Brazilian team’, needs to make his back stronger for remaining fit for the rest of his professional life and his entire lifetime.

No short cut to recovery

Whether one opts for homoeopathic, modern medicine or Ayurveda the patient will feel stronger in the course of the treatment and they will not complete the course of the treatment. There is no excuse for Ayurveda treatment, once the treatment has begun then the full course has to be completed. If the treatment is left in-between, then the course has to begin all over again. So the patient will not dare to stop the course of treatment prematurely because the doctor guarantees to heal only after the entire course is completed without any lag.

Holistic and comprehensive treatment

The oil massage therapies usually take only two to three hours of the day. The ayurvedic treatment works by adjusting the intercellular fluid in the body, lymph, organs to preserve their proper functioning. The rest of the day is utilised for yoga, physiotherapy, meditation and walking. In addition, the Ayurveda hospitals are surrounded by greenery and medicinal plants. Staying in such a surrounding for a month or two relaxes the mind and helps one take a break from the high-speed lifestyle of the cities.  To sum up, a month or two of Ayurveda treatment will heal, restore and rejuvenate the body, mind and soul of Neymar.

Alternative ayurvedic treatment for Knee Replacement

ayurvedic treatment for knee replacement
There is a general perception among the public that ayurvedic treatments are for rejuvenation, or in simpler terms ‘to get refreshed’. However, in my recent visit to an Ayurveda hospital, I discovered that ayurvedic treatments heal a number of diseases. Many patients, who were rejected by the mainstream doctors, found successful recovery through ayurvedic treatments for diseases like cancer, skin diseases and knee replacement surgeries. Today I would like to share some of the anecdotes about patients who came here in search of alternative ayurvedic treatment for knee replacement. They came in search of a last resort to escape undergoing knee replacement surgery, or to escape the huge financial expense incurred in the surgeries. Find out why walking with thin people will help you lose weight quickly.

Forty years of knee osteoarthritis and still going strong

A nun used to take care of the elderly during her younger days. She used to carry the bed-ridden old people on her shoulder, as a result she developed pain in her knees when she was around 40 years old. She consulted an orthopaedic doctor and he said that he can only prescribe painkillers for this disease so she should better go for ayurvedic treatment. So she consulted an Ayurveda doctor and started taking ayurvedic internal medicines and external oil application. Only after she was sixty years old she had to take complete ayurvedic therapy for three weeks followed by 45 days of medicine and oil massage.  Every five years she undergoes the three-week massage therapy that includes various bolus applications administered by masseurs.  Now she is above eighty and she is as active as an eighty-year-old should be. She says her timely switching to Ayurveda saved her. She has witnessed many of her friends, who did not treat the disease properly, die of arthritis and rheumatic pain.

Saved the money

One fifty-year-old man was asked by a doctor to deposit Rs. 4 lac for knee replacement surgery. On the day before making the payment he consulted a  doctor friend who in turn got him introduced to an ayurvedic doctor. He was asked to take three weeks of ayurvedic therapy followed by 45 days of internal medication and external oil application. After a period of three months of ayurvedic treatment, he completely recovered with no requirement of knee surgery.
ayurvedic treatment for knee replacement

Knee replacement postpone for 5 years

A sixty-eight year old lady was asked to undergo knee replacement surgery so she consulted the ayurvedic doctor. The ayurvedic doctor also recommended knee replacement surgery. But the lady did not have the huge amount to spare so she wanted to undergo ayurvedic treatment so that she can postpone the surgery for some more time. After undergoing the ayurvedic treatment, the doctor has guaranteed her another five years without going under the knife.
A US journal, Arthritis and Rheumatology, has found that 30% of the knee replacements in the US might have been unnecessary. In India also the condition dosen’t seem to be any different. Consulting an ayurvedic doctor before going for a knee replacement surgery may save money and also help in escaping from going under the knife.

8 Home Remedies for Fever and Cold

home remedies for fever and cold

Every working parent lives with the nightmare of children falling sick. When the dreaded thing happens, parents, have to ensure that the fever doesn’t go high resulting in pneumonia, fit or other complications. Before consulting a doctor, there are many preventive measures that can be taken using ingredients in the kitchen to ensure that the cold and fever doesn’t escalate. Home remedies for fever and cold are risk-free and without side effects.

Children are prone to cold and fever mostly during climate changes or when they are exposed to a new climatic condition. Home remedies for fever and cold will keep them immune to viral attacks. Give them a balanced nutritional diet and let them play outside the closed air-conditioned accommodations at least for an hour every day.Whatever steps you take there will be an occasional attack of fever and cold; Parents have to keep aside some day-off for such emergencies. No escape from that!

Always keep handy a few easily available ingredients, that are useful for home remedies for fever and cold. Whereby you can start natural, no side effect, remedies as soon as you see the first indication of cold or fever. Even when there is no sign of fever give a spoon of honey and inhale vapour steam after playing in the water, having a lot of ice creams or when someone else having fever or cold,…….

Also Read:5 summer drink recipes to beat the heat

Products mentioned below are always available at home. As the products are all natural, you can administer preventive dosage even at the slightest doubt of fever or cold attack. Home remedies for fever and cold are natural products from the kitchen, so they produce no side effect when used as a precaution against the onset of fever and cough.

Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Take a few leaves of Tulsi, wash it thoroughly and press the leaves to extract the juice. Add a tablespoon full of honey to the Tulsi extract.


Sometimes referred to as small onions, shallots extracts are an elixir for fever and cold. Peel off the skin, crush, and then extract the juice from the shallots. Give the shallot extract in combination with honey and Tulsi juice.


Crushed pepper with honey gives immunity against a cough and cold.


In the winter season if you take a spoonful of honey every day you can prevent a cough and nasal blocks.


Whenever there is a stuffy nose or a cough, use an inhaler added with some inhalation medicine. Close the room and leave the inhaler switched on for some time (Make sure to maintain the water level in the inhaler).

Crystal Sugar

There is a variety of crystal sugars with medicinal value. Crystal sugar can have every day. Babies can be given the sugar either as a powder or mixed with water.

Liquid Diet

Children refuse to take food when they have cold or fever. It is said that consuming less food is a natural process of the body to fight the fever and cold; there is no need to forcefully give food. Always give water as the body should not be dehydrated.


The best remedy for fever is to take complete rest. Most children recover after getting one day of complete rest – No games, only sleeping and drinking a lot of water. Parents should take a day off to give the child complete care & Love.
In addition, also keep some medicines handy at home as a cough syrup, a paracetamol syrup, capsules for inhalation, ……..

Brisk walking is good for health

The first golden rule to maintain a healthy lifestyle – Brisk walk everyday. I have read many articles about the benefits of brisk walking, but I still don’t know how fast I should walk. Since articles were of no use I decided to follow the footsteps of the fittest person in the park. I discovered that, if the articles were confusing, the ingenious walking techniques of the walkers were even more confusing. Read this post to know about the walking habits of four generations of a family.

I located the leanest walker, since I wanted to be that thin, and observed how she walks. There was nothing artistic about her style. She kept on walking, non stop, around the park for hours, with an earphone fixed in her ears. There were youngsters who ran at full speed –  I decided not to follow them. Then came a healthy girl in the opposite direction, she was taking long, hefty strides and swinging her hands to and fro, violently, as if she was going to beat someone. There were some who did combo-exercises. They stretched hand and legs; and swung them round and round while walking. Others just jogged.

While most walked alone, some were in groups. They walk to rejuvenate, so that they can start their day on a fresh note. While they walk, they occupy the whole space, disturbing the pace of the serious walkers. There was also a group of elderly aunts, who wore sports shoe with their traditional dress, walking religiously in the morning and evening. These beautiful women in their seventies are so fit and healthy that any youngster would want to make them their fitness icon. (I know them personally, the secret of their fitness, and beauty, is also because of their harmonious family life.)

After observing the walkers in the parks, and discussing with regular walkers, I concluded that how you walk or how fast you walk is not important. What is more important is to walk regularly without fail.
