HEALTH

Mental health day at CMC
from Our Correspondent

The nursing students of the college of nursing displayed posters in the new OPD complex so that people could be made aware of ways to curb depression. More than 400 people participated in the function. Mrs Pennamma Ranadive, the Principal of the College of Nursing presented the vote of thanks to the participants and encouraged them to carry a message for their fellow beings to lead a tension free life.

Alternative system of medicines: homoeopathy
By Minna Zutshi

Neeru was suffering from chronic arthritis for the past 10 years. Winter months were specially painful; she could hardly lift a fork with her hands. Neeru tried many remedies but to no avail. One of her relatives suggested her to try homoeopathy. Though skeptical, she agreed to give it a shot. Today, Neeru feels much better, her arthritis is no longer as debilitating as it was before she took up the homoeopathic treatment.

Homoeopathy, ayurveda, naturopathy, magnetotherapy are the latest buzzwords. Though these systems of medicine differ from one another, yet there are certain common points . Dr Dhami, a homoeopath practising at Sarabha Nagar, said that most of the alternative systems took a holistic approach to health. She added that for a homoeopath, the most important thing was not just to cure the disease but to make the whole person healthy.

The alternative systems work well in case of psychomatic disorders that have their origin in psychological causes. Seema, a home maker was suffering from claustrophobia, abnormal fear of crowded space. Her social life was severely restricted and her outdoor activities, too, were curtailed. After a series of visits to a neurocentre, she decided to try homeopathy. The homeopathic doctor studied all her physical, mental and psychological symptoms and prescribed a medicine for her. After two months, Seema felt much better. Though crowds still make her uneasy, but they no longer unnerve her.

For the practitioners of the alternative systems of medicines, health is a ‘state of physical, mental and social well being and not a mere absence of disease or infirmity.’ Curing the patient in the safest, shortest and gentlest manner is the goal of a homoeopath. “The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of the health, of removal and destruction of the disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable and harmless way, “ wrote Samuel Hahnemann in his book Organon of Medicine.

The requirement of homoeopathy is different from that of allopathy where diagnosis is given prominence. In allopathy, the medicines are fixed, but not so in homoeopathy. “For a homoeopath, symptoms come first, diagnosis is just a helpful adjunct. In homoeopathic treatment, the patient is the nucleus. Homoeopathy deals with the entire patient, taking into account the patient’s psychical, emotional and physical states as well as his past and family histories,” explained Dr H. S. Brar.

One reason why many opt for alternative systems of medicines is that there are almost negligible side-effects. “When I took allopathic medicines for my gout problem, I used to develop urticaria. But now I have shifted to homoeopathy. And believe me, my gout problem has not only become less frequent but also less intense”, said Mr Mehta, a resident of Sarabha Nagar.

Says a homoeopath, “ In homoeopathic system, an individual forms the basis of treatment. As a result, a rule of thumb is not possible in homoeopathy. However, in some acute and endemic cases that have common characteristic symptoms, near-specifics are possible. For example, we give cina for worms, thuja for warts, arnica for injuries and so on.”

Many Ludhianvis vouch for the efficacy of homoeopathy in dealing with the ailments of animals. One of the residents of Kitchlu Nagar said that her pet dog had been suffering from continuous vomiting. A homoeopath gave her pet some medicines in powdered form and within no time vomiting subsided. Another pet owner claimed that homoeopathy had saved the life of his bull terrier who had been diagnosed as t

Homoeopathy, however, has its critics, too. According to an allopathic specialist, the material dose of the medicines in homoeopathy is infinitesimal. It is the placebo effect that the patient feels and it is not the real cure.

When a homoeopath was asked about the placebo effect, he dismissed it as a misconception. She explained, “Potentisation of drugs is an indispensable feature of homoeopathy. It refers to bringing out the latent medicinal properties of a drug by successive friction of a small portion of the drug. The transformation of the drug is so astonishing and dynamic that even a minute quantity of the potentised drug cures various ailments.”

Dr Rama Kant Jagpal, a homoeopath practising at Krishna Nagar, said,” Homoeopathy is a scientific principle hammered out of hard facts. It is backed up by indisputable logic. These days even doctors practising different systems are showing active interest in homoeopathy. With every passing day, homoeopathy is gaining wider acceptance among the people.”

Homoeopathy may not offer a panacea for all diseases. But this alternative system of medicines surely merits an unprejudiced examination.

Haematology meet from Nov 3
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 28 — The Department of Pathology of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), in association with the Medical Council of India, the University of British Columbia (Canada), American Association of Physicians from India and the Association of Indian Pathologists in North America will host a three-day long 4th international CME in haematology and transfusion medicine from November 3 to 5.

About 200 delegates from all over India and abroad will come and discuss the latest advances in blood banking and blood cancer, lymphoma, management and diagnosis of thalassaemia and hemophilia, during the conference, informed Dr Vinita Malhotra, Head of the Department of Pathology, DMCH, and chairperson of the conference.

Mrs N Sachdeva, Secretary, Medical Council of India, will be the chief guest and Dr L. S. Chawla, former Vice-chancellor of the Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences, will be the guest of the honour, informed Dr B. S. Shah, organising secretary and Reader, Department of Pathology, DMCH.

A cultural programme will also be presented on November 4 at Dumra Auditorium. The participants will made aware of the recent advances in the diagnosis and the biology of diverse topics in haematology and blood transfusion. They will be Dr Malcolm Brigden, Head Haematology and Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Canada, Dr Bakul I Dalal, and Dr Anil Mangal from British Columbia University, Canada, Dr Jagmohan Sidhu from New York , Dr R. P. Britt from London, Dr Rajnish Shrivastava from Canada, Dr Dipika, Director Institute of Immunohaematology, Mumbai and Dr Gurjeevan from PGI, Chandigarh. The CME will also include symposia, video and slide projection.

Seminar on drug de-addiction
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 28 — A seminar on acupuncture and drug de-addiction was organised by Dr D.N. Kotnis Hospital here today. Mr K.S. Kainth, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, presided over the function.

Mr Kainth said the non government organisations did a great job to eradicate this social evil. He asked people to cooperate with

the government to fight against this social evil. Mr Kainth appreciated the work done by the hospital.

Dr Rajinder Singh Dhillon, project director, drug-de-addiction centre of the hospital, said: “The main reason of drug-addiction is mental problems.” He said 869 patients had been treated successfully with the acupuncture therapy. These patients were leading healthy life. The hospital had also contributed in research on tobacco addiction and the results was very encouraging, he added.