United colours of medicine
Jaswant Singh

Principles of Integrated Medicine: Stepping Beyond Alternative Medicine
edited by Dr P. R. Mhatre (Pune) and compiled by Geeta Desai (USA).
Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi.Rs 895. Pages 692.

Dr P.R. Mhatre practised general medicine for 45 years, learnt homoeopathy from Dr L.D. Dhawle, studied acupuncture from Dr Felix Mann and stayed in Dharamsala to learn Tibetan medicine. There is little doubt that his credentials have enabled him to ably edit this monumental book, contributed by experts.

It covers five systems of healing — acupuncture, ayurveda, homoeopathy, Tibetan, Greco/Arabic or Unani. Four paramedical subjects — nutrition and diet therapy, yoga and meditation, reiki, pychotherapy and counselling have also been covered.

Acupuncture is known to be the oldest system of healing. In India, there was a school known as Nalanda. The traditional school of acupuncture believes in the presence of an energy system within the body.

According to this, energy flows continuously in closed channels throughout the body. These channels are known as meridians of acupuncture. Meridians are of two types: yin meridians and yang meridians. The pulse is used for diagnosis in traditional acupuncture.

Real acupuncture points are the tender spots on the skin. These are Ashi points and trigger points. Acupuncture requires stainless steel needles usually having a silver handle. The book gives the details of the procedure used in acupuncture.

The founder of homeopathy was Dr Christian Hahnemann. Homeopathy is a "Medicine of Pure Experience". There are four fundamental pillars of homoeopathic philosophy: the law of similars, drug provings, the principle of potentisation/dynamisation, the theory of chronic diseases — MIASMS.

In India, homoeopathy was first used by Hohnigberger John Martin, who treated Maharaja Ranjit Singh for some serious disease. The state of the acute disease would denote a sudden disturbance in the energy dynamics of the individual. These deep-acting disease forces detrimental to the normal functioning of the individual cause a chronic diseased state, termed as MIASMS. A substance which has the capacity to produce symptoms in the healthy individual is alone capable of curing the symptoms caused by the disease. This is the law of similars–Smilia Similibus Curanture.

As per Dr Hahnemann, a true physician would never opt for polypharmacy (the act of prescribing several drugs). He also classified causative factors for disease as predisposing, precipitating, and maintaining. Homoeopathy is lesser known for its efficacy in the sphere of infective illnesses and better known for its efficacy in hypersensitivity disorders.

Kent, a pioneer in homoeopathy, believes that the "Mind was the key to Man" and gave a lot of importance to "will" and "affections". There are about 3,000 homoeopathy drugs. Individualisation is the keynote of homoeopathic medicine.

Tibetan medicine is one of the oldest medical systems surviving today. It has a holistic approach towards health and treats both the mind and the body.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama established Tibetan medical institution Men-Tsee-Khang in Dharamsala in 1961. This system is especially successful in the case of chronic ailments such as migraine, vertigo, nerve disorders, paralytic stroke, arthritis, cardiac disease, splenic disorders, renal disease and hypertension.

Tibetan medicine stresses that the human body as well as the universe is composed of the four elements, air, fire, earth and water. It further elaborates the concept of mind-body in dynamic equilibrium (healthy state), mind-body in dynamic disequilibrium (diseased state, which also includes evil spirits). In this system, diagnostic techniques include observation, touch, interrogation, etc.

Even before Hippocrates, Greek physicians were using massage, poultice, cupping, hot and cold fomentations for therapy. Mizaj (temperament) is one of the peculiarities of Tibb (Unani), where humoural system (body fluids), dam (blood), balgham (phlegm), aza (tissues and organs) are frequently assessed. Unani physicians stress on the recognition of balanced and imbalanced temperaments.

Nabz (pulse) has equal importance as in other systems. Unani Materia Medica includes ajwain desi, alubukhara, amaltas, amla, anar, asrol (rouwolfia serpentina), badam shirin, banafsha, chameli, chilghoza, charaita, darchini, heeng, injeer, isapghol, kafoor (camphor), kewda, khashkhash, afiyoon, methi, arak gulab.

Veda means knowledge. There are four Vedas. Appended to each Veda is an Upa Veda, i.e., a subordinate Veda. The Upa Veda of Atharva Veda is called Ayurveda (the science of longevity). Ayurvedic medicinal preparations include vegetable, mineral and animal sources. Herbal or vegetable substances require sanskaras like extraction of juice. Some of the common household articles used in Ayurveds are elaichi, heeng (asafoetida), sarpagandha (rauwolfia serpentina) used in hypertension.

For the sake of brevity, important para-medical subjects like nutrition, yoga, reiki, psychotherapy and counselling, though equally essential and well covered, are only mentioned in passing.

This is a well printed, well illustrated and elaborately researched work by multiple authors. It is recommended for practising physicians of modem medicine.

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