Due to adverse reports about modern allopathic medicines, many people are moving towards alternative therapies and healing techniques. But have you ever wondered how effective these are? The point to be noted is that almost everyone wants to make money by exploiting the fears of others. This is a sad but a bitter truth.
In their attempt to find a solution to their problems, people start believing in alternative therapies without bothering to verify their effectiveness. They forget that they may not be moving towards healing or getting cured, at all. People who get swayed by all the positive feedback and heaps of praise on social media about a service are often gullible.
Let me narrate my own encounter with alternative therapy when I was struggling for months trying to correct a ruptured heel (it is a condition called plantar fasciitis). An ayurvedic centre in Pune, that follows a Kerala-style ayurvedic treatment, sent me on a wild goose chase for close to 65 days. The doctor's charges were nominal (Rs100 for consultation) but what is the point if the medication prescribed is useless? I spent close to Rs3,000 on different types of oils, painkillers and a diet that restricted all milk and milk products.
When there were no results, despite religiously following the treatment prescribed, I approached an allopathic doctor in the neighbourhood. He scoffed at my decision and questioned me about why was I skating on thin ice by running after alternative therapies without knowing whether they would be effective or not. Luckily for me, I was in the liminal stage of my ayurvedic treatment and so I had no reservations about dumping all those oils and painkillers and embracing allopathy. Now, two months later, I am relieved. My pain has vanished and I am in the pink of health.
Readers, please do not think I am undermining the alternative healing techniques. No, I am definitely not. Nor am I suggesting that allopathy has all the answers. It does not. However, I am only trying to caution—for every one therapist who is earnest and genuine, there are 10 others who make a fast buck, comfortable under the thought that they are accountable to none.
Out of curiosity, I approached the same ayurvedic doctor again. He was smart as ever. He put the blame on me saying, “Madam, you are not following the diet that I prescribed. Sometimes, ayurvedic treatments may take 6-8 months to show a positive impact. I shall do one thing. I will write you one more ‘kashayam’ that is priced only at Rs850 and I am sure that this will work well for you.” Needless to add, I ran away from there as fast as I could.
Sound therapy, bell therapy, flower therapy, salt therapy, water therapy, fish therapy - innovations like these are not bad per se. But, when they are untested and the orientation is skewed more towards extracting money and less towards recovery, the problem begins. I have begun aerobic exercises now. I have been training for yoga under a gentleman who collects only Rs300 for a three-month course in yoga, read a lot and listen to music. I meditate whenever I have the time and I have come to believe that self-healing is the best form of healing.
The experience of one of my cousins with hypnotherapy in Mumbai was also not so great. These people seem to be taking money for talking to you and not ‘counselling’. They market their services very well using testimonials from a few customers to lure new prospects. After you pay through your nose, will these people even refund half of your money in case their treatment is ineffective?
So, dear readers, be aware and beware. There is no need to drain your hard-earned money for these, so-called, experts who have no basis for their pricing. Often, there is a cartel and each one of them has a quid-pro-quo kind of arrangement. There is a nutritionist near the Mumbai-Pune highway who supposedly follows a 'holistic' approach. She charges Rs12,000 for a 45-minute consultation and promises that further consultation can be provided on Skype or WhatsApp. How has she arrived at this price? No idea. If her treatment fails, she will conveniently blame the patient and move on to another patient.
Good article.
I am also suffering from plantar fasciitis since many years and have consulted many doctors without any improvement.
Is it possible to provide additional details of the treatment which has relieved your heel pain?
Thanks
Hemant
For almost three weeks, I used to keep my feet in a bucket of hot water for 20 minutes and then afterwards keep my feet in cold water for 20 minutes'; now i am regularly keeping cold pack; it is good to listen to music/ watch TV while you are doing this to avoid boredom.
Believe me, plantar fasciitis is only a temporary condition and if you take proper care, you will be healed quickly; but check the credentials of any doctor whom you visit.
For Chronic illnesses(high BP, asthma, allergies, obesity, T2 diabetes etc), alternative med and methods (including diet/exercise/mediation) may have better treatment than pill pushers of the Big Pharma.
Use your judgement. Don't use a razor to chop down a tree.
Coming back to the friend, he took second opinion from a MD in cardiology and self styled diabetes consultant (almost every MD in cardio seems to be making hay while the sun shines by calling themselves diabetes specialists). For a five minute consultation, the doctor charged Rs 800 and may to be justify his charges, he recommended my friend to double the dosage of the Metformin drug that he was taking.
Why I am writing this is because medical opinion is highly subjective; some doctors adopt a minimal approach; some are extremists in that they recommend high dosages; It is upto the patient to take care of his health and do what he feels is right; If you wish to avoid metformin, then first your blood sugar should be under control and then you can experiment with Patanjali or other drugs/nature cure; without this, the patient is putting himself under grave risk. Let us accept that diabetes is hereditary and is a life style disease; if you watch what you eat and actually count your calories, then 50% of the problem is solved then and there; self diagnosis is harmful; diagnosis under the care of a trusted medical/ alternative healing practitioner is recommended; but one thing is for sure - please don't go for hypnotherapy as it can turn counter productive if the therapist is not adequately trained.
Prescribed anti-hypertensive drugs and statins for my relative and when we checked her blood test readings , both were normal and healthy range!!!
Some of them don't even listen to the patient and ask about food/stressors/other hidden causes etc, They want to spend 3 mins max , scribble a prescription and get rid of the patient.
I have scolded one doctor for using a faulty BP measuring device (for my mother)... Ultimate!
My suggestion is , for lifestyle ailments we can't r/ should not rush to an allopathic doctor. The medicines they irresponsibly recommend will cause more harm than good. We must google, read, understand and cross question the prescription.
I am sure Dr. B.M.Hegde would agree!
But if I were to see some one with a heart attack, I will definitely rush to ER of an hospital, no doubt
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/20-specialists-found-to-have-fake-degrees-80-more-under-scanner/articleshow/63635033.cms