All Medical Systems Have Their Own Importance And Limitations Too

  All medical systems have their own importance and limitations also at the same time. So I cannot agree with Baba Ramdev that Allopathy is a stupid science and other systems of medicines like Ayurveda are great.

 It is true that the Allopathic system of medicine has not yet found any cure for certain chronic diseases like Arthritis, back ache etc.,

  Allopathic medicine, despite its tremendous advances in research, has its limitations in curing certain chronic diseases. Here the other systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha and Unani come into picture which can cure many chronic diseases permanently.

 Yet one cannot deny the truth that contagious diseases like malaria, cholera, plague etc,, could be controlled thanks to the Allopathic system of medicine only.

  The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming saved many lives from bacterial infections like pneumonia, strep throat, respiratory tract infections, scarlet fever, ear, skin, gum, mouth and throat infections.

  Dr. Yellapraggada Subba Rao, the Indian Biochemist lost his elder brother and younger brother due to tropical sprue in a span of eight days and it prompted him to discover folic acid as a cure for tropical sprue. He also discovered methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug for containing the spread of cancer, which is still used today. It is also used for rheumatoid arthritis. His discovery of diethylcarbamazine in treating filariasis is notable. Most of his career was spent in the United States. His research work was carried out in the Lederle Laboratories, a division of American Cyanamid, acquired by Wyeth in 1994, now Pfizer. A fungus zenus has been named Subbaromycin in his honour.

  There are many more renowned biochemists who have revolutionised the treatment of infectious diseases with their discoveries of antibiotics.

   In Spite of the allegations that Allopathic medicine is controlled by the pharmaceutical mafia today, as a result of which the prices of the Allopathic medicines are skyrocketing, this system of medicine is essential to control umpteen diseases.

  When it comes to the other systems of medicines like Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani and Siddha, all these systems have their own importance.

  Ayurveda: Ayurveda is thousands of years old and this ancient system of medicine has wonderful cures for many chronic diseases. Charaka Samhita and Susruta Samhita (900 BC-700BC) are the important and standard works on the treatment in Ayurveda. It is said that emperor Nimi, grandfather of Sita performed cataract surgery. The great Ayurvedic physician Sustruta mentions rhinoplasty (nasa sandhana). Nobody disputes the fact that Chyawanprash improves immunity and Saraswati Lehya improves memory and other cerebral functions. Saraswati leaves are widely available on the fences in semi urban places and villages.

  Aada thoda vacika (addasaram in Telugu) is used for fencing. Its leaves have wonderful curative aspects for coughing and congestion in the lungs. The leaves of the plant are cut, dried and boiled in water. Then sugar is added and made into a syrup. The Allopathic and Ayurvedic doctors may put their heads together and see whether this syrup is efficacious in clearing the lungs of congestion in the backdrop of Covid=19 pandemic.

  Two decades ago the Government of India started a program titled ‘Catch them young.’ to shape young, brilliant boys and girls into scientists. A scientist of the program, whose name I do not remember, chanced upon a twelve year old tribal boy, grazing his cattle in the fields, near a forest. Suddenly one of the buffaloes collapsed and was unable to move. The tribal boy plucked a few leaves from a plant in the forest, crushed the leaves and poured the juice in the buffalo’s eyes. After half an hour, the animal got up and joined the herd.

  The scientist was amazed at this incident and inquired about the medicinal aspects of the leaves. During their conversation, the tribal boy identified about three hundred plants and explained their medical values.

  Till today it is a puzzle for me. I am at a loss to understand as to how the juices of the medical leaves travelled from the eyes of the buffalo to its internal organs and cured its illness.

 Homeopathy:Though Homeopathy is just four hundred years old like Allopathy, it has made rapid strides in the treatment of many diseases including diabetes and hypertension. It works on the theory ‘Like cures like.’ If this system of medicine is not efficacious, a number of patients would not visit the homeo clinics. 

  Unani: Unani is a Perso-Arabic traditional medicine. It is based on the teachings of Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen. It was later influenced by the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine. Like Ayurveda, it is also based on the four humours - phlegm, blood, yellow bile and black bile. Many Muslim physicians practice this system of medicine in India today and patients say they are cured with the Uninani medicines.

  Siddha:According to the Siddha system, there are five elements that exist in nature: earth, water, fire, air, and ether, all of which form the original basis of all corporeal things. It is believed that there is an intimate connection between the macrocosm of the external world and the microcosm of the corporeal being. In the human body the element of earth is present in the bone, flesh, nerves, skin, and hair; the element of water is present in bile, blood, semen, glandular secretions, and sweat; the element of fire is present in hunger, thirst, sleep, beauty, and indolence; the element of air is present in contraction, expansion, and motion; and the element of ether is present in the interstices of the stomach,

 These three components—vata, pitta, and kapha (representing air, fire, and water, respectively)—are known as humours, and their inharmonious interaction produces various pathological states.

Herbal and mineral treatment

The siddhars did extensive research on plants and devised methods by which plants could be harnessed medicinally. They also described the poisonous nature of some plants and the antidotes for them and classified plants based on the way they affected the body.

Unlike Ayurveda, which is another traditional system of Indian medicine, but which gives topmost priority to herbal treatment, Siddha medicine gives importance to the conjunctive use of plants and minerals. For simple ailments, the Siddha practitioner advises the initial use of herbs. If this does not prove effective, the judicious use of plants, minerals, and animal products is advised

  Siddha treatment has helped to successfully treat 5,725 patients at 11 exclusive Siddha COVID-19 Care Centres (CCC) in Tamil Nadu during the first phase of Corona. There is also a Kabusara tea concoction that was given to Covid positive patients which helped them to regain their lost sense of smell.

 According to the Siddha medicine system, diet and lifestyle plays a major role, not only in health but also in curing diseases. The Siddha System is effective in treating chronic cases of liver, skin diseases especially psoriasis, rheumatic problems, anaemia, prostate enlargement, bleeding piles and peptic ulcer.

 Personal: I crave your indulgence to go a bit personal and tell you how Allopathy, Ayurveda and Homeopathy worked wonders in my personal life.

  That day I was reading my class book at my father’s clinic downstairs from our house. Then a handsome middle aged person rushed into my father’s clinic. He was howling wildly. He fell down and began to roll on the floor still yelling. His wife who accompanied him said that her husband was a drug addict and he became restless since he could not get drugs. Then his wife and my father held him tight. My father administered pethidine injection to him. He became calm within half an hour and the couple left the clinic after thanking my father profusely. No other system of medicine could have made him calm so quickly. That is the greatness of Allopathy.

  When I sustained a massive heart attack, it was Allopathy only which saved my life through bypass surgery.

  Coming back to Ayurveda, the curry leaves (Karivepaku in Telugu) is a good stress buster. Crush a handful of curry leaves, mix them in half a glassful of water and drink it. Just in half an hour you will be relieved of your mental tensions and it keeps your mind cool. Moreover the chlorophyll in the curry leaves whitens the teeth.

  If you munch a few black pepper granules at evening four O’clock around 8 O’clock you will find your vision brighten.

 Long ago we had a manservant named Balakrishnan, who was a habitual drunkard.  He damaged his liver due to excessive drinking. My father admitted him into the Government General Hospital, opposite to Central Station, Madras. After a few weeks of treatment, the doctors gave up hopes and declared him terminally ill. The doctors at the hospital advised him to go home and have a peaceful death.

  Balakrishnan was in his early forties and did not want to die. He began to cry. His wife Chinna Ponnu, father Annasamy and  mother Govindammal brought him to our house. He fell at my father’s feet and promised not to touch liquor again if he were saved.

  My father, who was AMISC (Ayurveda Bhishagwara) and LIM (Licentiate in Allopathy) took his case as a challenge and treated him for forty days with Ayurvedic herbs. After forty days Balakrishnan’s liver began to function normally. After a week he returned home at Motukuppam which is six miles away from Madras on a bicycle. 

 Postscript: LIM was later merged with M.B.B.S after a refresher course. But my father, who was in his late seventies by then, did not opt for it.

  When I developed dementia in my early seventies, the herbal preparations of Ayurveda for improving memory and other cerebral functions worked wonders for me.

  I approached an ENT specialist when I suffered from a dust allergy. She prescribed oral drugs for a fortnight but the medicines were not effective. Then she advised me to go for nasal surgery which would cost Rs. 12,000 approximately. It was quite a big amount for me during the 1990s. Then my daughter-in-law suggested that I should consult a qualified doctor of Homeopathy. 

  The Homeopathic doctor concerned, treated me for a month, which did cost me Rs. 250/- only. I was completely cured of my dust allergy thanks to the Homeophy system of medicine.

  I do hope that my endeavour of proving all systems of medicines have equal importance and limitations too at the same time have borne fruit in my article.

  My friend Krishna Rao’s article on the medical mafia inspired me to pen this piece.