Tag: ayurveda

Posted in food as therapy..., nature

Ayurveda has to be taken with caution.

Posted on by veeskitchen

Ayurveda is the ancient school of medicine in India practised by Hindus for millennia. Siddha is also an ancient school of medicine practised in Tamil Nadu. Both these schools of medicine are recognized by govt of India and have advanced medical universities with full capacity enrolment. Yet both these branches are not as developed as allopathy because of poor research facilities and no testing on animals. There are many restrictions if we are to follow Ayurvedic medication. Same applies for Siddha. I see Ayurvedic produce on display in the US, Middle east etc., where their locals don’t do thorough research on the Ayurvedic products and gulp them down without a second thought. For instance, the Siddha medication can be taken only if you forgo caffeine completely. Similarly Ayurvedic medicine is based on our Vayu, Pitha, Kabha (our body’s gas, heat and cold) each of which is contradictory to the other. There may be contraindications when you use ayurveda without doctor’s advice. The ayur products use plants and seeds that are extremely potent and can damage our liver and kidneys if used indiscriminately. Ayur sugar prescription is just a leaf powdered. Its extremely powerful prescription. Unless you give up the allopathic diabetic pill or insulin, you are not supposed to swallow this. I got a siddha sugar preventive seed. No way one can take this on empty stomach or with borderline diabetes. You chew this dried seed, you can sense your sugar going down dramatically within minutes. Both Ayur and Siddha are nature based but work very efficiently. Without guidance, one should not be taking them. Some ayur products may contain residual metals not harmful for human consumption. But if you already have a high metal content in body and are taking other mineral supplements, you must not take Ashwagandha etc. Should ashwagandha work for you, you need no further supplement in life. Even when you buy ashwagandha in India over the counter, they give you the caution to space it out and not gulp it every day. Same for Pankaja Kasturi, the ayur medication for wheezing. It totally stops for children but again long term use of pankaja kasturi is not advised. Like any branch of medicine, Ayur needs consultation.

About the turmeric misuse, I have this to say: We grow up consuming turmeric in our food from the times we are infants. Our metabolism has evolved in such a way that we Hindus/Indians can digest all spices without hickups. But I see the turmeric latte, etc., sold indiscriminately in the west. In our food, we don’t use turmeric beyond a pinch everyday. Its a very sensitive spice. If misused, it can give you jaundice. I am vegetarian from birth. What will happen to me if I am to become meat eater suddenly. My metabolism won’t accept that. My liver is incapable of ingesting meat protein. If god forbid I have to eat meat, I have to start slow. Its the same with exotic spices. You cannot rush.

Until I was upto to 12 years or so, I don’t remember usage of chemicals in our domestic everyday life. I used only besan (gramflour) for bathe after a mild daily rubbing of coconut oil in the body every morning. NO shampoo almost until my 30th year = only shikakhai. I used shampoo for the first time during our residence in Malaysia where I had no access to shikakhai. For cough, we were given hot milk with turmeric and peppercorn powdered into it with a pinch of saffron. There is this ayur thing called ‘athi mathuram’ which is extremely sweet. We added this too. Instant stop to cough and cold. No paracetamol. Only ‘kashayam’ made at home for temperature with herbs. My grandma grounded some spices and made this tonic like hot stew that we had to swallow. The toxic chemical doctor prescriptions I started following very late in life. Even today a friend of mine is taking only ayur medicine for very high bp.

I use mostly ayur skin care and minimal chemical skin care produced in France or wherever. I have used Bodyshop for a while in the middle east because they claimed to be organic. But I found them to be the contrary. I use ayur skin care that actually can decay within months. The lipsticks made of cow ghee cannot last for over 2 to 3 hours. But we have the western makeup materials lasting through the day. Same for chemical hairdyes that work well. We use mostly henna-indigo in India that may be totally organic without side effects. That won’t give you the chemical hair dye effect. Now I use minimum western skin care along with maximum ayur skin care. Works fine for me. Even the shampoos I try to use organic. If I am in India, ONLY AYUR SHAMPOOS. We get that now in middle east as everyone wants it. In total demand over the much sophisticated Loreal etc. Fastest sellout. That is why I am not bothered about international tariffs. A simple ayur shampoo wins hands down over international brands such as Loreal so effortlessly.

So much my parents made sure that there was least chemical usage in our broughtup. Yet I enjoy very poor health. That is because my constitution is weak from birth. Today I gulp maximum pills just to stay alive. Allopathic. I wonder what my parents would have to say upon this should they be around today.

Remember this from my 4th or 5th year. Got measles. NO medication. Made to sleep on a mattress made of neem leaves only. Drank neem water that was bitter. Buttermilk. Extreme food restrictions. Got well in a few days and returned to school. Even today in rural India, we don’t treat measles, poxes etc., with allopathic medication. Same for jaundice or yellow fever. Only a green called ‘keazhanelli’ used to be given the patient and oil had to be avoided. That centuries old natural medicine is now patented as their discovery by Europeans!

Even today millions of Indians are using only Ayur medication for even lifestyle conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and others such as thyroid, kidney stones, arthritis, asthma, skin diseases etc. For external applications, ayur is best. Ayur medication if used with caution can be the most natural way to treat ailments without side effects associated with allopathy. End stage cancer patients return to ayur because that can lessen their pain and extend their life by a few months. Even allopathic doctors in India advise that for them.

In miraculous cases, there have been complete cancer remission for patients on taking ayurvedic medication. For that one has to completely put the trust in ayur and quit allopathic treatment. Very few come forward to do that. For stage 1 to 3 of cancer, ayur works best but has to be practised with patience and perseverance, adhering strictly to doctor’s advice, giving up consumption of many comfort foods such as caffeine etc. No food intake with even mildest preservatives. Siddha medication can be taken only if you cook and eat food from clay pots. In the west, people buy ayur but don’t follow the rules underlined. Without following the basics, you cannot expect for results. Besides the medication can backfire and actually harm you in that case.

Someone known to me followed Siddha for conception. She had had many miscarriages. For 3 months being working woman, she even cooked her meals and ate from clayware without polishing (not using gas stove but woodfires). Gave up all her comfort foods. Its very tough practising siddha. Finally she did have a successful pregnancy delivering a health baby.

I got supplements for the first time in my life last year but yet to pop a single pill. Its vegan collagen. I thought I needed something extra for my bones and joints. Lost the nerve. Expiry date is next year. Lets see.

People don’t realize that whatever has more preservative chemicals and longlasting like lipstick for 24 hours, may contain arsenic, lead etc. The anti-ageing formula is actually addictive. You stop that for a couple of months: you will see your skin drooping badly. A mild moisturizer is all we need. Ayur fits my bill perfectly with its most natural ingredients. Cannot use it for over 10 months or you can see a moss forming in the lotion or cream. Whereas the western skin care lasts for years. Ayur skincare actually ROTS within months!! That’s what makes it organic. Now based on this, some countries actually rule that ayur is toxic or has high mineral content. Even the US etc., have banned some ayur prescriptions/medications/supplements. What is needed is strict advice on their consumption. They are most natural and least harmful to human body to be taken with utmost care. You have to drop every other thing for ayur to work for you. Everyday lipstick and shampoo used by women around the world contain most hazardous chemicals including cancer causing formaldehyde, don’t they. But these are all available freely everywhere. Only Ayur needs to be victimized because of its growing popularity in world market. Ayur supplements to be taken with extreme care and definitely not as an everyday dose for newbies.

Herbal medicine, herbal skincare etc., require enormous patience. They don’t work overnight. They are a lifestyle practice. If you are to follow the underlying rule, you have to change your everyday routine to make place for them. But with time, they can work wonders for your skin and health. Someone taking insulin for type 1 diabetes can completely give up the daily shots switching over to ayur/siddha. But you have to give up so many other things for that. I do see many in India making that sacrifice and switching over to healthier natural medicine. The insulin dependency is completely avoided. But how can you expect the allopathics to accept that? Unfortunately even the allopathic hospitals in India won’t admit you if you are on ayur medication. You need to follow allopathy for an admit and this is where we have the stumbling block. There are ayur hospitals too in India and even siddha hospitals. Some ayur treatments require extended stay of months in resort like settings that can completely cure the patient of illness. No outside food and strictly sticking to ayur procedures that include medication, food and massages. Its a complete package really. Many retired citizens choose such packages for overall health.

For me personally, I adopt ayur for skincare routine and mild cold, cough etc. Others require constant monitoring and strict adherence to their prescribed lifestyle that I cannot afford to. So I follow allopathy.

Posted in food as therapy...

Its the Methi-Dhaniya-Pudina Season!

Posted on by veeskitchen

May be not a gourmet chef but I love my simple sumptuous cooking with basic desi ingredients including aromatic native spices, and array of vegetables that are the natural bounty of this vast and varied Indian subcontinent. Any woman busy in her kitchen with pots and pans can swear by this October to March season dedicated to pursuers of culinary skills and interests ! This is the time when the fenugreek leaves (methi), coriander leaves ( dhania) and the mint leaves (pudhina) look lushest and greeny green without drooping or drying up! Nothing like coriander to garnish your dishes. That is one super Indian touch to curry. Methi is India’s magic food. Or one of India’s magic foods. Methi leaves are the evergreen crush of India! – we use methi in everything from parathas to dal and rice and curry. Even dried methi or fenugreek leaves (called Kasuri methi) are used in summer or off season for flavouring our dishes. Slightly bitter, with proper mixing, the methi can lend exceptional taste to our dishes. Methi leaves are my favourite, as my signature dishes include the methi-daal a top family favourite. Enjoying this season which is also the peak time for fresh green peas harvest. Also are there the double beans, the soya beans, the rajma, the butter beans – the entire beans family none of which you need to soak. Everything comes in pods that you can peel and stock up in freezer for the months to come. So that is what I do. Never buy frozen peas. For that matter I am that housewife who can afford fresh vegetables and need not have to live by the frozen groceries. The veggies are freshie fresh in India in these 5-6 months. In fact our roadside makeshift shops over pavement don’t even have refrigeration facilities. Our street vendors with push carts and some carrying the greens etc., on their heads on woven basket have it all the freshest. In Chennai I get the day’s plucking from that very morning brought door to door by street vendors in handle carts or baskets from surrounding villages in the range of 100-200 km. We get fresh desi A2 cow milk now patented by the US (with no native cows producing A2 milk) that even on refrigeration will spoil within a few hours. Many of us opt for this milk . Fruits in this climate are inviting as they never shrink or dry up! The cherries are here in purple and blood red. Best of it all is that, all are refrigeration free even in our warmer tropical country with mildest winters. The whole of India and why, even the entire world, may be blossoming so vibrantly with a variety of yields from trees, plants, creepers and climbers in this second half of the year. Of course the except may be the icy cold snow filled regions of earth. Fragrant flowers are in full bloom in monsoon countries. India is one super flower country. We have a stunning range of scented flowers from paneer rose to jasmine and hibiscus and oleander for pujas. May be Gods descend in these six months from October to March to Earth. Which is why the entire plant is resplendent with fusion of colours. The evening walks in parks will be pleasant. Here in middle east, the weather is just right crisp chill with sun kissing our skin warmly. Beautifully outdoorsy weather, just too perfect. Restaurants have outdoor seating in this part of the world unlike the colder Europe or America when summers see the patios filling up with guests for dinner.

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METHI IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE HAHAHA! Methi roti, Methi Aloo curry, Methi pulav, any Methi subji for me any day any time!

Decided to add Vendhaya Keerai (fenugreek dal) Paruppu recipe which is our family favourite. In my in-laws home when I was newly married, I was taken in by surprise by the curious kind of taste they had in veggies. Their recipes were different. I picked up my love for Vendhaya keerai from them that I didn’t capitalize on earlier during my Mylapore days where the markets used to have them in loads.

This following blog post of mine is originally dated Sep 27, 2012. Here we go.

Vendhaya Keerai Masiyal (fenugreek leaves-lentil mash) (methi-dal in hindi)

September 27, 2012

This is one of my tastiest dishes and most cooling and nutritious dish i must say.   Most healing one too.   Because if anyone has stomach ache or cramps due to body heat, we normally gulp a spoon of fenugreek seeds here with water that instantly reduces the body heat.   Fenugreek leaves with lentils (methi-dal in hindi and vendhaya keerai masiyal in tamil) is a yummy way to keep cool always!

Ingredients:   6-8 small bunches of cut Methi leaves (small size) (see picture)  (we can also sow the fenugreek seeds in a pot and water it daily and keep in the sun.   In days we will have small sprouts of methi leaves at home that also can be made use of.  i normally buy off store shelves or from a street spinach seller).

1/2 a measuring cup of tuar dal (lentils)

1 mid size onion

1 mid size tomato

1 green chili

4-5 garlic cloves

For garnishing:   1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 1 dried red chili torn and de-seeded

a tsp of oil for sauteing.

a pinch of turmeric powder

salt to taste

water

baby fenugreek leaf bunches (can also use regular fenugreek leaves available as one big bunch)
tuar dal or red gram/lentils

onion, tomato, garlic, green chili
adding the chopped onions, tomatoes, green chili and garlics to the dal/lentils in the pressure cooker
rinsing the methi/fenugreek leaves thoroughly in water
thorough rinsing of over 4-5 times…
adding the fenugreek/methi leaves on top of dal and onion, etc in pressure cooker..
pressure cooking until the dal is done…
pouring the contents into an earthern pot,,
mashed ! Fenugreek greens with Thoor dal
mash while the dal-methi is still hot…
mashing to a smooth consistency…
mashing the natural way…

Vendhaya Keerai Masiyal/Fenugreek leaves-lentil mash/methi-dal is almost ready for garnishing..
seasoning with a torn and de-seeded red chili, mustard and cumin seeds in 1 tsp of oil- so this is the maximum oil we use in this dish.
adding the seasoning and salt to the dal-methi

Vendhaya Keerai Masiyal/Fenugreek leaves-lentil mash/methi-dal

Vendhaya Keerai Masiyal/Fenugreek leaves-lentil mash/methi-dal is ready to serve…

Method:

Wash and immerse 1/2 a cup tuar dal (lentils) in adequate water in a small pressure cooker.   Chop the onion and tomato and add it to the tuar dal.   Add the garlic flakes and the green chili.  Sprinkle 1/2 tsp turmeric powder.

Cut the small bunches of fenugreek leaves (methi leaves) in a fine manner leaving out the soft stalks and taking out the leaves alone (with a bit of stalk otherwise).   Methi leaves or fenugreek leaves carry lots of soil dust which need thorough rinsing.   Rinse in 2 large bowls alternately and cleanse by hands atleast 4-5 times draining the soil-water everytime.   Repeat the process for more number of times until you are satisfied that the leaves are maximum free of soil particles.  (refer to the pictures)

Now add the washed fenugreek leaves to the dal and onion-tomato in the pressure cooker.    Give 4-6 whistles to ensure that the dal and the leaves are cooked smooth.   Wait for pressure release and open the cooker lid after ensuring its safe to open.

Take the cooked contents out.   Pour the same into an earthen pot.  Mash with a wooden masher to a fine thick consistency.

Transfer the mashed fenugreek leaves-lentil (methi-dal) (vendhaya keerai) into a bowl.

Garnishing:   Heat a tsp of oil in a shallow pan.   Add 1/2 tsps of mustard seeds, cumin seeds and a torn and de-seeded dried red chili.  When the seeds splutter, take out and pour this into the mashed dal.  Salt finally.

Now we have most nutritious and yummy Fenugreek leaves-lentil mash (Vendhaya Keerai masiyal in tamil and Methi-dal in hindi) to go with both rotis as subzi and with rice.

ABOUT FENUGREEK LEAVES:

This is readily available in small bunches (baby leaf bunches) in Chennai and in most parts of south India.  In rest of India, methi leaves are available rarely as small baby bunches but like any regular greens.

Homegrowing fenugreek leaves is best option.   Sow the fenugreek seeds in a pot and water it daily keeping it in direct sun. Within a week or two, you can see small fenugreek leaves/methi leaves sprouting up.   Take care to pluck the small leaves delicately.  This is the easiest way to get small baby fenugreek leaves.

(PS:  Can also do the same dish using regular fenugreek leaves or bigger vendhaya keerai leaves/greens.  the bitter taste associated with baby fenugreek leaves is totally absent with mature vendhaya keerai leaves/regular fenugreek leaves, but that does change the taste significantly.) 

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About Fenugreek seeds and Fenugreek leaves I want to add this now: Native to India, Methi or fenugreek holds an important place in Indian native medicine the Ayurveda. Food as therapy – this is the ancient Hindu wisdom.

I just googled and have this as copy-paste job on Methi leaves: #IndianCurry #methisuperfood

  • Keeps Your Heart Fit.
  • Controls Diabetes.
  • Relief from Menstrual Cramps.
  • A Good Brain Food.
  • Prevention from Cancer.
  • Good Gut Health.
  • Helps in Weight Control.
  • Methi Benefits for Hair.
Posted in Food Porn

Millets for Hypothyroidism

Posted on by veeskitchen

MILLETS THE SUPERFOOD OF INDIA

Millets are the natural and indigenous food of India consumed by our ancestors before the British popularized rice and wheat as major wholegrains in the country with their arrival. The village food was finger millet porridge that was standard breakfast throughout India especially south where we don’t have a distinct winter. Ever heard of our parents and grandparents being treated for hypothyroidism or thyroid malfunction? Hypothyroidism is found in one out of three individuals in modern times and could be responsible for delayed pregnancy in women taking time to conceive. It means, our thyroid gland functions less than normal that we have to supplement its production with external dosage. Iodine deficiency is cited as chief reason for thyroid under-function. Different countries manage the iodine issue that is commonly prevalent, in their own ways. In India, iodine is standard addition to common salt. Some western countries add iodine to their staple bread. The hypothyroid condition requires lifelong intake of thyroid dose first thing in the morning, on empty stomach. Negligence of hypothyroidism can have adverse effects on our other physiological functions and even induce depression. (Hyperthyroid, the overactive thyroid condition is rare). The typical hypothyroid symptoms are hair fall, abnormal weight gain, mood swings, inexplicable tiredness, infertility issues such as irregular or delayed periods etc.

We Indians have totally moved away in last one or two centuries, from millets that stood us in good stead against hypothyroidism and other lifestyle conditions. In recent years, the millets have found their way back to Indian diet which is a welcome relief.

While chitchatting with my gynecologist niece, I was told the following story. My niece is 35 years and is already well experienced with delivering babies both normally and by cesarian section. She deals with all fertility issues and women’s health problems in general. She is an infertility specialist albeit the old way. Not the one for IVF, she achieves good results with medical advice underscoring diet change, exercise and proper stress-free life and rest and relaxation for women to conceive naturally. She insists, natural selection works best over manipulative fertility techniques that are the reasons behind increased cases of autism, etc., in newborns/young children. Young women today also lack the patience of a would-be mother, unwilling to wait to conceive without medical assistance. They want to jump the IVF bandwagon which is not a healthy trend.

A30 year old working woman came for consultation to my niece who was advised 75 mg daily dose of Thyronorm, for her thyroid issues that were delaying her pregnancy. On thyroid regulation, after an year, the woman conceived and later delivered a healthy baby by normal delivery. My niece handdelivered her baby. For postpartum check-up when the woman came to the clinic after a 6month period, my niece inquired with her whether she was continuing with the thyroid pill. To which the woman said, she had since stopped forthwith the pill as her thyroid returned to normal. Not believing her, my niece ordered a thyroid test for her which came out negative. An allopath with more than seven years of rigorous practice, my niece asked her how this could happen. She was bewildered as a trained medico. The woman said she had totally left wholegrains and had moved one hundred percent to millet since her delivery. Foxtail millet, sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, barnyard millet, ditch millet etc., now comprised her everyday intake. She said goodbye to the conventional rice and wheat totally and absolutely no flour (maida) in her food.

We are aware of how Ayurveda and Siddha schools of traditional Hindu/Indian medicine stress on the intake of India’s own native millets for health reasons. Gluten is mainly found in wheat and rice grains and flours which are western (American/European) food habit, thrust upon unsuspecting Asians when we were colonized. Wholegrains such as rice and wheat are also convenient and economical for nations to mass-produce. HOwever as the Indian economy picks up pace, perhaps we Indians can now afford to have millets back in our platter. Its time to get back to India’s traditional food that we our forefathers have had for millennia.

Millets now therefore have become a medical advice for my niece to share with women who consult her for infertility/pregnancy matters. She shares the story of the millet woman with everyone these days to bring forth a change in our dietary habits.

Millets already figure in our daily menu. In summers our breakfast is mostly millet porridge. When millets are there, why should we import oats? Oats too contain gluten. Oats are foreign and millets are desi/Indian. But I do see increased consumption of millets across the spectrum in India.

Millets have always been celebrated by rural Indians especially Tamils. The july-august month sees finger millet stew mixed with buttermilk distributed in all Shakthi temples, in the Tamil month of Aadi. If you pay attention, you will notice that epidemics like measles break out during this season after a harsh summer and as the south west monsoons make a landfall. At this cusp we have fertile grounds for germs to spread infections. For the body heat to cool, the finger millet porridge with buttermilk is ideal for consumption. It is also a season for murunga trees to bloom. Moringa as they are called in English is a native Indian tree that is totally power-packed. Its yield is murunga kai (drumstick like veggie). Moringa greens also are rich in nutrition. Very light on your pocket, moringa is lapped up vigorously by Tamil people. Moringa trees grow everywhere. Takes nothing to grow it. Together with millet porridge, moringa completes very healthy menu for Tamils in the months of july-august to fight the spread of heat related ailments in the neighbourhood. Moringa by the way is also No.1 natural fertility dosage. A must in our weekly menu.

Presently I add millets to dosa/idli batter and even atta (wheat flour) to get both consistency, taste and nutrition. Suggest inclusion of millet in every form in our diet. Millet sweets (mittai) have made their beginnings replacing atta/rice in the city and millet savourites (chaklis) (murukkus) are also on the offer. Its time to gradually switch over to millets from wheat/rice to reap the benefits of the range of millets India has to offer.

Mixed Millet Idli & Dosa

In G20 held in Delhi last year 2023, India showcased the magic food of the country the Millets. Visiting dignitaries and diplomats and other guest got to savour the millet taste of India.

Its time for India to patent our native millets and also the millet-hypothyroid connection. Otherwise, expect America to do it before you like they have done with our other native foods with medicinal benefits. Moringa also is now theirs even if it does not even grow in America! Keezhanelli, the greens that work naturally against jaundice was also patented as their discovery by the west. Until they did, we had only keezhanelli for jaundice. Even today rural Indians have just that for yellow fever.

Millets also help in control and management of diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol and body weight. Suitable for all age groups, millets have made a great comeback in India in last few years as our traditional cooking oils such as mustard oil, sesame oil, coconut oil and groundnut oil are fast replacing the western propaganda sunflower oil, vegetable oil and palm oil. Olive oil does not belong with the Indian kitchen, it being the salad oil .

Posted in Political

An apathy called Mixopathy.

Posted on by veeskitchen

Updated March 15, 2021

Blogged about this simple village woman Muniamma just a couple of days back. She is no more. For a brief time when there was drought and she couldn’t work her farms for the first time (and ever since), she came looking for job to the city. She was my househelp for a three month period. That’s when I was touched by the hardwork and sincerity of this very poor and unfortunate woman who never knew happiness in her life. Who was born to toil in agricultural fields and keep the kitchen fires burning after sunset. During her residence in the city, she was selling ‘kezhvaragu koozh’ near Harrington road railway signal (when we did not have the subway ready) to make ends meet. She worked in one more house. Never seen her in good clothes. Never heard of her going to the cinemas or beach. (When she came to me she was 50). 65 years of running and running, not pausing to enjoy anything in life. Her dearest motherless granddaughter got married recently. So hopefully she finds the elusive ‘shanthi’ now in her death. In a way, I am relieved her turmoil came to an end. My heart goes out to the this plain and pained rural Indian woman who I believe will never have a rebirth, for lifelong sufferings for no fault of hers. Born into misery. Born into this vicious circle of poverty and tragedy only dictated by the caste prejudice. Shame that we even absolve ourselves of such heartless crimes perpetrated by our ancestors. We do not have to do a penance to achieve any state of nirvana. A reflection on the way the woman lived her life for the family she adored never complaining, accepting her destiny, tells me what mukthi is all about. We do not have to go to any temple to realize some great truths. Good bye friend. You did your job best. There is a lot that today’s gurus can learn from someone like you. May your atma find satgathi. Straight moksha to you. Did you even have time to think about temples or puja or scriptures. How quietly you called the bluff of everything soooo superficial…? When a good soul departs, i don’t feel the loss but I feel touched by the profound goodness that the earth was graced with by this soul. So much of love and innocence and good vibes only…

One more non-descriptive rural poor woman who never mattered. It is as if she never existed. A stat. This callousness of the self-righteous is what angers me more.

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I am just relating a real life effect of mixopathy/alternative medicine on our general janata.

When all was well and world was still a sane and safe place to live in just before the corona struck, a poor village lady of 60+ I learnt had come to the city seeking medical treatment for her ailment. Into her 60s, the farm worker turned restaurant dishwasher had started bleeding again. When I came to know of her plight, I asked her family to take her to KMC hospital for further examination. It was over 10 years since she had had her menopause. Something did not add up and I had my suspicions about the woman’s health conditions. (btw i am not a qualified medico, just a housewife with basic intuitions that mostly never fail me)… A timely intervention could save her life. Her case was not unprecedented and in fact was a very common women’s affliction given her age.

The semi-literate family did not heed by my words even though they took her to government hospital and also to the Children’s hospital in Egmore where there is an obstetrics department. Here they had suggested probable removal of the woman’s womb after a biopsy. All this indicated to cancer of the uterus as I feared. I did not have time to follow up on the case. I knew this woman personally and she was a hardworking labourer all through her life. Not a moment to take respite. Her whole life was miserable working in hot tropical sun and the late evenings were for feeding the family and doing the chores. She had led an embattled life with a alcoholic husband who never went to work. But then I had a flight to catch and I forgot her case soon as I boarded the plane to the other side of the world. I was confident that with right medical assistance on diagnosis at the right time, in maximum three months or so, the woman would be back to normal and fit and healthy.

Three months later when I touched down, I was to hear a different story however. I was told that she had stopped consulting govt hospital and had moved over to Homeopathy/Ayurveda/Siddha. I was shocked to hear of this absurdity. Since when these people started treating cancer patients. Whatever happened to the biopsy and supposed surgery in Cancer hospital. Nothing. Nothing ever happened. The woman was swallowing white colour sugarlike pills in her high diabetic condition as dished out by her homeopath, having returned to work. In the meanwhile, her health woes took a temporary break. The family assured, they knew better and they cared better than an outsider like me. I was aware I was an intruder but the idiocy and stupidity and naivety of the village folks kept worrying and annoying me. Whatever I said fell on deaf ears with no takers including the concerned sick woman.

Within an year the corona came striking as also the woman’s ailment resurfaced. By now, surgeries were suspended in most govt and private hospitals. The only option available was chemotherapy upon biopsy. My fears came true. By now it was stage 3 and the cancer had metastasized. Unavailability of doctors and nursing staff delayed matters. Homeopathy or Siddha or Ayurveda guys expressed their helplessness.

Like wildfire the cancer started spreading and now the poorest of poor woman is suffering the last days of her life, once again forced to take the Kerala Ayurvedic medicine by her kith and kin. After a round of chemotherapy and radiation, the family had opted for mixopathy of their own – which is mostly practised by quacks in India.

As life slowly dims for the good woman who worked so hard for her entire life, I feel such a rage for this mixopathy culture that is killing thousands in our towns and villages for no reason. This atrocity can be allowed to happen in this 21st century only in this country. In this specific case, it is the alternative medicine that is to blame. I am citing this case to show how things are going to go on from here.

A life that was worth saving, a life that could have been easily saved, a life for which we have had resources and time and efforts to save, is now getting lost because of our pathetic ignorance. I can’t believe our government seconds incorrigible mixopathy and has made this fraud or perhaps unverifiable ways of medical treatment legal in this country. This is going to take a heavy toll on our rural population who may be easily gullible to malpractices by quacks.

You switch on the tv. See how many quacks are advertising their wares and the public are falling prey to their false claims of cure.

In any other country, the quack who treated the poor woman wrong in spite of her cancer, would have had his/her (alternate) medical practice licence suspended and thrown behind bars. Not in India. In India, this is perfectly valid and legal and the fraud practitioners or those with inadequate knowledge/experience of alternate medicine can still get away because of provisions under statute that allow and protect their unscientific, unproven practices. (The very concept of alternate medicine is illegal in most countries and can be punishable with a sentence).

Now imagine mixing all this into one formula to brew a medical concoction…

Ayurvedic practitioners are about to perform surgeries under the aegis of qualified surgeons (allopaths) in our governement hospitals very soon. I am not entirely in knowledge of how much of mixing is allowed. Will add details soon. Can you see this madness in any other respectable nation in the world.

Mixopathy will take us back by decades and reverse whatever progress we have achieved where it concerns rural health and development, there are no two opinions on this. Urban lower middle class is going to be dealt a severe blow as well. The crooked elements may get emboldened for all wrong reasons and the security and trust our general janata have reposed in the country’s health care system is to be compromised/breached like never before.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ima-protests-against-mixopathy/article33306544.ece

How far mixopathy is going to affect the private health sector remains speculation. Given the menacing presence of the insurance companies, the mixopathy contribution in star rated hospitals and medical clinics can be minimal, this is my guess.

Bracing for more lowering of standards across the board and general worsening of standard of living in future…

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Unorthodox alternative medicines without the seal of government approval is tolerated in India for generations. In rare cases, this can even work out – like in the case of skin issues such psoriasis, melanin deficiency, bone and joint treatment et., where external application of medicinal herbs can act as cure. Taking Ayurveda/Siddha/Unani/Homeopathy any further than this is going to spell disaster and derail whatever progress we have managed to record in health & wellness in recent decades.

How to undo mixopathy???