I.N.T.E.G.R.A.T.I.V.E. M.E.D.I.C.I.N.E.

I.N.T.E.G.R.A.T.I.V.E.  M.E.D.I.C.I.N.E.

Three years ago, Dr Tejinder Kataria, a radiation oncologist at Medanta-The Medicity in Gurgaon, was treating a head and neck cancer patient, who developed painful blisters in his mouth because of the radiation. The patient was in tremendous pain and had stopped taking even fluids orally. Kataria then referred the patient to Dr G. Geeta Krishnan of Medanta's department of integrative medicine and holistic therapies. Krishnan treated him with some ayurvedic concoctions. “The patient responded so well to the ayurvedic treatment that he started taking solid food. I was amazed by his recovery. I then recalled all the effective home remedies my mother used to give me when I was young. Now, I take Dr Krishnan's help in such cases,” she says.

Kataria is not alone. A lot of doctors are reinstating their faith in ayurveda and other alternative medicine systems. Instead of calling it alternative, they now prefer to call it 'integrative' as the idea is to have the best of both allopathic and alternative treatments that will benefit the patient. “Before I take up any patient who requires lung surgery, I send them to our yoga department to learn breathing exercises that help in expansion of lungs. We reduce the lung in such a surgery, and it grows again post surgery. These exercises help them in expansion, and the recovery is faster,” says Dr Ali Zamir Khan, thoracic robotic surgeon at Medanta-The Medicity in Gurgaon.

In fact, these doctors believe that there are some health issues that only ayurveda can tackle effectively. Chronic pelvic pain and inflammatory bowel syndrome, where allopathy offers only symptomatic treatment, have 90 per cent cure rate in ayurveda. Similarly, sleep disturbance, for which one has to pop sleeping pills every day, can be treated for relatively longer time with ayurveda. “One week's ayurvedic therapy brings relief for six months in 40 per cent patients with chronic sleep problem,” says Krishnan.   

Krishnan's 40 per cent patients are referred from various departments¯cardiology, neurology, oncology, gastroenterology, and most from the surgery department. “We are now documenting the results of ayurvedic therapy given to each patient. Scientific mapping would help us establish what is considered an alternative system as a mainstream medicine in coming years,” he says.

Dr Raj Kumar Yadav, assistant professor of physiology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, has done research on yoga and modern-day illnesses. “Regular yoga reduces all kinds of inflammation in the body. It helps in cardiac problems, diabetes and obesity,” says Yadav. “We do it scientifically. We measure all the vital parameters and biomarker levels in a patient's body on the first day. We then give them a 10-day therapy under strict supervision and again measure these biomarkers and vital parameters. We have noticed a remarkable improvement in our patients. Most of our research papers are getting accepted by international journals and we are getting queries from international researchers.”

 
Meditation, too, is effective, says Yadav. It activates the right part of the brain, which improves a person's attentiveness. Most people use their right hand and, as a result, the left part of their brain is found to be more active. Regular meditation awakens the Broca area, usually located on the left side, on the right side of the brain, too, he says. Besides, it stimulates the whole brain and improves its functioning. “With the help of PET-CT scan, we have studied how the electrical activity of the brain increases during meditation. The role of yoga in treating Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases is being studied across the world,” says Yadav.

Dr K.P. Kochar, senior professor at AIIMS, is researching the use of basic Indian spices in treating various health problems. “Turmeric, as we all know, is good for infections and healing wounds. But there are many more spices that can be used to treat various health problems,” she says. “There is a lot of scope. We just need to follow the ancient medicine system scientifically as we follow allopathy.”

JOINT EFFORT
* Integrative medicine combines modern medicine with alternative systems like ayurveda, acupuncture and natural wellness.

* The idea is to have the best of both allopathy and alternative medicine to benefit the patient.    

* It supports the body's natural ability to heal, reduces stress and promotes a state of relaxation.

* An increasing number of doctors are adopting the integrative route, be it for treating Parkinson's disease, irritable bowel syndrome or allergies.