Ayurveda and AIDS.

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

On Sunday evening a programme on the treatment of AIDS through Ayurveda was

aired on the "Astha" channel in India. The programme was sponsored by Lavanya

Ayurveda. An experienced Vaidya (ayurvedic physician), Pandit Naryan Shastri,

was interviewed.

 

The Vaidya clarified that AIDS was known to ayurveda even before it became an

epidemic. The early acharyas termed it "Ojas Kshaya" or the depletion of vital

force. He said that the modern tendency was to adopt a lifestyle that is

forbidden by the ayurveds. This results in tremendous depletion of the vital

force and causes total immunity failure.

 

The first step to stem the disease is to ensure a good and healthy atmosphere

for the patient. He should be surrounded by well meaning friends and relatives

who must affirm that the disease state is totally curable. Nothing negative

should be discussed before the patient.

 

The patient should be given nourishing food which is easily digestible. He

should be encouraged to do easy exercise which does not strain his fragile

health. He should be kept engaged in fruitful activities which strengthen the

good tendencies inherent in him.

 

As a medicine he may be given Shatavari, another red shrub was shown which I

could not identify. The patient should be given milk. If milk is found to be

difficult to digest it could be mixed with a little lime water. The Vaidya

advocated the slow introduction of dosha (humour) based treatment individual to

the patient as he/she progressed.

 

If it were an interactive programme I would have liked to ask how ayurveds could

help to destroy the notion that AIDS could spread by associating with the

patient. Patients of AIDS are ostracized in India. This is a severe impediment

to their treatment.

 

The programme ended with a short discussion on cancer. A Vaidya appealed to

people to take patients to the ayurveds at the early stages and before surgery,

radiation and chemotherapy so that they could be fully cured. Certain interviews

of patients who had been benefitted by ayurveda were also shown.

 

A similiar programme on Sanskar channel featured an alternate therapist, a Mrs

Dadu, who asked the audience not to be scared of viruses as most of them were

beneficial to the body. What she hinted at can be read here;

http://www.hpakids.org/holistic-health/articles/150/1/Consequences-of-antibiotic\

s

 

We must thank these channels for airing very good articles on alternate

therapies. Some of these channels are under intense pressure to restrict their

programmes to religious and spiritual subjects alone. Thus Astha channel is now

showing a disclaimer before showing Swami Ramdevji's yoga programmes. However

more powerful channels like Sahara and IndiaTV don't appear to be bothered. We

should use our feedback to guide the mainstream channels towards featuring

alternative therapies. Consumer choice is very important. Now even MNC's are

being forced to go herbal bowing to consumer demand. Colgate has now introduced

a "sea salt" toothpaste. Sea salt has been used in India for cleaning teeth

since times immemorial.

 

Regards,

Jagannath.

[Guest guest]

I forgot to add that Pandit Narayana Shastri also prescribed the use of

a particular type of Haldi (turmeric) in the treatment of AIDS.

 

Also a correction, the interview with Dr(Mrs) Sangeeta Dadu,

Acupuncture & Acupressure therapist, was carried by the Sadhana Channel

and not Sanskar Channel as stated.

 

Regards,

Jagannath.