Dr. Hon. Major. Deepak Rao

MBBS (KEM) MD (alt med)
DSc(Mil Sc) PhD(Law) FRSH(UK)

INDIAN ARMED FORCES:

Hon Major Dr. Deepak Rao is an Indian Army Honorary TA Officer. He is credited to be the foremost pioneer of modern close quarter battle training by the Defence ministry. He trained the Indian armed forces for 25 years without monetary compensation as a selfless service to the Nation. He trained 20,000 commandos & soldiers from elite special forces including Army, Para SF, Naval commando-MARCOS, IAF commando-GARUD, NSG Black Cat, RAW- Special Group, ITBP & ATS units of 12 State Police in modern methods of fighting terror. He authored the worlds first encyclopedia of close combat operations, which was accepted in FBI, INTERPOL, SWAT Libraries all over the world. He has received a record 4 Army Chief citations in 2001, 2003, 2012 & 2019 for his work in combat training.
For his selfless and outstanding contribution beyond the call of duty, he was knighted by the President of India with honorary Rank Award , becoming one of only 6 Indians to receive this rare honour.(along with Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Moviestar Mohanlal & Olympian Abhinav Bindra).
His education spans a plethora of subjects, ranging from Medicine, Military science, law, Psychology & psychotherapy as well as Philosophy, spirituality & religious literacy. He has authored 10 books on medicine, philosophy, political science, military training and combat training. He has received over 100 commendation/ appreciation letters from the President, Prime Minister, Army Chiefs, Home Minister & Chief Ministers. His work & publications was commended by The Queen of England, FBI Director Robert Mueller, INTERPOL Secy general Ronald Noble and other leaders. He received the World Peace Award for his noble work.
Rao is also a TEDX speaker & motivational speaker on a variety of subjects. By and large, Dr Deepak Rao is known as a military Patriot, with a large fan following on social media.

MEDICAL PROFILE:

Dr. Deepak Rao is a practicing Part Time Consulting General Physician. With fulltime devotion to the Army, Rao still finds sometime for part time medical practice. As a physician, his interests lie in Diseases of lifestyle, Cardiac rehabilitation, Joint rehab, Sports Medicine, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle medicine. He has a vast range of medical education, with multiple course studies from ivy league institutions.

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CREDENTIALS

MEDICINE:

Dr. Deepak Rao's medical training is from King Edward Memorial, an elite government hospital giving him varied experience with all types of patients. He has completed HMX Pharmacology certificate course from Harvard Medical School. He is certified in 'End of Life Care' from Pasadena University, California. He has undertaken & completed the Disaster and Emergency Medicine Training Program(X) of Stanford Medicine. He has completed his certificationx in Diabetes from Royal College of General Practitioner.
He has qualified in Lifestyle Medicine EDX certificate course from Doane University. He has researched the effect of Lifestyles on health and fitness in thousands of trainees using the parameters of exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress management etc. Under the able supervision of his guide, Dr. Manu Kothari, Prof Emeritus KEM hospital, his research was approved for a doctorate in Alternative Medicine.

COVID:

He has certified in COVID-19 certification for Health workers online from Stanford Medicine to keep abreast of modern advances in epidemiology. He has worked as a voluntary covid-19 doctor for the BMC during the peak of the covid epidemic. He has also worked as a covid doctor for Axis hospital, a govt designated covid hospital.

CARDIAC REHAB, SPORTS MEDICINE & JOINT REHAB:

Rao is an authority in commando & military training (CQB) with 25 years of experience in training 20,000 soldiers in high performance arena of commando warfare. personally he is a sportsman with 45 years of dedication to martial arts. His interest in sports medicine & physical performance medicine is natural.
Dr. Rao qualified in a certificate course in Exercise Physiology from StanfordX Medicine. He became a professional member of American College of Sports Medicine in 2021. He also completed a CME course in Sports Medicine for Primary care from Mayo Clinic.
He has participated in Cardiac Rehabilitation - Mayo Clinic Model and certified in the CRFC certification (Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Foundation Certification) from ICCPR - International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation. This certification is duly recognised by American College of Sports Medicine. He has a fellowship in Sports Rehab.
He has recovered from Slip Disc, Knee joint ligament tears, hypertension, asthma, peptic ulcers, kidney stones, depression without surgery or aggressive drug therapy. He is an avid medical writer. His writings on coronary bypass & angioplasty has been featured by Times of India, Sunday Times, Indian Express & Online media. He is the author of the book "Tao of Medicine"

PSYCHOLOGY & PSYCHOTHERAPY:

To understand the patients suffering & mental make up, He completed coursera certificate courses in Psychology Fundamentals from Yale University and Positive Psychiatry (University of Sydney) He attended a course in Existential Psychotherapy by famed Prof Mick Cooper at London Weekend University. He is certified in Freudian Psychoanalytic Theory from Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, California USA,as well as in CBT Essentials (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) from Beck Institute USA. Rao has personally trained in Autosuggestion psychotherapy, under world acclaimed Dr. John Butler of HTI, UK. He has completed a edx course in Logic & Critical Thinking from University of Queensland. He is a member of American Psychological Association, International Society of Applied Psychoanalysis and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Health UK.
For Mindfulness, Dr. Deepak Rao trained in Zen Buddhism from Kyoto & Tokyo, Religious Literacy & Buddhist Scriptures from Harvard University. He has a diploma in Buddhism from Centre of Excellence (UK). He has qualified in E-Health Certificate course (for Tele consultation & e-medicine) of University of Sydney.

PATIENT REVIEWS

Dr. K S Banga, Dean & Professor at Nair Hospital Dental College
"One of the top brilliant minds in India, extraordinary Human being, Physician par excellence. Dr Major Deepak Rao treated my mothers COPD adding life & smiles to her years. Forever grateful to this wonderful medical genius!"

Dr. Prakash Moguli, Chairman - Enerzi Group
"Dr Major Deepak Rao is an extraordinary Physician. He helped to effectively manage my wifes 5 year thyroid problem. Acumen & widom of 1 in a million! You are really lucky to come across him!"

Michel Halloway, Associate Director: Indian Equity Sales
"Dr Major Deepak Rao treated me for Dengue. I had high fever & dehydration. My platelets were very low & WBC depleted. I was treated within the comfort of my house. I am energetic as ever with his unconventional but expert management."

Dr. Anand Ian, General Manager - Hindustan Construction Company
"Dr Major Deepak Rao is a Physician extraordinare. When my mother's femur fractured & was operated with a metal prosthesis, the metal prosthesis broke in two & she was bedridden. Dr Deepak Rao adviced us on treatment guideline with sheer ingenuity & resourcefulness. Today thanks to his wisdom, she is able to walk again. My gratitude to him."

Vivek Gopta, Entrepreneur & CEO
"This gentleman is a highly accomplished individual,with a unique perspective about medicine. He explains the most complex subjects in the simplest way for anyone to understand. Dr Major Deepak Rao's unique medical approach saved my father and helped heal his autoimmune disease comfortably with lifestyle modifications. This has completely changed my perspectives. It is rare to find such individuals in this society."

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Dr Deepak Rao's Articles

Lifestyle Habits for Health & Wellness

Disclaimer: . The below enumeration is for understanding principles and not meant for the purpose of self-treatment. Please consult your doctor before adopting any specific advice stated below.

HOW TO ENHANCE HEALING BY LIFESTYLE CORRECTIONS: Using sound scientific principles from Allopathy, The Doctor must use his knowledge of patho-physiology & therapeutic skills to aid body’s repair & survival mechanisms to achieve maximum comfort with minimum complication. He must maximize the body’s own inherent mechanism of dealing with disease.

In primordial (prehistoric) man, these inner healing mechanisms were finely tuned and well honed. This is because, the ape man lived a natural way of life, as intended by Nature, eating raw food, breathing fresh air, moving all his muscles to run, climb, swim and hunt. The need to survive would extract peak performance from the brain and peak output from the heart. The man who fell ill was similar to the old man as both were immobile. Both were easy prey for being hunted by predators. Hence in order to survive, the body had developed maximum healing response to ailment. However, urbanization and present day habits with polluted air, preserved food and redundant movement have rendered the body’s inherent processes feeble and weakened the survival mechanisms. Thus, our inherent defence to disease has deteriorated.

Healing by enhancing these inner defence mechanisms is following sound allopathic and scientific principles. It advocates methods of augmenting the existing inner physiological methods of healing. Correction of various lifestyle factors that caused or precipitated the disease is crucial to aid healing. The Physician helps the patient to understand the disease process and allows the body’s wisdom. This gives comfort & peace to the ailing, who heal comfortably in his home environment while trying to maintain his routine, whenever possible. Enhancing Healing will accelerate the healing process, and shorten the duration of illness and reduce the intensity of suffering.

The Healing is therefore holistic, conservative, supportive therapy that enhances inherent existing defence mechanisms of the body.

Healing involves the following principles to change lifestyles:

GENERAL LIFESTYLE CORRECTIONS

Healthy Nutrition: Enhancing Healing with a balanced diet
Enhancing Healing by blood pH regulation: Alkalinize the system
Fasting to remove toxins & maximize blood supply
Enhancing Healing by Exercise: Therapy via movement
Enhancing Healing by Diurnal Rhythm: Maintaining hormone balance
Enhancing Healing by Sleep: Resting the tissues
Enhancing Healing by Body weight control: reducing the load
Enhancing Healing by Melatonin: regulating youth hormones.
Enhancing Healing with Parasympathetic response: Manage Stress.
Enhancing Healing by blood volume balance
Enhancing Healing by de-addiction
Enhancing Healing by minimizing drug therapy
Enhancing Healing by cleansing the air and washing out the Pollutants
Enhancing Healing by correct attitudes

Healthy Nutrition: Enhancing Healing with a balanced diet

A balanced diet is crucial for Enhancing Healing. It must include the following components taken in appropriate proportion.

Complex carbohydrates (wheat, rice) as 60 % of your diet
Proteins of high biological value as 30 % of your diet
Polyunsaturated fats as 10 %,
Vitamins A, B, C, D, E preferably in natural form
Minerals like Iron and Calcium
Electrolytes like sodium, potassium and water

CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates are responsible for providing energy.

There are two types of carbohydrates, which are equally important,

i) Simple carbohydrates are short acting and provide energy within 15 minutes. e.g. fruits
ii) Complex carbohydrates are long acting and provide energy after 4 hours e.g. cereals like rice and wheat

PROTEINS

Proteins are responsible for building muscle and providing immunity. High biological value proteins are present in eggs, milk, nuts, sprouts, fish, chicken, meat, etc.

FATS

Fats are responsible for stored energy. Polyunsaturated fatty acid is the healthy type of fat present in nuts, seeds, etc. So seed oils are better medium for cooking.

VITAMINS

Vitamins are vital amines or nutrients. Deficiency of vitamins causes health problems. Vitamins are of 6 types, namely A, B, C, D,E, and K.

Deficiency of vitamin A causes night blindness. Foods rich in vitamin A are spinach, carrots, pumpkins, fish, broccoli, meat, eggs, papaya and mangoes.

Deficiency of vitamin B causes Beri Beri, a condition of the heart and nervous system. It is present in green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, fish, meat, fruits, pulses, etc.

Deficiency of vitamin C causes scurvy (a condition where the gums bleed) and frequent colds. Vitamin C is present in citrus fruits like orange, sweet lime, strawberries, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and papaya.

Deficiency of vitamin D causes rickets, a disease where the bones get deformed. Vitamin D is produced in the body on exposure to sunlight. Foods rich in Vitamin D are fish, mushrooms, cheese, and egg yolk

Deficiency of Vitamin K causes bleeding. Foods rich in vitamin K are cabbage, tomato and spinach.

ELECTROLYTES

Sodium, chloride and potassium are two vital electrolytes necessary for functioning of the body. Sodium is present in common salt (sodium chloride) which is used in food. Potassium is present in honey, jaggery and fruits.

MINERALS-

There are two important minerals essential for health: - Iron and calcium

Iron is necessary for formation of haemoglobin which transports oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. Iron is present in green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, meat, etc. Deficiency of iron causes anaemia.

Calcium is necessary for healthy teeth and bones. Calcium deficiency causes muscle spasms, lethargy and fractures. Blood Pressure is maintained due to peripheral arteriolar tone, which depends on the presence of calcium in blood. Foods rich in calcium are milk and milk products, almonds, broccoli fruits like mango, banana, etc.

Anti-Hypertensive therapy use calcium blockers drugs like Nifedipine. Blocking calcium will precipitate cardiac failure and asthma in predisposed patients.

Daily calcium intake should be made of 2 equivalents of milk. Equivalents of milk are 1 glass of milk/ 1 bowl of curd/ 1 glass lassi/ 1 cheese cube/ 1 cup of ice cream / 1 Bengali mithai (milk based) sweet

For every 30 minutes of intensive exercise like running, squash or tennis or 60 minutes of moderate exercise like walking or swimming, 1 equivalent of calcium should be added to the diet.

BALANCED DIET- ‘ME LAND’

The ideal diet must be made of the following:

M- Milk

E- Eggs

L- Live food (e.g fruits, raw vegetables)

A- Atta (Cereal)

N- Nuts

D- Dudhi juice(or any alkaline vegetable juice)

DIETARY FIBRE (LIVE FOOD)

Fibre is an essential part of the diet. Raw vegetables are a source of fibre. Lack of fibre in the diet causes constipation. Chronic constipation or passage of hard stool causes fissures (bleeding and pain in the anus). Similarly, exerting and straining during stools causes Piles (ballooning of the veins in the anus).

HEALING AND NON VEGETARIAN FOOD

The primordial man used to hunt and eat fresh meat. In civilized society, when the animal is slaughtered for meat, stress hormones are released in the dying animal’s body. The consumed stress hormones can cause agitation and restlessness. The process of putrefaction starts immediately. Canned non vegetarian food is always putrefied, though transported in cold storage. Hence, non vegetarian food should be consumed fresh.

After slaughter, the animal cellular DNA breaks down releasing uric Acid. This uric acid could give rise to multiple problems. The sharp uric acid crystals settle in the joints, causing stiffness, swelling and pain in the joint. Non veg food sometimes aggravates skin allergy as well as asthma. Hence for healing, non-vegetarian food is best avoided.

FOOD CONTAMINATION AFFECTING HEALTH

Food samples from many hotels examined by Food and Drug Administration department revealed horse dung powder used to contaminate spice/masala powder. Industrial waste oil was refined and used to contaminate cooking oil.

When contaminated food is consumed, the lower end of the stomach, which opens into the intestines, shuts down as the body rejects the impurity. The food now stagnates in the stomach for long periods. Excess acid is released from the stomach, thereby causing upsets, regurgitation (food coming upward from the stomach into the mouth), heart burn (burning sensation in the chest due to acids) and peptic ulcers. It’s a wrong notion that spicy food causes stomach problems. In fact, it is the contaminated spice in food that causes stomach problems.

RAW LIVE FOOD FOR HEALING

Live food is uncooked vegetable, fruit and pulse (sprouts). The water inside these food groups is live and biologically active. It is akin to blood and rich in electrolytes, nutrients and vitamins. Vitamins are found in the cover; hence peeling the cover off vegetables is unhealthy. This is why full pulse should be preferred over dals. Live food is missing in today’s diet of processed and preserved food. Live food being similar to blood, is very crucial to all healing processes.

EATING HABITS and HEALING

One must eat slowly, taking care to chew the food well mixing it with salivary juices. Saliva is relatively alkaline compared to acidic gastric juices of the stomach. When food reaches the stomach neutralizes the acid in the stomach, preventing hyper acidity.

Enhancing Healing by blood pH regulation: Alkalinize the system

The blood circulating in the human body has an alkaline pH of value 7.32-7.42. When the pH of the blood falls, the blood becomes relatively acidic. In acidic pH, wear and tear of all tissue occurs, disease worsens and healing is delayed. On the other hand, when blood is alkaline, the body heals faster. All healing is facilitated in alkaline pH whereas all disease and suffering worsens in acidic pH.

The human body is essentially made of 70% water and fluids. The fluids of the body, like the synovial fluid, the cerebrospinal fluid, the urine, etc. are all derived from the blood. The blood is maintained at an alkaline pH of 7.32 to 7.42. The pH of food is a major factor which determines the pH of blood. Other factors are lactic acids of exertion, pollution, carbon dioxide and other acidic metabolites.

Most unprocessed foods provided by Mother Nature such as vegetables, whole fruits (along with the pericarp or peel), pulse, seeds are alkaline or amphoteric in pH. When these foods are consumed in plenty, the body maintains its alkaline pH easily. Acidic food includes processed food, cooked food where coagulation of proteins produce acidic pH), preserved food (where acids like citric acid, tartaric acid are used as preservatives) or canned or stored non- vegetarian food (where prolonged storage causes progressive decay, leading to high uric acid levels and other breakdown products)

Processed foods are all acidic and cause an alteration of the blood pH towards the acidic extreme. The body has different mechanisms to neutralise this shift of pH towards the acidic side. The lungs wash out carbon dioxide and kidneys neutralise and wash out the excess acids thus neutralising the acid pH resulting from the above foods. Both mechanisms take about 7 days to neutralise the acid shift. During these seven days, the body fluids notably the synovial fluid nourishing the joints tilts to the acidic side.

When the blood becomes acidic, the oxygen dissociation curve shifts, causing relative hypoxia of the tissues. This makes the body tissues friable and vulnerable to excessive wear and tear, which precipitates or worsens diseases like osteoarthritis, spondylitis, atherosclerosis, muscular tears, acid attacks and peptic ulcers, etc. When the pH falls, the joints get eroded exacerbating joint disease. Acidic food accelerates deposits in coronary arteries causing early blockades and higher the risk of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and strokes. Even the area of infarction or stroke is influenced by the blood pH.

Most foods that we consume today have acid pH ranging from pH = 2 to pH = 6. This confirms the concept of how acidic food cause disease or increase the body susceptibility towards disease.

Vegetable juices are all alkaline or relatively alkaline. All of these juices will cause the blood pH to shift back towards the alkaline side helping in restoring the blood pH back to its pH range of pH = 7.32 to pH = 7.42. When the body pH is restored the body tissues are no longer susceptible to acid attack and disease susceptibility. Given the ideal pH, all the inherent healing mechanisms of the body can work with greater efficiency and accelerate healing in terms of both, duration and intensity of healing. Body immune mechanisms also work better in the alkaline medium of blood.

Most diseases of the human body are a result of urbanization of our diets and can be effectively treated by restoration of body’s alkaline pH by taking therapy of alkaline vegetable juices. Alkaline juice therapy produces objective benefits in a variety of illnesses affecting a multitude of body systems. During healing, sour foods like lemon, citrus fruit, tamarind, vinegar, kokum should be avoided. Alkaline food like raw food, coconut water, egg, vegetables should be consumed. Juice made from bottle gourd (Dudhi or Lauki) or water melon is highly alkaline and known to hasten healing.

The concept will be very useful to the patients of joint disease, heart disease and acidity ulcer disease.

Enhancing Healing by Fasting: Detoxify & maximize blood supply for healing

Any part of the body that is diseased needs plenty of blood supply to heal. When one eats, a large chunk of the cardiac output of 5L per minute is redirected to 22 feet long intestines in order to absorb the end products of digestion for long periods. Therefore, relatively less blood is available to the diseased part. Hence healing is delayed.

Therefore in infections, joint disease and other systemic diseases fasting plays a significant role in accelerating healing.

Enhancing Healing by Exercise: Therapy via movement

Exercise is an important factor in healing. An exercised fit body heals better than the non-exercised unfit body. However during illness, one must rest and promote healing.

Exercise is general or specific. General exercises are jogging, swimming, ball games, etc. and specific exercises are local exercises associated with a body part. A good exercise regime may be as follows:

Warm Up your body for 10 minutes every morning.

Work out your abdominal and spinal muscles 3 times a week.

Brisk walk for half an hour to one hour 5 days a week to work your Heart.

Free hand exercises or Gyming builds Strength and Endurance. 30 minutes 2-3 times a week.

Stretching or Flexibility exercises for 20 minutes 2 -3 times a week keeps your body supple. Women in India are becoming empowered with martial arts. Indian soil has seen many accomplished Wonder Woman of India with extraordinary talent and capability.

CARDIOVASCULAR BENEFITS

During exercise, the heart rate rises from resting 70/min to almost 140/min and the cardiac output increases from 5 litres to about 7 litres per minute. With regular exercise, over a period of time, the RESTING heart rate & blood pressure fall, denoting a rise in fitness.

Regular exercise develops also collaterals which are parallel channels carrying blood to the muscles, specially the cardiac muscles. Collaterals help to restore blood supply to blocked coronary arteries in case of Ischaemic heart disease.

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM BENEFITS

Exercise strengthens the muscles and ligaments of the body. Stronger muscles and ligaments provide greater support to the joints and slow down wear and tear of joints. Stiff joints loosen out with exercise.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM BENEFITS

Exercise has two positive effects. Exercise increases the lung capacity, and the intercostal muscles get stronger thereby facilitating easy expulsion of mucus and phlegm during coughing. Asthma is eased when the lung capacity increases. Pneumonia and common disease like bronchitis heal rapidly in an exercised person.

GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT BENEFITS

Most organs are lined with a thin layer of smooth muscle. Exercise improves the muscular tone of the organs in the abdominal cavity. This has a beneficial effect on digestion as well as on bowel movement. Constipation is prevented and related disorders like fissures and piles are relieved by exercise.

RENAL SYSTEM (KIDNEY) BENEFITS

Exercise increases the blood perfusion to the kidneys. It also improves the tone of the ureteric and bladder muscles. Strong muscle tone helps in facilitating passage of renal stones. Regular abdominal exercise, running, jumping etc. help in crushing and dislodging kidney stones, which can be then excreted out in urine.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM BENEFITS

In women, regular exercise improves the uterine muscle tone and relieves menstrual cramps.

BLOOD BENEFITS

Exercise raises the red blood cell count, white blood cell count and platelet counts. High RBC count prevents anaemia. Since white blood cells are largely responsible for fighting infection, healing is facilitated.

Enhancing Healing by Diurnal Rhythm: Maintaining hormone balance

Almost all the hormones in the body show diurnal rhythms, they rise and fall during the day in a set pattern influenced by sunlight.

SUNLIGHT

Sunlight is the controlling factor for kick starting and shutting down all the biological processes and for the release of all hormones in the body. Therefore, it is most useful to wake up at an hour close to sunrise and sleep at an hour close to sunset. It is also important to expose the eyes to sunlight for at least 20-30 minutes every day.

SLEEP RHYTHM

One should always sleep and wake up at the same time. For example, if one sleeps at 11 pm and wakes up at 6 am, this time should be maintained without great fluctuation. An allowance of an hour can be made. Even if one is a late sleeper, it is important to stick to a constant time of sleeping without making wide fluctuations.

FOOD RHYTHM

Food should be consumed after sunrise and before sunset. After sunset, all body systems including the GI tract gradually slow down to a resting state. Hence if food is consumed after sunset, the digestion would be impaired. This would also draw large volume of blood to the intestines for the purpose of absorption, thereby reducing blood supply to the heart and the brain. Maximum heart attacks occur at night as people eat heavy meals late at night and go to sleep on a full stomach.

At night, when the body is fasting and resting, growth hormone is released. Therefore, it is important to have the last meal by sunset and avoid food after that until sunrise. Keeping long hours of starvation will release growth hormone. By doing this, children can grow taller; with better muscle tissue and stronger bones.

By following the pattern of the diurnal rhythm, the hormones in the body can be optimized. The influence of hormonal fluctuation on disease is thereby reduced facilitating the healing processes.

Enhancing Healing by sleep: Resting the tissues

Sleep is a very important factor in healing. During sleep, the body muscles relax and heart rate falls. Blood pressure falls, breathing slows down, hormones are released, organ function slows down, tissues undergo repair and metabolites like lactic acids are washed out. The young need more sleep while the old require less sleep, depending upon their metabolic rates.

For health and healing, it is important to sleep enough. Going to sleep at the same time and waking up at the same time is important for regulating hormonal release.

For insomnia, relaxing activities like reading or listening to soft music will help. A glass of milk, a banana, or groundnuts (all containing tryptophan) will help in sleep induction. A hot water bath and stretching the muscles will also help. If one has slept well, he should wake up feeling fresh and energetic.

Enhancing Healing by controlling Body weight: reducing the load!

Obesity or excessive body weight is a predisposing factor for many diseases.

ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE (IHD) - Obesity reduces the effort tolerance of the heart by increasing the load on the heart.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE – The heart has to work more due to increased load.

OSTEO ARTHRITIS- Obesity causes wear and tear of the joints due to more loads on the joints.

INSULIN RESISTANCE- Obesity is known to cause insulin resistance. The body cells become resistant to the action of Insulin. So diabetes often worsens in obese individuals. Sometimes obesity precipitates diabetes.

DETERMINING OBESITY- A simple screening test is to pinch the fat at the waist. If it is 2 inches thick, the body weight is probably normal. Every additional half inch will denote an extra 5 kg.

CAUSE- Obesity is caused by overeating or under burning calories. When diet is deficient in its essential nutrients, the body induces overeating to gather the deficient nutrients giving rise to obesity. Taking a balanced diet will keep the weight in check.

The diet should also include adequate fibre. Fibre is roughage present in raw vegetables and fruit. It expands in the stomach and gives a feeling of fullness, reducing appetite. Less food is consumed and obesity is prevented.

Enhancing Healing by Melatonin: regulating youth hormones.

Melatonin is regarded as the hormone which bestows youth, energy and drive. Melatonin is secreted at night by the pituitary gland, in response to eye exposure to sunlight during the day.

Free radicals inhibit Melatonin synthesis. Electro-magnetic fields generated by televisions, refrigerators, computers, artificial lights, fans and air conditioners give off free radicals. Too much exposure to these is therefore unhealthy.

Beta carotene from the diet stimulates melatonin synthesis .Beta carotene is found in green leafy vegetables and carrots.

Enhancing Healing with Parasympathetic response: Manage Stress

STRESS RESPONSE is dependent upon the balance between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system.

Sympathetic nervous system- This is responsible for releasing adrenaline during times of increased stress. Adrenaline causes a rise in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, muscle tension, etc.

Parasympathetic nervous system- This is responsible for releasing acetylcholine which acts as a stress reliever. It causes reduction in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, muscle tension, etc.

EMOTIONAL FACTORS- There emotional factors which contribute to stress are;

Frustration - gives rise to Anger
Jealousy - gives rise to Hate
Sexual frustration- gives rise to Repression
Desire - gives rise to Fear
Pessimism - gives rise to Depression

All of these factors generate stress which releases adrenaline. Adrenaline raises the heart rate, breathing and causes bombardment of the brain in preparation for a flight or fight response of survival. Stress also releases cortisone in the body. Cortisone makes you retain salt and water. Cortisone raises the blood pressure, blood sugar and also makes bones hollow.

When the mind is relaxed and free of stress, the body releases acetylcholine. Its action is the opposite of that of adrenaline. It slows down the body parameters and brings about a sense of tranquillity and peace. The stress busters could be in form of taking a holiday, watching a movie, listening to soft music, reading a book or any activity that relaxes you.

Enhancing Healing by Blood Volume balance

The blood volume determines blood pressure. Blood volume is dependent upon the colloidal osmotic pressure. Blood pressure determines the state and level of energy. When blood pressure falls below normal, there is lethargy, lassitude, lack of enthusiasm and weakness.

The two components responsible for maintaining blood volume (holding water in the blood circulation) are salt (sodium chloride) and protein (albumin).

So in order to maintain the colloidal osmotic pressure, one needs to consume:

Salt – found in fruits, table salt
Protein – found in eggs, milk, pulses
Biologically active water – in the form of vegetable juices, coconut water

Blood volume and blood pressure falls in;

Dehydration, due to exercise, exposure to wind as in bike rides
Inadequate fluid intake
Prolonged exposure to heat or sunlight
Diarrhoea or vomiting causing water and electrolyte loss.

To restore blood volume, a diet rich in salt, protein, bio water is recommended to restore the colloidal osmotic pressure. Consumption of thick fluids and dense solids is useful for maintaining and restoring blood volume and blood pressure such as Bengali sweets (rasgulla), milk and protinex, ice-cream, chapatti’s or roti’s made of wheat.

Maintaining blood volume is therefore very important for any healing.

Enhancing Healing by De addiction:

For good health and healing, all addictions like smoking, alcohol, drugs, and medications must cease. However if you must smoke, smoke less than 5 cigarettes a day, and if you must take alcohol, consume less than 2 pegs at a time, sipped gradually without gulping.

ILL EFFECTS OF SMOKING:

* Narrowing of peripheral arteries- Smoking thickens the artery walls making them lose their elasticity. It also narrows down the lumen of the artery. These changes raise the Blood pressure.

* Destruction of cilia in respiratory tract- Cilia or the hair lining the bronchi are responsible for expulsion of sputum or brushing out foreign particles like smoke or pollutants from the respiratory tract. Cilia are destroyed by tobacco smoke leading to chronic bronchitis. Smoking may also lead to respiratory failure in the long run. It is also regarded as carcinogenic.

*Deposits in the arteries- Smoking accelerate the formation of atheroma deposits in the coronary arteries and cerebral arteries of the brain. Hence, strokes and heart attacks may result.

ILL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Alcohol burns the mucosal lining of the stomach causing Gastritis leading to vomiting.

Alcohol lowers the blood sugar causing hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia causes headache and giddiness which is common after alcohol consumption. Vitamin B1 is also depleted.

Alcohol also causes incoordination, loss of balance and slurring of speech due to cerebellar toxicity. It impairs judgement leading to traffic accidents.

Enhancing Healing by cleansing the air and washing out the pollutants

Pollution is an unavoidable health hazard, primarily affecting the lungs. Smoke arising from vehicles contains carbon monoxide and other toxic gases. This can alter the blood pH and render it acidic. Exposure to nature, breathing fresh air and moving out of a polluted environment will help healing tremendously. In the past era, tuberculosis of the lungs was treated by moving the patient to a hill station. In today’s era, frequent holidays will help cleanse the lungs and regulate the blood pH levels.

Enhancing Healing needs the right Attitude!

We must develop the right attitude to promote healing. These are summarized below

Fear of disease - Overcome it. Trust in body’s wisdom of healing.
Ability to bear discomfort - Develop the ability to be comfortable with pain.
‘Normal’ cy - Don’t be obsessed with it, deviations do exist. Do not get obsessed with perfectly normal lab reports.
Patience - Cultivate patience. Diseases take time to resolve from a week to a few months.
Eventuality- Be ready to face any eventuality. If your time has come, you shall depart. If not, you shall recover.
Trust- In the wisdom of the body
If you are not sure of what to do- Do nothing, wait and seek more expert opinions.
Remember that there are many other people who are suffering more than you.

TIMELY MEDICAL ADVICE AND TREATMENT IS VERY CRUCUAL

ORGAN SPECIFIC PRINCIPLES

We have seen how general factors affect healing. Now we shall see how organ specific factors promote bodily healing of specific systems. It is not practically possible to enumerate all the specific factors for healing every organ system. However, certain specific factors are common to many diseases of an organ system. The below enumeration is for understanding principles and not meant for the purpose of self-treatment. Please consult your doctor before adopting any specific advice stated below.

HEART AND CIRCULATION (CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM)
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Walk 45 minutes every day.
Lose fatty weight
Stop sour food
Alkaline diet of vegetable juices every day.
Reduce salt intake
Sweat it out.
If you get chest pain stop activity & rest.
Take plenty of fruit (potassium)
Take plenty of milk products (calcium)
Sleep in a ventilated room with open windows
Take frequent vacations and work breaks
Don’t take stress and don’t lose your temper
Don’t over exert
Don’t Smoke
Don’t consume more than 90 ml of whisky a day.

LUNGS (RESPIRATORY SYSTEM)
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Blow balloons, swim & do aerobic exercises
Walk 40 minutes daily
Drink lots of warm water
Avoid pollutants
Sleep in a well-ventilated room, non AC
Avoid sour food
Take enough milk products (calcium)
Avoid smoking
Take enough salt & water
Avoid unnecessary consumption of pain killers
Take chest & back massage
Take vitamin C everyday
Do pranayama
Avoid outside and processed food
Lose fatty weight
Encourage coughing and expulsion of sputum

FOOD PIPE (GASTRO INTESTINAL SYSTEM)
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Chew food well
Avoid big meals and eat slowly
Do not drink water immediately after meals
Give a gap of few hours between meals
Take adequate raw food (fibre)
Avoid sour food
Alkalinize with water melon & bitter gourd juice
Do not sleep immediately after a meal
Avoid exercise immediately after a meal
Lose fatty weight
Avoid sugars & fatty food
Exercise the abdominal muscles

BRAIN (NERVOUS SYSTEM)
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Take vitamins B1, B6, and B12
Sleep well and sleep enough
Walk 45 minutes everyday
Take alkaline diet of vegetable juices
Avoid sour food
Sleep with head at a slightly lower level than the body if recovering from stroke
Smoking few cigarettes may benefit certain brain diseases (dementia)
Avoid stress
Practise yogasanas (after doctor’s permission)
Neuro muscular coordination exercises (such as ball games, martial arts) will help.

KIDNEYS (URINARY TRACT)
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Drink enough water
Drink water before sleeping at night
Avoid sour food
Drink alkaline juices
Physical activity involving bouncing movements helps in dislodging kidney stones
Sweating is useful in kidney failure as skin also excretes metabolic waste too
Avoid excessive salt
Take enough fruits

MENTAL DISEASE (PSYCHIATRY)
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Avoid sour food
Drink alkaline juices
Exposure to sun light in the morning is important
Walk 45 minutes every day
Do weight training
Work next to an open window
Do some casual reading
Talk to friends
Adopt a dog

WOMEN (GYNEC)
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Take a diet rich in Iron (to avoid anaemia)
Avoid sour food
Drink alkaline juices
Exercise the abdominal muscles, pelvic muscles
Walk 45 minutes every day
Lose fatty weight
Avoid smoking
Avoid alcohol

PREGNANCY & BIRTH (OBSTRETRICS)
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Avoid sour food
Drink alkaline juices
Exercise the abdominal muscles, pelvic muscles
Walk 45 minutes every day
Take a diet rich in Iron
Lose fatty weight
Avoid smoking and alcohol intake
Take vitamins regularly

SPINE (INTERVERTEBRAL DISC)
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Lose weight
Avoid sour food
Loosen spine
Exercise the back muscles
Take alkaline juices
Don’t sit continuously for long durations
Walk 45 minutes every day
Avoid wearing corset
Don’t lift heavy weights
Don’t climb stairs until the back is healed

INFECTIONS
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Fasting on alternate days may aid healing
Take adequate rest
Avoid eating in case of loss of appetite
Take enough water & electrolytes
Room must be well-ventilated
Provide an outlet for easy expulsion of pus (incise an abscess, encourage coughing, repeated urination in case of UTI)

CHILDREN’S ILLNESS (PAEDIATRICS)
(This is not treatment but general advice. Please consult your physician before using any advice)

Avoid drugs for the first few days
Avoid eating in case of loss of appetite
Take enough water & electrolytes
Room must be well ventilated
Avoid frequent antibiotics

DISCLAIMER: The ENTIRE ATRICLE AND the above advice is for understanding principles and not meant for the purpose of self-treatment. Please consult your doctor before adopting any specific advice stated above.