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Denis Giles

25 November 2015

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By Dr. Puneet Arora

• Myth: Homoeopathy acts slowly.

Fact: Action of homoeopathic medicine is dependent on immune reaction of the patient as well as nature of disease. Healing restoration power of patient plays vital role in healing.

For e.g. complaints like diabetes, hypertension, chronic skin complaints like eczema or psoriasis may take longer time to get corrected where as complaints like Jaundice, typhoid, tonsillitis, hepatitis, Acute renal failure etc shows results as soon as possible after correct homoeopathic medication.

• Myth: Homoeopathic medicines contain steroids.

Fact: There is no relation between homoeopathic medicines and steroids. Homoeopathic medicines are prepared from plants, animal secretions, minerals, metals and solar, lunar as well as magnetic radiations.

Preparation of Homoeopathic medicines follows proper rules and regulations of Indian government and homoeopathic pharmacopeia maintained by regularized body like CCH.

•Myth: There is no side effect of homoeopathic medication.

Fact: There are side effects of homoeopathic medicines, we should say prognostic symptoms, which depend on nature of disease, and the medicine administered.

•Myth: There are many dietary restrictions along with homoeopathic medicines.

Fact: There are no such long lists of dietary restrictions during course of treatment. Only those certain things are restricted which have direct or indirect effect on disease condition or/and functionality of medicine administered.  For e.g. as people say that onion and garlic should be avoided during treatment, there is no such scientific finding to support this as seen clinically.

•Myth: Homoeopathy has very limited scope in terms of diseases.

Fact: Homoeopathy is the most complete, scientific and latest medical science based on nature’s principles with results shown by IIT scientists. Homoeopathy treats ‘the man in disease not disease in man’. It’s clinically seen that homoeopathy gives good results in all kind of illnesses; may it be auto-immune disorders or neurological disorders or any other form of disease.

•Myth: Homoeopathic medicines can only be given to certain age group patients.

Fact: Homoeopathic medicines can be given to every age group. It can be administered to infants, pregnant women, or old patients.

•Myth: Anyone can practice homoeopathy.

Fact: Homoeopathy can be practiced only by registered degree containing doctor. Degree can be BHMS/DHMS/GHMS minimum with post-graduation also. Bad effects or side effects are seen more in cases handled by people practicing it without proper knowledge.

“Homoeopathy is a complete science based on deep philosophy and scientific knowledge and research.”

(Dr. Puneet Arora can be contacted over Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Twitter Handle: @DrPuneetArora1 and Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/urjaahom/)

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Denis Giles

09 November 2015

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By Almas Shamim

Diwali, the ‘Festival of Lights’ as it is so often called, is more a festival of noise, smoke and lots of waste.

The noise coming from the ‘bombs’ are hardly pleasing to the ear and the smoke that builds up after long ‘ladis’ of ‘mirchipatakha’ have been lighted, can choke even those with the healthiest lungs!

In spite of this flip side, Diwali retains its position as one of the most awaited and widely celebrated festivals in the country. While it’s true that our environment and health would both be way better if certain components of Diwali- bursting crackers, for instance- were cut short, it is also true that such a Diwali may not be seen in the near future! So, accepting the fact that few of us, if any, would be interested in celebrating a completely ‘cracker-free’ Diwali, let us go through a few pointers that we should keep in mind with respect to our and our loved ones’ health:

1.I see-

And I want to continue seeing after Diwali is over. I’m sure you too would, so protect those eyes. Even tiny sparks from phuljhadis can cause damage to your eyes and you definitely don’t want to spend your Diwali evening sitting in G.B. Pant’s casualty. Special protective glasses are available online, but if you don’t want to order them- just being cautious and conscious enough to keep the crackers away from your body, especially eyes, can suffice.

2.I hear-

Plug some cotton in your ears. If not completely eliminate, they will at least dampen the impact of the noise on your eardrums.

3. I eat-

So you are placing big anaars to burn with your bare hands, distributing phuljhadis to little kids and then picking up the used up pataakhas and dumping them in a bucket of water (and not a plastic bucket!), and immediately afterwards you run back into your house and pick up that delicious motichoorkaladdu and lick your fingers after devouring it! Well- great ! But, remember to wash your hands before you eat it! Crackers carry heavy metals which are mighty toxic to our system. Let us try not gulping them down with our food.

4. I diet-

Go easy on the sweets! Are you a diabetic? Well, tempting as they are, sweets could be disastrous to your health. For some, even one can be too many. Keep alternatives ready for when your mouth would water, looking at others relishing sweets! Monitor and suitably alter your insulin or pills the coming days.

5. I feel-

Be considerate! If you know that there’s someone in or next to your house who is ill and may not be able to take the loud noise too well, or if there’s a young infant who will panic at the noise, be considerate to switch to crackers that are less noisy. Concern for asthmatics should not be forgotten who may not tolerate smoke well.

6. I prepare-

Medicine box- don’t have one? Great time to prepare one now. Though burns are the most commonly reported injuries during Diwali, other complaints that accompany festivals and marriages could be a problem now too. You could get a severe headache (what with all the noise), or acidity (what with all those sweets!). It’ll be better if you have some painkillers, gauze bandages, antacids at hand.

Of course, these are not the only points- precautions when dealing with fireworks can go on and on. Leaving you with a video on some more practical considerations in making this festive day a safe and healthy one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGVXgP_gk08

Happy Diwali!

Almas Shamim is a public health specialist with a great interest in sexual and reproductive health and rights, and feminism among Muslim women. She currently works for an international humanitarian aid organization in New Delhi

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Denis Giles

22 November 2015

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By Almas Shamim

A few decades ago, acquiring a serious infection like Tuberculosis would have reduced chances of survival manifolds. Not just TB, but many other infections expressed all their severity in the times bygone. Things changed dramatically with improved living conditions and then with the introduction of medicines that could help combat these diseases- the antibiotics.

Innumerable lives have been saved by the use of antibiotics. Perhaps it was possible for you and meto be born because our parents and grandparents could live on and not succumb to deadly infections – owing to antibiotics. However, things won’t remain the same forever. Soon, all the known antibiotics would be rendered useless and we all would be again susceptible to deadly infections that have no cure. And this will occur due to the sharp rise in “resistance”.

The same evolution that helped man to walk on two feet and rule this planet- also helps other forms of life. The micro-organisms too evolve into forms that are better suited to survival with changing times. So, if a medicine acts in a particular mechanism to kill the organism, the organism mutates and evolves into a form that can overcome that mechanism of the medicine. Such mutations are boosted when the organisms are acted upon by incomplete courses of antibiotics, meaning, when we don’t complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by our doctor, we are aiding in the spread of resistance that will soon lead to a “no-cure” situation in the world.

We may be forced to believe that with newer and stronger organisms, newer and stronger antibiotics will also come up but sadly, that does not seem to be the case. Man’s technological advances are not keeping up with nature’s evolutionary progress and the new antibiotics that are being made are not sufficient to deal with all the newer forms of organisms and diseases that are on the rise. Funding is another big reason why newer antibiotics may not see the light of day. Research and development that is needed for newer drugs is mostly triggered by pharmaceutical companies that are mostly based in American and European countries and tend to stick to medicines that are more profitable- so, they focus more on developing medicines for diseases that are commoner in the Western countries than in countries like India/ Bangladesh/ Pakistan/ Nepal- because of the better market. So, though the need for newer antibiotics is on the rise, the market feasibility is still not great enough for the pharmaceutical giants to invest in this sector. Hence the threat of rising resistance becomes all the more large.

Many times doctors are forced into prescribing antibiotics by patients themselves. We question the competence of a doctor if he/she has not prescribed us a strong antibiotic for a week. It is said that “without medicines a cold lasts for 7 days, and with medicines, only for a week”. While this, of course, is just a saying, we must be careful in deciding whether we really need a course of antibiotics for a common cold (which is mostly viral) that usually resolves by itself. Though proper treatment- choosing the right antibiotic and proper adherence to the prescribed course-is important, the best way would obviously be that of prevention. Preventing infections at home/ school and workplace would involve simple steps such as washing hands properly before taking food and after defecation, using a handkerchief to cough or sneeze into and later washing the handkerchief properly; good cross ventilation is also extremely important in reducing the chances of exposure to an infective organism. Apart from this, the govt. should also ensure proper infection control in hospitals and all public buildings to reduce the chance of exposure to infection. Incorporating public health engineering into construction practices goes a long way in ascertaining infection control measures.

November 16- 22, 2015 was observed as the World Antibiotic Awareness Week. We must resolve that the awareness should be spread and instructions followed for more than just one week in a year.

To sum it up:

*Take precautions such that we don’t acquire infections

*Choose antibiotics properly, if at all! Drug sensitivity testing, though not commonly available and practiced, can help tremendously in choosing the correct antibiotic.

*Complete the full course of antibiotics. Before changing medicines, consult your clinician.

*During the course of the infection, adopt further precautions so that it is not transmitted to others.

*Never stigmatize the patient! Never!

For more info on Antibiotic Awareness, visit:

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2015/world-antibiotic-awareness-week/en/

Almas Shamim is a public health specialist with a great interest in sexual and reproductive health and rights, and feminism among Muslim women. She currently works for an international humanitarian aid organization in New Delhi

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Denis Giles

01 November 2015

Hits: 2032

By Almas Shamim

I clearly remember the day. I was around nine years of age, in fifth standard and had just returned home, happy that another tiring day was over. My mummy turned me around, lifted my grey uniform skirt and pointing at a small patch asked me, ‘Yekyahai?’ (What is that?)

I carelessly told ‘Oh, I don’t know…. I must have sat on something…. Maybe during the lunch break … oil from someone’s tiffin maybe’

But, my mummy was in a panic mode- she took me to the toilet and yes, her fear was right!

My underwear was soaking red! I had had my menarche- the first time I got my periods.

What followed for me was a teary and sad week when I refused to go to school and lay in bed as if I was dying and begging my mother to tell me if there was anything else about to ‘happen’ to me, anything else which she hadn’t told me about.

Sometimes, when I look back I wonder why had I behaved so silly, but, then I am reminded – I was only nine years old- a child!

Yes, it wasn’t as common to have menarche at such a young age back then, now-a-days, it is commoner. Yes, my mother hadn’t anticipated that I would get my periods so soon, because both my mummy and my sister had not had periods until they were well into their teen years. But, would my mummy have told me about menstruation had I reached 10, 11 or even 12? I seriously doubt that. My family has not been one where menstruation is spoken about openly. She would have waited until I learnt it myself- by experience or through friends.

It is not any different in many other homes. Things as common as plain biology are held back from children- the way our body changes, the way girls develop breasts or the way they menstruate. This transfer of information may seem trivial to many but is essential not only because it gives some additional knowledge to the child, but also because it make the child realize that it is ‘normal’ and nothing to fear or hate, and that their parents/ teachers will always be there to stand with them and support them if anything about their new body irks them or confuses them. Having this support system is very important to have a healthy body image and also to approach reliable and correct people if there are instances of abuse or pregnancy.

Talking about menstruation to children (both boys and girls) not only helps them who have their menarche around the time their friends do, it also helps those girls who don’t get their periods until late- a girl who has not yet had her periods has a chance of being called ‘names’ by her friends, of being told that she is not normal or less of a girl than the others- all these could have disastrous consequences on the mental health of a young girl. It helps boys to understand differences better and not ‘bully’ girls for being different. Again, ‘talking’ can help dispel these myths and make children aware of how normal it is and how if it happens late or if a girl doesn’t get her periods at all- it does not make her any less of a person and she is as capable of anything that others are capable of.

Comprehensive sex education to all children about the bodies of both boys and girls and the changes they should anticipate, will go a long way in grooming children into healthy, confident adults.

Leaving you with a link to a you tube video (good luck viewing it in our internet connection!) which has a funny take on periods:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvPVyas68jE

Almas Shamim is a public health specialist with a great interest in sexual and reproductive health and rights, and feminism among Muslim women. She currently works for an international humanitarian aid organization in New Delhi