HEAL NOT THYSELF
Dr.K.Veeramani
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Like old wine in a new bottle, many drugs
have crept into pharmaceutical world with
fake labels full of scientific explanations and
directions. Genuine Science is being replaced by
pseudoscience (fake science). We should beware
its harmful effects.
Dr. Satva, an eminent professor of Anaesthesiology
has published a book on Pseudoscience, alternative
medication and superstition. It is in the form of
conversation. The translated version of this book
in Tamil is available. I read it and now I share my
views with our readers.
Avoid medicines the effects of which have not
been proved. Stay away from misguiding methods
of treatment. Always rush to a reliable medical
practitioner when you are in trouble. Selfmedication
is harmful, indeed. An ENT specialist
who was above 70 once suffered owing to a block
in the urinary tract. His condition worsened when
there were other complications in his body, since
he just could not urinate.
When he contacted a doctor over phone, he
advised him to stand erect and jump 15 to 20
times like a skipping exercise. The ENT specialist
jumped five or six times. The advice worked.
He was able to urinate. But was it a sensible
treatment?
Dr. Keshav Vani, a Urologist serving Max
Super Speciality Hospital and Dr. Vikram
of the Nephrology Department say that the
ENT specialist risked his life when he followed
the advice to jump repeatedly with a swollen
abdomen. That could have led to bone fracture
and other multiple complications, since age takes
its own toll. A web-site called “The Quint”
consisted of the views of Dr. Keshav and Dr.
Vikram. They comment in brief that aged
people should rush to reliable doctors instead
of following such perilous advice.
I read another invaluable book by a researcher
under the title “GUNS, GERMS AND
STEEL”. It is about genuine science. It
discusses modern medical treatments available
today. It says advancement in science and the
world of medicine have caused a decline in
mortality rates and a steep rise of population.
Average life span of Indians was 31 years in
1947 but it rose to 68 in 2015 as per researches.
Recently I read a book – ‘Nutritional Value of
Indian Foods’ published by the Indian Council
of Medical Rearch (ICMR). A segment of that
book describes how good bananas/plantains are
for our health. 100 gms. of banana contains
calcium, sodium and phosphorus in good
measure. Several kind of bananas are available.
They satiate hunger and help us get rid of
constipation. Fruits and vegetables are an ideal
option for medicines. Dear readers, stay away
from pseudoscience. Just ignore if some one
advices – “Heal thyself”. That would be double
trouble.
