In continuation of the previous two episodes on changing health scenario in 21st Century here the latest developments for a better health are being discussed.
Laughter therapy and philosophical scrutiny: Laughter therapy is a universal non-pharmacologic approach to reduce stress and anxiety. Therapeutic laughter is a non-invasive, cost-effective, and easily implementable intervention that can be used to mitigate several ailments. It is useful as a supplementary therapy to reduce the mental health burden. Laughter therapy can physiologically lessen the pro-stress factors and increase the mood-elevating anti-stress factors to reduce anxiety and depression. During the stressful period of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping necessary social distancing, to create a cheerful environment, and facilitating laughter among the family, and neighborhood community to cope with the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic, several practitioners implemented laughing therapy. Laughing when philosophically scrutinized that makes the spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are the instinctive expressions of lively amusement and sometimes also of mockery which enhances holistic health.
Medical Practice and Decline of Ethical Values: The use of expensive laboratory tests, in preference to clinical examination for diagnosis, has become a common practice today. The failure to understand the natural history of the patient’s illness is resulting in hasty investigations and thoughtless therapy. The use of expensive tests may also be gaining prominence because of the ‘incentives’ offered by laboratories and scan centers to doctors. A portion of the fees paid by the patient to the center is passed on to the clinician. This unethical practice is camouflaged by the use of terms such as ‘fees for clinical assessment’ or ‘provision of clinical details. Several specialist doctors working in government hospitals rush to the private nursing homes during their office hours to treat patients, rather than taking care of their patients in the teaching hospitals. It has become a common practice in several cities since corporate hospitals are offering ‘fat fees’ to consultants. This practice is hampering the very fabric of the philosophical attitude of health. Keeping in mind the present trends of doctors, a stalwart in the medical profession Dr. B.C. Roy said: “If you are ill, go to a doctor, take his consultation, and pay him the fees because the doctor must live. Then go to a chemist, and buy the medicines, because the chemist must also live. After buying the medicines, throw them in the gutter, because you too must live.” By this statement, one can analyze all the components that are influencing the philosophy of health.
A doctor must remain as a student throughout his life learning new things in his profession that should be the moral spirit of a doctor, and he must prepare to take that burden if he decides to serve the sick and the disabled with his knowledge and skills. If doctors fail to practice the principles of medical ethics, and art of philosophical professional knowledge and expertise in the treatment of patients, then they will be held responsible for their negligence and failure. This Sanskrit “Sloka Vaidyaraaja Namastubhyam! Yamaraja Sahodharam! Yamarajam Harathu Praanaani! Vaidya rajam Dhanaani Prananeeyu!” which means broadly “Yamaraja (the God of death) takes only the life of a people, whereas Vaidyaraja (the doctor) takes both the life and wealth of the people whom he treats. In other words, the Sanskrit couplet describes a careless, greedy, and irresponsible doctor is worse than the Yama, who is known as the God of death by the Hindus.
The principles and practice of medical ethics should be one of the cornerstones of medical education. The mere preaching of ethical values does not make much sense. Teachers and senior medical practitioners must stand as role models for dedication, care, and selfless treatment of patients. The patient should be the center of attention, and every act being performed should be kept in mind his/her welfare.
Cosmic energy: Most of the time, we all accept that some mysterious energy is flowing in every living or nonliving object. The positive or negative energy of those subjects is awakened by the words we use and the statements we post against them. If the words are very powerful even the inanimate objects do respond. Positive words induce encouragement and stimulate the hidden power in living organisms including human beings. So, curses by great saints caused damage to several individuals which we know through our epics. In our day-to-day life too if someone praises a person with good qualities positive and happy hormones will be released in his or her body and his or her behavior, actions, and body language all will be turned rosy. On the other hand, when someone discourages an individual the entire power moves away from him and he becomes dull and dingy. By scolding even, a fit and healthy person would turn sick and impotent. So, words have tremendous power on the individuals and the society at large.
The same principle was used in Mahabharath by Shalya against great warrior Karna where he demoralized Karna being his charioteer Shalya who continuously praises Arjuna and picks out Karna’s flaws and plays a considerable role for the death of Karna. Extrapolating this philosophy into health aspects has been proved beyond doubt giving excellent results. Even a cancer patient, an AIDS patient, when he is given palliative care, scientific counseling, and positive encouraging words, survives a full life. Our quest for the unknown willpower drives us into an unresearched enclave of philosophical vision where amazing inventions can be envisaged.
When we analyze our religions such as Hindu, Christianity, Islam, and so on… there will be several types of worship to God viz., Astothara pooja– enchanging 108 times, Satasahasra Namarchana, unchanging Almighty Hundred thousand times with all positive “sabdhas” (Mantras) so to get blessings from God and His positive looks to shower upon us. Further, we need to praise Him by reciting His greatness and supremacy. If this positive component inthe philosophy of health is properly implemented, it gives results of miracles to make human life more worth living and memorable while creating a better society. (To be continued)