By Dr Arun Mitra
Life is a dynamic process, evolving continuously under the influence of various factors. No wonder, devoid of knowledge about the causes of natural happenings around, man attributed several events to be caused by some unknown powers. This gave rise to several practices around the world, which were different in manner but similar in nature. Therefore, we find in ancient times fire in the woods thought to be due to the wrath of angry ‘fire god’; rains a result of power of ‘rain god’ and so on. Approach to health and illness was no different.
Way back in history, when knowledge about ill health was primitive, the cause of disease was also attributed to some divine powers. The same powers were looked at for salvage. The remedy too laid importance in pleasing these powers through different ways.
With the passage of time, there developed various systems of medicine in different parts of the world. The traditional system of medicine developed in India in the form of Ayurveda, Siddha and Naturopathy. In China these developed as Acupuncture, Acupressure and Chinese oriental medicine etc. These systems were essentially based on long years of practice. Traditional medicine (TM) is, according to WHO, the total sum of knowledge, skills and practices based on theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures that are used to maintain health, as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or treat physical and mental illnesses
Modern system of medicine is a result of intense scientific research about the structure and functioning of body systems, pathogenesis of disease and then based on that developed medical or surgical treatment in a holistic manner. This broke several prevailing myths and beliefs. But despite all these developments and modern technological innovations there are a lot of myths about healthcare in our society. Some of these are being perpetuated in an organized manner exploiting the prevalent belief system in the mind of people.
Mumps is a viral infection of salivary glands caused by Paramyxovirus, where the patient develops painful and tender swelling of cheeks or below the mandible. It is a self-limiting disorder and gets cured with time or at the most may need supportive treatment. But even the highly educated families invariably visit a ‘Ghumar’, the earthen pot maker in the hope that with his blessings or his tricks the disease will be gone soon. Similar is true for Chicken Pox or ‘Chhoti Mata’ where they worship the ‘goddess’ and hope that the divine power of the goddess will heal the disease.
An interesting case is of Bell’s Palsy, where the patient develops paralysis of one side of the face. Most of these patients recover with some supportive measures and medical treatment. But here too people visit faith healers and are cheated by wicked ‘Babas’. Similarly Syphilis and Epilepsy too are treated by totally irrational means in remote areas.
Propaganda of uses of cow urine is another hoax. Inquiries from the Guru Angad Dev University of Veterinary Sciences, Ludhiana and from Animal Husbandry department, government of India have not revealed any benefit of cow urine for human health.
Creating departments of Astrology in the hospitals and advisory to the patients to visit these astrologers is a matter of grave concern. It is understandable if this is done in some private hospitals with a profit motive. But if the government takes such steps then it amounts to perpetuating myths and obscurantism.
The ‘Garbh Vigyan Sanskar’ by Arogya Bharti is another matter to be pondered over. They hold workshops to preach the couples to recite shlokas at the time of mating so as to have customized babies of their choice – the ‘uttam santati’. With this they claim that couple can have children of choice and that this would lead to development of a pure and powerful generation.
Ironically some ministers in Gujarat have been seen to attend the conference of ‘Tantriks’ and felicitate them. Such acts lead to misconceptions in the minds of people and spread obscurantism.
Such myths delay the treatment and many a time sickness increases beyond any cure, which could have been otherwise possible through timely medical intervention. Worst is when some such healers claim to treat malignancies. Poor patients fall prey to them. By the time they realize as they see no recovery in sight in the hands of these faith healers, the disease progresses to an incurable stage. These are criminal acts, which cannot be condoned. But one finds such advertisements day in and day out in print and now even electronic media.
It is for the medical bodies, rationalist societies and right thinking people with scientific outlook to question this. People like Mahesh Chand Sharma, now a retired Rajasthan High Court Judge, saying that female peacock gives birth not because of mating but because it licks the tears which flow out of eyes of peacock has to be countered outright. To say that ancient India had surgical skills to transplant elephant head on human body is only befooling people by exploiting their sentiments. The statement of the chief minister of Tripura that the atmosphere is made pollution-free by the breathing of ducks is a matter of shame in the modern era.
Modernity cannot be achieved through medieval ideas. Health of our people, particularly of women and children, cannot be left to be exploited by people with irrational ideas. We are well aware how womenfolk are witch-hunted on the pretext of madness while this could have been treated through psychiatric means and counseling.
There has to be a concerted effort to develop a healthy India through scientific outlook. Otherwise the health of a vast majority of our poor population will continue to be exploited through false beliefs and myths in healthcare. (IPA Service)
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