Soukya in the Bengaluru: Tutu, Mallika star

Bengaluru: On November 14, Benga­luru will play host to Nobel Laureate Archbi­shop Desmond Tutu, who is making his annual visit to Soukya Holis­tic Health Centre in Whitefield. “Archbishop Tutu has been a patient at Soukya for three years now,” said Dr Issac Mathai, founder, Soukya.

Tutu will attend the last leg of a three day International Conference on “Global Health Futures - creating integrated solutions to the epidemic of long-term solutions,” organised by Soukya, here in the city. Speakers include HRH Prince Charles, Mallika Sarabhai, Dr Dean Ornish, Sir John Oldham and Prof Dr Ranjit Roy Chaudhury.

“Prince Charles has always been a great supporter and he inititated the process for the conference,” said Dr Isaac, adding “We held an hour long meeting with him yesterday. He will deliver the inaugural speech from the UK.”

“Can prayer heal? Can compassion heal? Healing is a process that makes you whole,” said Dr Issac, whose book, Dr Mathai's Holistic Health Guide for Women will be launched by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj on Wednesday, and Holistic Healing, also by Dr Issac Mathai, by Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Friday. 

Next: ‘Holistic healing is the way of the future’

‘Holistic healing is the way of the future’

Bengaluru: The West has, over the last decade, opened its eyes to the traditions of the Orient. Allopathy and Easter practices like ayurveda and homeopathy, however, have been locked in a tussle for superiority. Out of this melee has emerged a new school of thought, one which believes in understanding the benefits of different practices and integrating them into a holistic system of healthcare.

“Modern medicine should be able to integrate all different traditions and find the best one for the patient,” Dr Issac Mathai remarked. His book, Holistic Healing, which will be released by Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Friday, discusses the benefits of different practices and how they must be brought together to provide people with a well-rounded cure.

“The idea is not to criticise Western medicine,” said Dr Issac, who admits it has its limitations. “Then again, there is a lot that can be done to prevent and cure illness using natural methods, without having to destroy the body’s immune system through alopathy.”

Dr Issac agrees that the attitude toward Eastern treatments has changed, not just here in India, but across the world. “India has had a long history with Ayurveda, but the advent of Western medicine did bring with it the belief that allopathy can cure everything. Now, the entire world is looking at Oriental treatments,” he said.

His other book, Dr Mathai’s Holistic Health Guide for Women, which is being released by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj on Wednesday morning, focuses on women’s health issues, an area which, feels Dr Mathai, has been largely neglected by healthcare professionals.

“There are plenty of Ayurvedic, Naturopathy and self-help options for a woman. It's time we did away with the belief that alopathy is the only way,” said Dr Issac. “Eating healthy, doing yoga and managing one's lifestyle is as good as resorting to antibiotics the minute something goes wrong.”

Make no mistake, this isn’t an excuse to put off that dreaded trip to your doctor! “See your doctor, receive your diagnosis and come to us,” said Dr Issac with a smile. “I wouldn’t advise someone whose artery is 98% clogged to go and do yoga, for instance! On the other hand, if the problem isn’t so advanced, I would help the patient make the necessary lifestyle changes. It all depends on what is necessary at a particular time.”

Accepting other viewpoints and being open to alternative traditions of healthcare are crucial to well-rounded treatment, believes Dr Issac. “I have over a hundred doctors across the world, all of whom are experts in alopathy but who still look at the cure holistically.”