Ramdev should stick to one branch of healing

He has created a mass movement by convincing Indians to practice yoga, writes Dr KK Aggarwal.

The recent controversy of Ramdev (also know as Swami Ramdev) for selling Ayurvedic drugs, which are alleged to contain human remains has opened a Pandora's box. One of the main accusations being how could a person who calls himself a Swami enter into business transactions?

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Swami is a designation usually given to individuals who either have taken sanyasa or have some degree of tyaga/vairagya in their life. Swamis should have nothing to do with running an industry or doing business all over the world.

While Baba Ramdev has been known for his propagation of Yoga asanas and natural living, which is a laudable task, but if in the process of promoting naturopathy and yoga, one starts selling Ayurvedic drugs, one cannot justify it. Yoga promotes vegetarianism while many Ayurvedic drugs may have ingredients, which are animal in origin. Public invariably would think that Baba Ramdev being propagating naturopathy, will only deals with medicines with no animal ingredients, whatsoever.

Preparing medicines to improve vitality, erectile function, impotence and libido by a person who is propagating naturopathy and yoga is also not understood. In doing so, one degrades the science of naturopathy, a pure way of life that encompasses yoga, Pranayama and meditation.

Allopathy is the only science in India, which is governed by stringent laws. These medicines cannot be advertised anywhere just as allopathic doctors cannot advertise themselves. However, these restrictions do not apply (?) to naturopathy, homeopathy and Unani systems of medicine.

Finding the loophole many 'swamis' and 'gurus' are hiring time on electronic channels to advertise their brand of healing. Ramdev is no exception. He is buying time on electronic channels, advertising himself as well as his medicines, which is against the principle of medical science. Every person who is attending his camp is expected to pay a fee ranging from Rs 500-5,000 for the course duration.

Most diseases are self-limiting, so is Hepatitis B in over 25 per cent of cases. The claim by Baba Ramdev that he can cure Hepatitis B infection cannot be digested by the scientific community. If it is true that Ramdev can cure Hepatitis B infection he should have been awarded Nobel Prize by now.

There is no denial that incorporating eight limbs of yoga as taught by Yoga Sutras of Patanjali into life, can help in the regression of lifestyle disorders, reduce doses of allopathic medicines and increase longevity. These are established facts known for over 5,000 years.

There is nothing new said by Ramdev, however, credit has to be given to him as he has created a mass movement by convincing a large number of Indians to practice yoga everyday, which even Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari could not do in his time.

Ramdev, along with Shri Shri Ravishankar, is promoting Pranayama (through art of living), which completes many aspects of yoga.

Naturopathy deals with the five basic elements of nature: air, water, earth, fire, space. It deals with the balance and imbalance of these five elements and incorporates the same five elements in treatment. Ayurveda, on the other hand, deals with three basic functions of the body: vata, pitta and kapha, which suggests movement, metabolism and structure. It also deals with the imbalance of seven dhatus, which are plasma, blood, muscle, adipose tissue, bone marrow, bone and immunity. Allopathy deals with organs and their dysfunctions at the receptor and molecular level. Homeopathy, on the other hand, deals with the conversion of matter into non-matter in the form of energy. The science of meditation deals with non-matter, at a deeper level than energy, at the level of potential.

The government needs to come out with strict regulations as to who can advertise and practice various branches of medicines and make sure that unsubstantiated claims are not communicated to the society through advertisements or advitoreals.

Dr. Aggarwal is Sr. Consultant, Moolchand Medcity; President, Delhi Medical Association; President, Heart Care Foundation of India; and Member, Delhi Medical Council.