Article written by:
Acu Healer. Kuntikana RadhaKrishna Bhat, D.A.Sc.,
Acupuncturist.
When Chest Pains, many people relate it with Heart, Cholesterol, etc., and start fearing.
Immunity Power given to us by nature tells us:
"Do not be afraid. I'm your Guard. I will strengthen you. I will help you."
Most of the time, Chest pain is not due to a problem in the Heart or Cholesterol.
There are many reasons for Chest Pain and one among them is Heart.
Whether Chest Pain is due to a problem in the Heart or due to some other reasons, know that it's curable.
Pain appearing anywhere in our body is an indication that our body has started a maintenance activity. And our body wants our help to successfully complete that maintenance activity.
What does it mean?
Immunity Power in our body guards us from all ailments.
When a maintenance activity is carried out by our body, we should focus our day to day functions towards strengthening the Immunity Power.
How can we strengthen our Immunity Power in such times?
1. If we don't feel hungry, we should not eat.
Even if we feel hungry, we should take Rice Porridge ('Kanji Theli' in Kannada language, 'Pejye Neesa' in Karada language and 'Kanji' in Tamil language, ) or Fruit Juice or Vegetable Soup.
2. Take sufficient rest.
3. We should not take medicines, because they kill our Immunity Power and create more diseases by their side effects.
4. Take Acupuncture Treatment.
When we do so, the maintenance activity started by our body's Immunity Power gets completed, and we can get back our health.
To conclude, I give below an article written by Dr. Sethuraman K Raman, MD (Int Med), how patients are getting exploited when they get Chest Pain.
Debt: Mine or Yours?
Written by: Dr. Sethuraman K Raman, MD (Int Med)
The Fox and the Goat:
A fox slipped into a deep well by accident. He was wondering how he could get out. Soon a thirsty goat peeped in and asked if the water was good. "Excellent," replied the fox, "it is very tasty. Come in and try it out for yourself.” The goat jumped into the well and quenched its thirst. When he started wondering how to climb out, the fox told him, "You stand on your hind legs and put your forelegs on the wall. I shall climb on you and get out. Then I shall help you out.” The goat did as he was told and the fox climbed out. He told the goat, "To help myself out, I had to get you into the well. Thank you for being so gullible," and ran away.
Ammasai, a 40-year old petty businessman, went to a newly started posh clinic for consultation. After examining him, the consultant said, "You got chest pain. It could lead to a heart attack. We can't take chances. Get admitted now,” and sent him to the ward.
After a while, the admitting doctor approached the consultant and said, "Sir. He is not rich. He says he had to take a loan even to pay the consulting fee. Should we have to admit him? After all, he seems to have only pectoral myalgia (a form of muscle ache)."
The consultant replied, "Don't be silly. Grow up. You are worried about other people getting into debt, but what about the loan I have taken to build this clinic? I am in a deeper debt than you know. Just admit him. He will get the money from somewhere."
Comments:
'The Mercenary doctor' is not a modern phenomenon but has been a problem over many centuries. "A doctor who can help a poor man and will not (do so) without a fee, has less sense of Humanity than a poor ruffian who robs a rich man to supply his necessities. It is something monstrous to consider a man of liberal education tearing the bowels of a poor family by taking for a visit (as fee) what would keep them for a week," lamented Richard Steele (1672-1729).
In Sanskrit, there is an ancient couplet which says, "A physician is the elder brother of Yama, the Lord of Death, because Yama takes away only your Life but the physician takes away your life and all your money!"
Bernard Shaw had an uncanny insight into the working of a doctor's mind when faced with the dilemma of choosing between ethics and monetary compulsions. He wrote thus in his preface to The Doctor's Dilemma:
"As to the honour and conscience of doctors, they have as much as any other class of men, no more and no less. And what other men dare pretend to be impartial when they have a strong pecuniary interest on one side?"
"It is simply unscientific to allege or believe that doctors do not under existing circumstances perform unnecessary operations and manufacture and prolong lucrative illnesses."
(Bernard Shaw, 1906)
I know of countless number of true stories from 'fee for service' hospitals. The pressure to bring in income by unethical means is much higher in hospitals run for profit by nontechnical financiers. I am sure every reader of this book will have a tale to tell in which a friend or a relative was taken on an expensive 'medical ride'.
One of my students, who had joined a private hospital in a metropolis, could not stand the commercial exploitation of human gullibility and fears that took place there. He said this about his experiences: "No pregnant woman had a chance of a normal delivery during the second half of every month because money had to be generated to pay back the next monthly instalment to the bank. Similarly, anyone with any sort of chest symptom would be put into intensive care and kept there for five days unless they ran out of money and asked to go home.” When my student raised some ethical queries, he was simply told to join in or get out. He chose to get out.
I have debated this issue of 'exploitation' with some of my friends in the private sector. They disagreed and argued thus: "Most patients are happy getting the maximum attention, we are happy collecting our fees and the health care industry is happy generating income. It is an all-win situation. Why should you alone be unhappy?"
This seemingly benign rationalisation had me cornered for some time before the viciousness of it struck me. Then I asked my friends, "A drug peddler or a pimp will also use the same logic and say it is an all-win situation. Can you or the society accept it then?"
The harsh reality is that two-thirds of our rural families are in debt because of health care expenditure. The urban figure will be no less than that. "Until the medical profession becomes a body of men trained and paid by the country to keep the country in health, it will remain what it is at present: a conspiracy to exploit popular credulity and human suffering" (Bernard Shaw, 1906).
If the shackles of health care related indebtedness have to be broken, the planners and health activists have to squarely address this issue and find some lasting solutions. I believe that the Munnar model discussed in the next chapter is a credible alternative.
Acu Healer. Kuntikana RadhaKrishna Bhat, D.A.Sc.,
Acupuncturist.
When Chest Pains, many people relate it with Heart, Cholesterol, etc., and start fearing.
Immunity Power given to us by nature tells us:
"Do not be afraid. I'm your Guard. I will strengthen you. I will help you."
Most of the time, Chest pain is not due to a problem in the Heart or Cholesterol.
There are many reasons for Chest Pain and one among them is Heart.
Whether Chest Pain is due to a problem in the Heart or due to some other reasons, know that it's curable.
Pain appearing anywhere in our body is an indication that our body has started a maintenance activity. And our body wants our help to successfully complete that maintenance activity.
What does it mean?
Immunity Power in our body guards us from all ailments.
When a maintenance activity is carried out by our body, we should focus our day to day functions towards strengthening the Immunity Power.
How can we strengthen our Immunity Power in such times?
1. If we don't feel hungry, we should not eat.
Even if we feel hungry, we should take Rice Porridge ('Kanji Theli' in Kannada language, 'Pejye Neesa' in Karada language and 'Kanji' in Tamil language, ) or Fruit Juice or Vegetable Soup.
2. Take sufficient rest.
3. We should not take medicines, because they kill our Immunity Power and create more diseases by their side effects.
4. Take Acupuncture Treatment.
When we do so, the maintenance activity started by our body's Immunity Power gets completed, and we can get back our health.
To conclude, I give below an article written by Dr. Sethuraman K Raman, MD (Int Med), how patients are getting exploited when they get Chest Pain.
Debt: Mine or Yours?
Written by: Dr. Sethuraman K Raman, MD (Int Med)
The Fox and the Goat:
A fox slipped into a deep well by accident. He was wondering how he could get out. Soon a thirsty goat peeped in and asked if the water was good. "Excellent," replied the fox, "it is very tasty. Come in and try it out for yourself.” The goat jumped into the well and quenched its thirst. When he started wondering how to climb out, the fox told him, "You stand on your hind legs and put your forelegs on the wall. I shall climb on you and get out. Then I shall help you out.” The goat did as he was told and the fox climbed out. He told the goat, "To help myself out, I had to get you into the well. Thank you for being so gullible," and ran away.
Ammasai, a 40-year old petty businessman, went to a newly started posh clinic for consultation. After examining him, the consultant said, "You got chest pain. It could lead to a heart attack. We can't take chances. Get admitted now,” and sent him to the ward.
After a while, the admitting doctor approached the consultant and said, "Sir. He is not rich. He says he had to take a loan even to pay the consulting fee. Should we have to admit him? After all, he seems to have only pectoral myalgia (a form of muscle ache)."
The consultant replied, "Don't be silly. Grow up. You are worried about other people getting into debt, but what about the loan I have taken to build this clinic? I am in a deeper debt than you know. Just admit him. He will get the money from somewhere."
Comments:
'The Mercenary doctor' is not a modern phenomenon but has been a problem over many centuries. "A doctor who can help a poor man and will not (do so) without a fee, has less sense of Humanity than a poor ruffian who robs a rich man to supply his necessities. It is something monstrous to consider a man of liberal education tearing the bowels of a poor family by taking for a visit (as fee) what would keep them for a week," lamented Richard Steele (1672-1729).
In Sanskrit, there is an ancient couplet which says, "A physician is the elder brother of Yama, the Lord of Death, because Yama takes away only your Life but the physician takes away your life and all your money!"
Bernard Shaw had an uncanny insight into the working of a doctor's mind when faced with the dilemma of choosing between ethics and monetary compulsions. He wrote thus in his preface to The Doctor's Dilemma:
"As to the honour and conscience of doctors, they have as much as any other class of men, no more and no less. And what other men dare pretend to be impartial when they have a strong pecuniary interest on one side?"
"It is simply unscientific to allege or believe that doctors do not under existing circumstances perform unnecessary operations and manufacture and prolong lucrative illnesses."
(Bernard Shaw, 1906)
I know of countless number of true stories from 'fee for service' hospitals. The pressure to bring in income by unethical means is much higher in hospitals run for profit by nontechnical financiers. I am sure every reader of this book will have a tale to tell in which a friend or a relative was taken on an expensive 'medical ride'.
One of my students, who had joined a private hospital in a metropolis, could not stand the commercial exploitation of human gullibility and fears that took place there. He said this about his experiences: "No pregnant woman had a chance of a normal delivery during the second half of every month because money had to be generated to pay back the next monthly instalment to the bank. Similarly, anyone with any sort of chest symptom would be put into intensive care and kept there for five days unless they ran out of money and asked to go home.” When my student raised some ethical queries, he was simply told to join in or get out. He chose to get out.
I have debated this issue of 'exploitation' with some of my friends in the private sector. They disagreed and argued thus: "Most patients are happy getting the maximum attention, we are happy collecting our fees and the health care industry is happy generating income. It is an all-win situation. Why should you alone be unhappy?"
This seemingly benign rationalisation had me cornered for some time before the viciousness of it struck me. Then I asked my friends, "A drug peddler or a pimp will also use the same logic and say it is an all-win situation. Can you or the society accept it then?"
The harsh reality is that two-thirds of our rural families are in debt because of health care expenditure. The urban figure will be no less than that. "Until the medical profession becomes a body of men trained and paid by the country to keep the country in health, it will remain what it is at present: a conspiracy to exploit popular credulity and human suffering" (Bernard Shaw, 1906).
If the shackles of health care related indebtedness have to be broken, the planners and health activists have to squarely address this issue and find some lasting solutions. I believe that the Munnar model discussed in the next chapter is a credible alternative.
