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Dr K K Aggarwal

Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee

Feb 12

23

Four Ways Of Combating Negative Thoughts

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Darkness is absence of light so are negative thoughts which are absence of positive thoughts. As per Deepak Chopra Negative thoughts can only be removed by inculcating positive thoughts. Vedanta has described various modalities regarding the same.

1.  Adi Shankarya in his book Bhag Govindum described that the negative thoughts can be modified (think differently) . He said that once a monk encountered a female with no cloths over the chest, instead of closing the eyes, he looked at them and imagined them as the organs from where he drank the milk while he was an infant. The initial vitiated thoughts vanished there and then.

2. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali has described that for negative thought one can willfully originate opposite thoughts (think opposite). For example if one is having a thought of stealing he or she can silently pass on the thoughts of charity to someone.

3. Buddha on the other hand said that to resolve negative thoughts one should think of any positive thoughts or do any positive acts, even if they are unrelated. (think positive)

4. Face and be aware of the negative thought as it will be only transient (do not think at all, let it happen): There’s a classic Zen story about two celibate monks who are walking on a pilgrimage. They come across a girl who is very lovely and beautiful who wants to cross the river. The young monk gets attracted to her, offers help and says, “I’ll take you on my shoulders and carry you across the river and drop you off on the other side.” He does that, and the two monks continue on their pilgrimage until after a while the old monk starts to have a frown on his face.

He’s upset. Six hours, seven hours go by, and finally he looks at the young one and says, “I can’t believe you did that.” “Did what?” the young monk asks. “You carried that woman on your shoulders.” “I dropped her off six hours ago,” the young monk says. And to the old monk he further responds, “But you’re still carrying her.”

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Feb 12

23

Stop All Herbal Medicines Seven Day Before Any Surgery

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Herbal medications are frequently used by patients undergoing surgery. Some of these agents have physiologic effects that could be deleterious in the preoperative period, including precipitation of clotting disorders and interactions with anaesthetics.

Most patients may not disclose their medications during the preoperative assessment. Since there is no evidence that herbal medications improve surgical outcomes, and there are theoretic reasons that these agents may increase preoperative morbidity, they must be stopped before surgery.

1. Ephedra (ma huang) may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke and should be discontinued at least 24 hours prior to surgery.

2. Garlic may increase bleeding risk and should be discontinued at least 7 days prior to surgery.

3.Ginkgo may increase bleeding risk and should be discontinued at least 36 hours prior to surgery.

4. Ginseng lowers blood sugar and may increase bleeding risk and should be discontinued at least seven days prior to surgery.

5. Kava may increase the sedative effect of anaesthetics and should be discontinued at least 24 hours prior to surgery. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert about an association between kava use and fatal hepatotoxicity.

6.St. John’swort may diminish the effects of several drugs by induction of cytochrome p450 enzymes and should be discontinued at least five days prior to surgery.

7. Valerian may increase the sedative effect of anaesthetics and is associated with benzodiazepine–like withdrawal. There are no data on preoperative discontinuation. Ideally it is tapered weeks before surgery; if not, withdrawal is treated with benzodiazepines.

8. Echinacea is associated with allergic reactions and immune suppression. There are no data on preoperative discontinuation.

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Feb 12

22

The Conflicts between Ayurveda and Allopathy

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According to Charaka Samhita, the Bible of Ayurvedic text, one should not take curd, a predigested fermented food, in the night. This rule of Ayurveda has created a lot of controversy between doctors of Ayurveda and modern system of medicine. In fact, both Chinese and Ayurveda medicine clearly documents that one should not combine fermented food with unfermented food after sunset.

The diurnal variation of digestive enzymes has shown that they are weak in the evening hours co-relating with Kapha period of Ayurveda (6-10 pm). As per Ayurveda during weak digestive fire period one should not take a combination of pre-digested and digested food.

Ayurveda classifies 6-10 AM period in the morning as slow Kapha period, 10-2 pm afternoon period as strong Pitta period and 2-6 am period as active Vata period. The 12 hours cycle then repeats with 6-10 evening Kapha, 10-2 am late night Pitta and 2-6 am early morning Vata period.

According to Ayurveda, food is first converted into sweet taste in the mouth, sour taste in the stomach, and then bitter taste in the large intestine depending on the stages of digestion.

Normally, combination of food does not harm as long as the time food stays in the stomach remains normal.

In presence of slow gastric movement, a condition called gastroparesis commonly seen in diabetics food may stay in the stomach for over two hours. In this situation due to mismatch of two categories of foods the pre-digested fermented food will go into a next stage of digestion leading to  gas formation, acidity, dyspepsia and gas. While the other non fermented food will tale its usual course of digestion.

Digestive fire being strong in Pitta period (10am to 2pm) this problem is not faced when curd is taken in lunch time. Similarly dosa, idli, dhokla are restricted for their use in the night.

Ayurveda also says that one should not take three substances in excess and they are Pippali (piper longum, long pepper), Alkali and Salt. Pippali intensify the action of drugs to which they are added and can cause interactions with many allopathic drugs. This point must be known to all allopathic doctors.  Pippali should not be used continuously for a long term.

According to Ayurveda, people who are accustomed to excessive use of salt suffer from premature baldness, early grey of hair, etc.

If one consumes excess salt intake it should be reduced gradually and not suddenly.

It is a well know fact that substances which should not be used in excess are not offered to God, as it is supposed to be bad for the spiritual health. .

Food should be taken in moderation in proper amount, with concentration and with awareness of all five senses, neither too slow nor in hurry.

About curd Ayurveda further talks that curd should only be taken along with ghee, sugar, green gram, honey or amlaka. It should also not be taken hot.

Oil, ghee, and honey are the alleviators of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, respectively and need to be used in the right quantity.

In modern science also it has been shown that a high-salt diet may increase the risk of developing gastric and duodenal ulcers. High concentrations of salt in the stomach induce gene activity in the ulcer-causing Helicobacter pylori bacterium that causes it to become more virulent.

Salt restriction also reduces the diastolic blood pressure by 2-8 mm Hg.

A recent WHO report, said that reducing salt intake would be a cost effective way to reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure directly and reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke indirectly. The report recommends people to reduce consumption of sodium to less than 2 gm per day for each person. Common salt is chemically called Sodium Chloride (NaCl2). About 2.5 gm of table salt contains one gm of Sodium. This would mean that about 5 gm of table salt is the current recommended level of consumption per day.

According to a report published from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the year 2000, the average intake of salt in India was 10 gm per day for each person. This would amount to about 4 gm of Sodium. The current recommendations suggest reducing this consumption by half.

A recent research study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School and published in the recent edition of the British Medical Journal, found that reducing salt intake by 25% reduced the risk of developing heart disease by 25% and reduced the chance of death from heart disease by 20%.

Adding a pinch of salt to milk will keep it fresh longer is a common internet tip for the population but traditional Ayurveda teaching goes against it.

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Feb 12

22

Sugar Should Be Regulated Like Alcohol, Tobacco.

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Like alcohol and tobacco, sugar is a toxic, addictive substance that should be highly regulated with taxes, laws on where and to whom it can be advertised, and even age-restricted sales, says a team of UCSF scientists in Nature.

For both alcohol and tobacco, there is robust evidence that gentle ‘supply side’ control strategies which stop far short of all-out prohibition – taxation, distribution controls, age limits – lower both consumption of the product and the accompanying health harms.

The experts have proposed adding taxes to processed foods that contain any form of added sugars.

Over the past 50 years, sugar consumption has tripled worldwide. That’s also helped contribute to the obesity epidemic – so much so that there are 30 percent more obese people in this world than there are malnourished people.

Sugar is ‘toxic,’ particularly in excessive amounts, noting that it poses dangers similar to those of alcohol. Fructose, specifically, can harm the liver and overconsumption has been linked with all the diseases involved with metabolic syndrome: hypertension, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, and diabetes. [Source AMA News]

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Feb 12

21

Understanding Your Personality: Vata, Pitta, Kapha

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Ayurveda classifies human personality and body into different types scientifically. As per the concept the universe is made up of five elements: space, air, fire, water and earth.

As is the macrocosm so is the microcosm is a common Vedic saying. Human body according to Ayurveda is also made up of these five elements, which in turn in the body unites together to perform three main functions:  movement, metabolism and structure. Ayurveda terms them as doshas and the person as per the predominant dosha is said to have a particular prakriti called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. In allopathic language the Vata represents movement function, Pitta metabolism and Kapha represents structure.

 People with Vata predominant dosha have predominant space and air elements, Pitta have fire and water elements and Kapha have earth and water elements.

Having predominant space and air elements, Vata people are thin built and have tendencies for movement and airy disorders. They suffer from pain, palpitation, dysmenorrhea, renal colic, gall bladder colic, anxiety, insomnia, constipation, diarrhea, addictions, etc. Vata people have dry and cold hands.

Pitta being predominant in metabolism, fire and water, are medium built in personality and often suffer from acidity, skin infections, fevers, spleen, kidney and liver disorders, early graying of hair, heart disease, paralysis, etc. Pitta people have hot and moist hands.

Kapha people with predominant structure, earth and water components, are heavy built and often suffer from depression, diabetes, obesity, lethargies, early morning sleepiness, etc. Kapha people have moist and cold hands.

The main purpose of Ayurveda is to balance these doshas in respective persons. According to ayurvedic texts all doshas are perfect provided the doshas are not vitiated.

In terms of food, Vata gets aggravated with astringent, pungent and bitter tastes, Pitta by pungent, sour and salt tastes and Kapha by sweet, sour and salt tastes.

In terms of colour preference, Vata likes green colour, Pitta like blue and Kapha like red colour. In terms of music Vata people like fast music and Kapha people like slow music. In terms of sports, Vata and Pitta are fast runners and Kapha like indoor games.

 Take an example of a person waiting at railway station for the train. Vata person will become restless if the train is late enquiring about the same again and again often with a cigarette in the hand. Pitta person on the other hand will go to the enquiry counter, enquire and come back. And if the train does not come at the speculated time he will start shouting and showing his ego that he will get an enquiry officer terminated using his contacts. The Kapha persons on the other hand will be seen calm and bother less and will tell the enquiry officer that “I am relaxing in the lounge and whenever the train comes please inform me.”

 Vata people are best front line workers, Pitta best managers and Kapha best rulers. In terms of marital relationships, two Vata partners will be seen quarrelling all the time and also settling very fast. The worst relationship is between two Pitta partners especially if both are professionals as their ego will clash on tiny issues. Two Kapha partners are the best partners and often declared as made for each other couple. To be a good wife a lady should have some of the Kapha characters.

As per the constitution a person can be Vata, Pitta or Kapha, Vata-Pitta, Vata-Kapha, Pitta-Vata, Pitta-Kapha, Kapha-Vata and Kapha-Pitta or he can be Vata-Pitta-Kapha in equal proportions.

 In terms of timings 6 am to 10 am is the Kapha period, 10 am – 2 pm is the Pitta period and 2pm to 6 am is the Vata period and so on. In terms of season, Vata season is dry and cold, Pitta hot and humid and Kapha cold and humid.

 In terms of age, childhood is the Kapha period, adulthood is the Pitta period and old age is the Vata period.

By looking at a person, his habits, pulse and other parameters it is possible to know the personality of a person, his or her proneness to diseases and behaviors which will pacify doshas.

 Like Vata, Pitta and Kapha there are Gunas in mind and they are Satwa, Rajas and Tamas where Satwa represents purity of mind, Rajas aggression and Tamas inertia. Tamas usually goes with Kapha, Rajas with Pitta and Satwa with Vata.

 A particular disease may develop according to the personality. In terms of joint involvement, Vata will have arthalgia (joint pains), Pitta will have inflammation and Kapha will have swelling. In tuberculosis a Vata person will suffer from fibrosis, Pitta from inflammatory ulcerative lesions and Kapha from water collection. In terms of cancer, Vata cancers will be stricture based, Pitta ulcerative based and Kapha cauliflower based.

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Feb 12

21

Check Your BMI to Know Chances Of Future Heart Attack

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If you are less than 40 years of age, male, with a strong family history of diabetes, blood pressure or heart disease, have a normal weight as judged by Body Mass Index (BMI) but have a pot belly, or have gained more than 10 kg since the age 18, do not ignore and go to your cardiologist to reduce your chances of a future heart attack.

A BMI of 20 to 23 kg/m2 is associated with little or no increased risk unless visceral fat is high, or the subject has gained more than 10 kg since age 18.

  • Subjects with a BMI of 23 to 30 kg/m2 may be described as having low risk, while those with a BMI of 30 to 35 kg/m2 are at moderate risk.
  • Subjects with a BMI of 35 to 40 kg/m2 are at high risk, and those with a BMI above 40 kg/m2 are at very high risk from their obesity.
  • At any given level of BMI, the risk to health is increased by more abdominal fat (increased weight to hip ratio, WHR), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, age less than 40 years, male sex, and a strong family history of diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease.

The body mass index (BMI) is the most practical way to evaluate the degree of obesity. It is calculated from the height and weight as follows:

BMI = body weight (in kg) ÷ square of stature (height, in meters)

Overweight is defined as a BMI between 23 and 30 kg/m2 and obesity as a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2.

 

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Feb 12

20

The Science behind Shiva and Sakti

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After the life force leaves the body even the wife does not likes to come near the body (Bhaja Govindam). This life force has no weight, water cannot wet it, air cannot dry it, and weapons cannot cut it (Bhagwat Gita Chapter 2).

The life force of a computer is its intelligence, which is fed in data. Similarly, the life force of TV is its image, of radio is its voice and a mobile phone is the data in its chip.

The scientific description of this life force comes from the first Maha Vakya, from Aitareya Upanishad in Rig Veda, which describes that “Consciousness or Intelligence is the Brahman (Pragnanam Brahma).

This life force or the intelligence represents the conscious energy, energized consciousness or energized information. In computer language, the intelligence has both the fed in data and the software to operate this data. The software is driven by the power of intention and by the process of attention.

In Vedic language the data is the “purusha or Shiva” and the software the “Sakti” (Shakti). While the data or the Shiva is inactive and idle, without Sakti or energy, the data has no value and it makes” Shiva” a “SAVA”.

When Sakti moves toward Shiva it becomes awareness or consciousness. In Vedanta language it is called as soul or Brahman.

For comparison, what relationship Matter and energy have in Physics; Purusha and Prakruti have in Samkya Philosophy; infinite and zero have in Mathematics; Potential and kinetic energy have in energetics; Meaning and word have in Linguistics and Father and mother have in sociology, the same is with Shiva and Sakti have in understanding the mystery of Vedanta.

Shiva and Sakti are thus two inseparable entities in Indian mysticism. Just as moonlight cannot be separated from the moon, sakti cannot be separated from Shiva. Kashmir Shaivism says that “Shiva without Sakti is lifeless (Sava) because wisdom cannot move without power”.

Shiva and Sakti are different from the masculine and feminine aspects of the human body. In tantric spiritual path, one seeks to develop a perfect harmony and balance between masculine aspects (example mental focus, will, intellect) and feminine aspects (example sensitivity, emotion).

Shiva or the data is classified in the body in three subgroups: creation, protection and destruction (of that which is obsolete and effete and unnecessary and toxic). These in Hindu mythology are called the “Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh”. Some add another two more dimensions in them making them five and these are “revelation and concealment”. One can find these qualities in anything that’s alive.

The sakti or the forces (power) are sub classified in five sub types.

1. Chitta Sakti: Pure consciousness or the awareness of God.

2.  Ananda Sakti or pure bliss.

3. Gyana Sakti or the knowledge of God. It is the pure knowledge which means that knowledge which organizes and orchestrates the infinite correlative activity of the universe.

4. Kriya Sakti or ‘pure  action’ which are the actions directed toward God (action which is non-binding—doesn’t have the bondage of karma. Action which has the bondage of karma comes from the ego. It’s based on beliefs and expectations and interpretations and fears and judgments and past memories, whereas non-binding action, which is non-Karmic, is called kriya—action rooted in pure awareness and creativity)

5.   Desire (Icha Sakti: the desire or intention to unite with God)

Deepak Chopra in his Book, Path of Love Describes Shakti as under: If the voice of God spoke to you, Her powers would be conveyed in simple, universal phrases:

Chitta Shakti: “I am.”
Ananda Shakti: “I am blissful.”
Gyana Shakti: “I know.”
Kriya Shakti: “I act.”
Icha Shakti: “I will” or “I intend.”

These powers, if used towards acquiring spiritual wellbeing, any action (pure kriya) directed by the desire (pure ischa) leads to pure knowledge (pure gnana) and ends with internal bliss (ananda).

On the other hand, in routine life if these powers are governed by the ego, then the Action (Kriya) leads to Memory (Gyana or Gnana) and the memory leads to desire (Icha) and then action again.

According to Tantra, Satchidananda is called Shiva-Sakti, the hyphenated word suggesting that Shiva or the Absolute and Sakti or its creative power, are eternally conjoined like a word and its meaning; the one cannot be thought of without the other.

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Feb 12

20

All Adolescents Who Can Afford Should Take Meningococcal Vaccine

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Neisseria meningitides is a bacterium that causes serious illnesses, including bacterial meningitis. The bacteria lives on surfaces of the nose and pharynx (wind pipe) and is transmitted from person to person by direct contact with respiratory secretions.

Although meningococcal disease is easily treated in most people, 10 to 14 percent of people die from the infection

Meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (MCV-4, Groups A, C, Y and W-135) is recommended for all patients between 11 and 55 years of age. However US FDA has granted licensure to expand the indication for its meningococcal conjugate vaccine, to include children 2 years through 10 years of age.

These recommendations represent a change from the previous guidelines, which targeted specific subgroups. Factors related to the expanded recommendations include the ongoing risk of invasive meningococcal disease in adolescents and young adults, and the possibility that increased vaccine coverage may protect unvaccinated adolescents and their contacts.

Apart expert groups recommend the MVC4 vaccine for college freshmen living in dormitories, military recruits, travelers going to areas where meningococcal disease frequently occurs, microbiologists who are exposed to Neisseria meningitidis, people who have had their spleen removed, and people with terminal complement deficiency. The vaccine can be used in adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

MCV4 vaccine is given in one dose. A booster dose is recommended every 3 to 5 years for adults over 55 who are at high risk of meningococcal infection. Vaccination has also been used during outbreaks of meningococcal infection to reduce the number of secondary cases, when there is an appropriate vaccine available for the outbreak serogroup.

Routine vaccination is not recommended for adults between 20 and 55 years of age. The incidence of meningococcal disease is low in this age group and not affected by routine immunization.

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