24 June 2000

During the usual Vaishali meeting of Thursday the 22nd June, it was declared by one of us that he is going to host a talk by Pune's leading medical practitioner Dr Rajeev C Sharangpani on 24th evening, 6.30 PM onwards.

Dr Sharangpani did his MBBS and MS from BJ Medical College Pune. During his successful practice as a surgeon par excellence, he came across a number of practices in the medical field with which he was unable to agree, such as unnecessary operations for removal of appendix etc. Hence, he studied "Sports Medicine" and obtained a diploma in the subject from Germany. He now practices as a Consultant. As a part of his consultation work, the experiences he has gathered has given him an insight into the health aspects of human beings. A thinker he always was but, his involvement as a healer has converted him into a philosopher.

Dr S started off his talk with his opinion that the present day medical practice has become "market oriented". A doctor is no longer a healer (which he should be) but is a businessman (or businesswoman).
Consumerism has made him take no risks. He is afraid of saying that the patient is healthy and nothing is wrong with him. The doctor protects himself by ordering a lot of unnecessary tests, so that if later the
patient's condition worsens, he can claim that he did his best by trying to investigate but nothing was found. In 95 cases out of 100, there is nothing seriously wrong with the patients. The modern medical practice prescribes a lot of medicines which are unnecessary. They see to it that the patient does not die but does not become well either! Only the cases where medication is necessary the patient's condition improves somewhat but the medication continues for life. The patient becomes dependent on medicines. This way, the manufacturers of medicines continue to have their expanding market. Bypass surgery is one of the biggest hoaxes being perpetrated by the medical community. It has become
a status symbol. A person having undergone a bypass surgery is looked up as a successful person (and a rich one too) and looked at with sympathy for his leading a stressful life!

The entire approach to health should be changed. The path to true health is reached by consciously keeping oneself healthy - Physically, Mentally and Spiritually.

If something produces pain, it is bad for the body and physical health. Such a simple principle is forgotten by most. Pain is a warning system of the body. At the occurrence of pain, one should try to find the CAUSE/S of pain and try to remove those. Instead, painkillers are prescribed by doctors and swallowed enthusiastically by the patients. No wonder the patient does not become well.

Our generation has become more sedentary in its lifestyle. This invariably means a lack of exercise for the body muscles. Human body is such that whatever one does not use, becomes defunct. Regular exercise
is therefore very essential for everybody. There are three types of physical exercises - for Strength, Endurance and Flexibility. Yoga provides only flexibility type of exercise. Hence, yoga alone is not
enough. When yoga was evolved a few thousand years back, the lifestyle was not sedentary and perhaps in those days, yoga could be enough. Not any more.

Every individual is unique. This fact should be remembered. Key to mental health is living a less stressful life. For all our actions, we are ourselves responsible. This fact is forgotten easily and people think that others are responsible for their problems. This fixing of blame on others is the cause of many problems. 99 per cent of cases Dr S treats are of psychosomatic in nature. For ladies, these problems are
more common because of several restrictions placed on them socially. One should always think of one's mental health and try to solve possible problems before they arise.

Reliance on Geeta or other religious discourses for spiritual health is as far as they go. The real problem is that people only talk and do not bring these teachings into practice. Dr S has seen a large number of
patients that were very well informed in spiritual matters but surprisingly, their physical problems were caused by not implementing those concepts.

Summing up, Dr S suggests that one should learn the art of introspection and try to achieve consciously, physical, mental and spiritual health. This is the key to lasting well being.

The talk took 1 hour and 15 minutes. There was a lively 45 minutes' session of Q & A during which, among other things, Dr S also demonstrated proper breathing method using the diaphragm in our body.
Contrary to what is taught to us in schools (one should push the chest forward and breathe with chest), one should always breathe with "abdomen", i.e. with the diaphragm. This is the most natural way of breathing an infant uses and is good for all without exception. Breathing with chest is an emergency response of the body and also produces stress. Breathing with abdomen relieves stress.

The talk was interspersed with a lot of anecdotes and actual cases. The audience was enthralled and amused at the same time. Laughter was heard throughout the talk.

Pramod Phadke presented a vote of thanks..