Ragas do have curative power

Music therapy is not new to Indians. It is called Gandharvaved in ayurveda where there is reference about particular ragas treating particular diseases.

The raga hindol used in a specific way gave miraculous relief to patients suffering from spondylitis. Lower back and knee pains in other patients also gave similar results. Being an engineer and a student of science, I wondered about the phenomenon behind these occurrences and started discussing with qualified therapists- Dr Himalaya Pantavaidya (M.D). a well-known anesthetist, and Vaidyaraj Sanjay Chhajed (M.D. Ayurveda), a Nadiatadnya (pulse expert), helped me clear my doubts- and I formulated a theory and system of music therapy called Sur-Sanjeevan, based on four major aspects – modern science; mood elevation theory; principles of ayurved; traditions of Indian classified music.

Stress relaxation:

Music can affect one’s moods in various ways. It can relax as well as activate the mind. At the end of a hectic day of work, your brain goes to the beta frequency state (between 12 and 16 Hertz). A favourite piece of slow instrumental music will bring it back to its relaxed alpha state (between 9 and 12 Hertz) and then in Theta state (between 5 and 8 Hertz). Any raga, any ghazal, any western music, film songs, fast or slow music- whatever you like can be used for relaxation. Music refreshes your mind, elevates your mood and prepares you for the next activity. Alaaps in ragas like Yaman, Bihag, Malkauns, Darbari Kanada on flute or violin are particularly effective in soothing the mind.

To perform your work smoothly, to accept challenges, to complete a task in scheduled time, you need ‘positive stress’ Ragas like hindol, Alaiya Bilawal and Bihag Shankara will enhance your willpower and help prepare your mind to face difficult situations.

Feelings like tension, anxiety, grief, anger, fear and depression create disturbances in the mind and generate harmful ‘negative stress’. To reduce tension and anxiety, a feeling of reassurance is required. Ragas like Rageshree and Gavti on instruments like sitar and sarod, played in Madhyalaya (medium speed), should be used for this purpose.

To get relief from grief, ragas like Kalavati and Bihag can be used. For anger, the Noon Ragas like Madmad Sarang and Multani heard several times over give you results. Ragas like Yaman and Bhoop are effective in combating fear, while ragas like Darbari, Sohni and Shankara are useful for depression.

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Detecting breast cancer using thermal imaging

Screening to detect breast cancer early may become a reality if thermography that is in the early stages of testing is perfected. The trial is jointly done by the Indira Gandhi centre for atomic research (IGCAR), kalpakkam and the Chennai based Sir Rama Chandra medical college (SRMC).thermography detects infrared radiation emitted by a body, and the wavelength of the infrared radiation is correlated to the temperature.

“Any cancerous/abnormal cells will cause increased blood flow. Increased blood flow result in increased temperature.thermography looks for such increase in temperature in any part of the breast,” said Dr.B.Enkatraman, Head, Quality assurance Division at IGCAR.

However, not all cells that exhibit an increased temperature due to increased blood flow are cancerous. Hence its ability to identify all cancerous cells and only the cancerous cells is crucial. The performance and ability of thermography to deduct breast cancer were first tested on 25 patients who had come to the department of atomic energy hospital at kalpakkam with pain/indication of breast cancer.

The clinical standardization (determining the ambient temperature at which the screening should be done etc) has already been done at SRMC.results from themography were compared with mammography and tissue biopsy in nearly 200 patients. Patients above the age of 40 and who complained of pain in the breast were chosen.

High sensitivity:
“The sensitivity is about 98 percent (ability to detect positive cases) and the specificity (ability to pick up only the positive cases) is 88-90 percent,” said Dr.P.Surendran, associate professor in general surgery, SRMC.the sensitivity and specificity were derived during the process of clinical standardization according to him, the specificity is as high as 96 percent in well established breast cancers and about 85 percent in the case of early lesions (about 1 cm size).

Following the clinical standardization, thermography has been used on 60 patients at SRMC.the analytical standardization-to know which cells/areas exhibiting abnormal temperature are actually cancerous-is in progress. Analytical standardization would help provide accurate information of the sensitivity and specificity.

“What we have done now is to see if thermography can be more sensitive than mammography, so we can pick up cases at a much earlier stage and confirm it with mammography and tissue biopsy,” said Dr.S.P.Thiagarajan, director of medical research at Rama Chandra University. It will be an ideal and a superior tool for screening compared with mammography if the specificity is also high. For instance, unlike mammography, thermography detects breast cancer non-invasively.

Several advantages:
There are several other advantages as well. Patients are not subjected to any radiation, it is not expensive, is a painless procedure, and can be done quickly. But the most important advantage is that thermography can pick up cancerous/abnormal cells immaterial of the age of patient and the type of breast. “Mammography can not pick up smaller lesions in younger patients(less then 40 years) and when the breast density is high. That is its biggest disadvantage,” said Dr.Surendran.”Mammography is useful in older patients and smaller breasts”.

“Our aim is to perfect it so we can use it as a screening tool in rural setting, “said Dr.Baldev Raj,Director of IGCAR,it is, however,too early to say that thermography can be used as a screening tool. But it will surely turn out to be an invaluable tool if the specificity issue is addressed.

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Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain over the muscles, connective tissues, joints, ligaments and tendons. The causes of this disorder are unknown but the symptoms can be treated. However, the main causes of fibromyalgia include stress, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and much more. Living with fibromyalgia is a difficult task Women are mostly affect from fibromyalgia between the ages of 35 and 55. Men and children can also have this disorder. The first and foremost symptom of fibromyalgia is pain. The pain includes the neck, buttocks, shoulders, arms, the upper back, and the chest. The symptoms can vary from person to person.

People with fibromyalgia can experience everyday tasks difficult and can even cause rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, insomnia, and depression. It can be difficult to treat. But it is important to cure pain and fatigue is the key to living a full and healthy life. It is essential to meet a doctor who is familiar with the treatment of fibromyalgia. Usually, the treatment lasts with a team approach. Family physicians, rheumatologists, or general internists can treat fibromyalgia. It is quite better to get treatment in pain or rheumatology clinic. Not only the medical treatment but also nutrition, exercise, and sleep therapy can help. Some fibromyalgia patients are highly benefited from massage, acupuncture and relaxation techniques etc.

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Ovarian cancer and it effects

Ovarian cancer is a kind of cancer that affects in the ovaries. Around 90 per cent of ovarian cancers begin on the outer covering of the ovary. This is referred as epithelial ovarian cancer. Ovaries are reproductive glands that found only in women over age 50, but it can also affect younger ones because they may have a family history of ovarian cancer. So women are more likely to suffer from this complication of cancer.

No one knows the exact causes of ovarian cancer. It is also the most common cancer in the women all over the world. Women with ovarian cancer have no signs of symptoms until the cancer has spread extensively. But ovarian cancer is hard to detect early and treat in its early stages. Hundreds of women die of the disease each year.

The early symptoms of ovarian cancer can include abdominal bloating, vomiting, abnormal periods, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss or gain, pelvic pain, gas, nausea, lower abdominal pain, loss of appetite, constipation and fatigue. These symptoms can also be well present in other common illnesses. It is important that the women experience any unusual or persistent symptoms, should contact the health care provider for further tests.

Ovarian cancer is commonly known as ‘the silent killer’ because it frequently causes non-specific symptoms and signs. Thus ends the treatment with poor and delay diagnosis. There are number of different types of treatment are used to treat ovarian cancer. The treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy and sometimes radiotherapy. The treatment depends on the stage and severity of the disease, the type and size of the tumor, age and general health. Then the specialists will decide which treatment is suitable for their patients.

The patients should gather the informations about advantages and disadvantages of the treatment, or any significant risks and side effects of the treatment and how the treatment is likely to affect them for general well-being. It is because some cancer treatments are complex.

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Anemia diet

Anemia disease is mainly caused by lack of iron and hemoglobin of a person and it is a serious condition. Millions of people are largely affected from this type of disorder. It results in poor functioning of the respiratory system and leave in a state of helplessness. So, it must be treated well with your efficient physicians. Other than treatment, one should concentrate on the diet when he/she is supposed to experience with anemia. The lack of iron can be caused due to unhealthy diet. It can be also inherited from ancestors. The diet can vary form person to another. One’s diet plan will not be the same for other individuals.

Patients who are suffering from anemia should intake iron-rich foods for iron deficiency anemia. The diet can include milk, cheese, fish, egg, meat, beans, honey, soybean, and brown unpolished rice. People should strictly avoid food items like white bread, fried food, sweet, sugar, and so on. The quantity of diet can vary according to age and condition of the patient. A pregnant woman with anemia should concentrate on iron-rich food with medical attention or else the condition may lead to miscarriage or premature baby. The diet should be nutritious and balance for a sense of well-being.

Vegetables and fruits are considered as the best foods to treat anemia sufferers. It includes green leafy vegetables, lentils, grapes, spinach, strawberries, apples, carrots, beets, onion, potato, carrots, cabbages, plums, barberry, and bananas. The patients can also take iron supplements to balance iron-rich diet. Anemia is mostly a problem for children, young women and older people. Usually, they are at risk of iron deficiency, according to study. The foods also high in iron include liver, seafood, apricots, prunes, raisins, whole grains, raisins, iron-fortified breads and cereals, nuts and blackstrap molasses should concentrate by the people of anemia.

The severity of anemia can be treated well by proper and balanced iron-rich diet. One should conscious about taking iron pills. It is because that can cause heart burn, stomach upset and constipation without medical attention. The patients should avoid certain foods like tea, coffee, egg yolks, milk and fiber for the welfare of the health.

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Binge drinking and college students

Binge drinking is very common among college students. They are drinking alcohol more heavily and frequently. They use on college campus today with an excess amount. Many college students think that it would be a “rite of passage” in to adulthood. In certain palaces in the world, there are bars near college campus. Thus, it helps to promote heavy drinking and cause illness than nothing. Alcohol advertising can help to promote underage drinking

Some of the alcohol producers refused the students to consume alcohol for better income. They are mainly focus on money and spoil the pupil’s academic career. Once the person is addict to alcohol, it is quite hard to control it. Also he should give up his whole life. In such cases, alcoholic patients can treat heavily under doctor care. It is pain that some of the high school students are highly affected with this issue. Over consuming of alcohol will definitely lead in to death and leave in a sense of helplessness. Binge eating disorder is seen in both men and women. Alcohol use often begins in young adulthood and travel in to later years.

Now, 50% of college students practice binge drinking. It can result in attempt suicide, accidents, injuries, academic failure and nothing. Sometimes, the consumption of alcohol can be treated as a poison in the body. Thus it leaves in semi consciousness and unconsciousness. The skin would turn in to cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin. These are the signs and symptoms of alcoholic poison. Parents should also take care of the alcoholic addicts. It is essential to treat them if they are blindly addicted to alcoholism and help them to lead in a right path of life. Some of the women are also take part in consumption of alcohol. This would totally affect their family life. Alcohol encourages fat deposition, especially in the abdominal region. Some people even have food-related allergic and asthmatic reactions to alcohol.

Binge drinking has a variety of contradiction. It can lead in to unplanned sexual activity, damaged property, injuries and death. Alcohol will slow down the body systems. And also many problems associated with binge drinking can affect all aspects of life. Alcohol users can spoil their education and leave in the state of helplessness. Some of the colleges have been allowed alcohol to be used in college campus. This should be banned by the government for right life of the students.

It is a life long problem and always associated with the health complications. Some college students are involved with the police or campus security as a result of their drinking such as public drunkenness or driving under the influence. The consequences of excessive and underage drinking affect virtually all college campus, college communities and college students. Other college students can also spoil their life. So, the alcohol should be restricted in college campus. Being, college is the basic platform for planning the future. Alcoholic addiction is also seen frequency among homeless individuals.

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Treatment for depression

Depression is very common. It is well related to both physical and mental health issues. There is no single cause for depression. Many of them like genetics, environment, life events, medical conditions, emotional and professional problems and the way people react to situations that occur in their lifestyle. The symptoms of depression include depressed mood or sadness most of the time without any particular reason, irritability, anger, anxiety, and inability to lone center ate on family & job, weight loss on gain, unable to sleep well, keep distance from friends and family. Thoughts of death or suicide and much like. It affects the whole life and leave in the sense of helplessness. If anyone experience any one of these symptoms, it is essential to visit a doctor as early as possible to have a better quality of life.

Depression is one of the most common emotional problems around the world. Depression can be mild or severe but must be treated for well-being. The depressed person may also experience headaches, loss of appetite, stomach upset and lack of sleep. Sometime, it can affect the brain. It is extremely hard to live with depression mood often. Sadness is usual to human but depression is more than ordinary sadness. Most of the children are adolescents are getting depressed like anything today.
Depression is treatable under effective physician. It will not lead the person weak or crazy but it is a real illness which is caused by chemical imbalance in the brain. There are wide varieties of treatments to give up depressive mood. The specific treatments include talk therapy, medication or a combination of both. When the depression are diagnosed and treated by a doctor, it will certainly disappear.

There are several types of depression among the people. So doctor who treat depression can carefully monitor the patients and help them to combat depression in their life. Talk therapy with a mental health profession is very safe and effective patients and doctors aid them to relieve from this real illness. They also encourage people by involving in to yoga, exercise, dance, music and so on. These approaches can obviously keeps distance from depression.
Medications can be varying from person to person under the treatments of depression. But the physician should provide the right dose to the patients. Because every person’s brain is different, what works well for one person might not work for other individual’s emotional care can also help to get relief from sadness of life when depression is severe.

Psychotherapy is also one of the main types of depression a treatment is often called “talk therapy”. Soft words can win hard hearts. This saying is very suitable to the treatment of psychotherapy. Many of the patients are getting recovered under these specific treatments.

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