Integrated method to treat diabetes

by Samangie WETTIMUNY

Dr.Rathnapala presents a book which contains his methods of treating diabetes to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Several campaigns and awareness programs were held during the past few weeks to celebrate the World Diabetes Day which fell on November 14.More than 120 million people worldwide suffer from Diabetes and an estimated 220 million people will be affected by this silent killer by 2020.

Though allopathic medicine has been the favourite method of treating diabetes, attention is now being drawn to integrated medical systems where a combination of Ayurvedic and Allopathic medicine is used to treat this deadly disease. In countries like China there are even universities such as the College of Integrated Medicine where they practise this system.

Anyway, it seems that people are still not quite sure of this treatment and the majority of them still tend to seek the assistance of Western medicine practitioners. But as Traditional Ayurvedic Consultant Physician, Dr. B.A. Rathnapala of Ropa Ayurvedic Hospital, Kottawa, Mattegoda says more and more diabetic patients seek his assistance to get rid of this deadly disease. Over forty percent out of 6196 patients he treated from January 2005 to January 2008 have got completely cured while others take treatment with much improved conditions.

People may think more lightly of diabetes than of cancer, but it is a known fact that diabetes reduces life expectancy. As the name itself suggests Ayurveda is the science of life and longevity. It not only cures dreadful diseases but acts as a preventive measure as well. As Dr. Rathnapala indicated the three main agents called doshas (Vaata Dosha, Pitha Dosha and Kapha Dosha) are the determinants of the health of the human body. If we are to be healthy those three should be in a balanced state. Also 'Dhatus' should be in balanced state. If not, we are likely to contract diseases very easily.

"According to Ayurveda, diabetes is classified as Kapaja Prameha, Pittaja Prameha and Vataja Prameha. Altogether there are 20 types of diabetes -10 types of Kapaja Prameha, 6 types of Pittaja Prameha and 4 types of Vataja Prameha, Kapaja Prameha is completely curable.

Patients who suffer from Pittaja Prameha have to be under medical treatment during their entire life time. Vataja Prameha cannot be cured. "But if the lifespan of a Vataja Prameha patient who takes western medicine is 5 years, I can assure you that integrated medicine could make their lifespan double.

"What people initially get is diabetes. If it is not treated properly it may develop into diabetic mellitus in the long run. That is really what I am worried about. It is mainly the wrong medical practices and diet patterns that help diabetes to develop into diabetes mellitus."

Dr. B.A. Rathnapala

Showing several medical reports of his patients, he explained how prolonged injection of insulin cause several other complications. "Major issue is hyperlipidaemia (Cholesterol level increase) and Hypertension (pressure)."

"Patients develop such types of complications because insulin is a hormone which produces protein as well. It increases albumin.

It also produces fat (i.e. it improves cholesterol). Another complication is when someone is under insulin, sodium reabsorption of the kidney gets high. As Ayurveda states, 50% of diabetes can be cured. Dr. Rathnapala says that there are three theoretical ways of describing and proving this. "Bala Chikithsa, Ayurvedic scientific view and according to modern physiology .

Bala Chikithsa

"Bala Chikithsa is a treatment used to improve the blood count - a way of improving the bio-energy count of the human body. In fact, it is an ancient treatment practised during my father's time. My father too was a renowned Ayurvedic practitioner and in fact here I use the recipe taken from his Ola leaves." As Dr. Rathnapala says it is essential to give insulin to patients if their sugar level has reached Higher Upper Level (more than 300) "in order to prevent them from getting into a coma." "In such situations insulin is essential to save one's life. But if you continue to rely on insulin for a longer period of time it can even 'end' your life!

Citing examples from his patients he showed how he stopped giving insulin to patients who have sought his medical advice.

"They had been under insulin for a long period. When you continue to inject insulin the pancreas gets depressed and would reduce even the low amount of insulin it produces at the moment. What you should keep in mind is that not almost all diabetic patients need insulin. Only 5% of patients need insulin supplement throughout their lives. But unfortunately, it seems that some of the medical practitioners start injecting insulin to patients without having proper understanding of the type of diabetes the patient is having.

For example, if juvenile diabetics are given insulin from a very early age and in the long run they are likely to develop lots of complications." (This will be further discussed in the course of the article.)

When asked about the unique feature of his treatment, Dr. Rathnapala said that his medicine has the power to stimulate the pancreas, and produce more insulin. So our medicine improves the serum insulin level as well. Through diet and medicine the blood sugar level of patients can be reduced. If not there is no other means to stop injecting insulin. Also ayurvedic medicine contain more anti-oxidants and as such cells always get sufficient amounts of oxygen. Our medicine also rejuvenates' blood."

As mentioned earlier, it is not merely Bala Chikithsa and ayurvedic methods that Dr. Rathnapala make use of. He uses western medicine as well. In fact, it is an integrated method of treating diabetes. "For some patients I give only half a tablet( 2.5 mg) of Glibencamide after stopping injecting insulin. It is the only medicine which could stimulate pancreas. But I do not use it for prolonged periods." "We should make use of all types of medicine to ensure optimum efficacy. Even in China they practise an integrated medical system. Here in Sri Lanka we have even better herbs. In fact, what I want is to introduce my way of treatment to others both in local and international arena. The pill I want to introduce to local and international pharmacies is one made out of 2.5mg of glibencamide combined with three types of herbal medicine."

Ayurvedic medicine-Products of Ropa Ayurveda. Pix Chinthaka Kumarasingha

Dr. Rathnapala has even met President Mahinda Rajapaksa along with his suggestions. "In fact it was Prof. Carlo Fonseka who took me to the President as he was highly impressed by my method of treatment.The President was pleased with my suggestions and he has referred them to the Health Ministry." "There are several patients whom I have cured completely. " he continued. In fact, some of them are even ready to be contacted to share their "miraculous success story'" with others. Among them are 4 doctors Speaker, five ministers, six Members of Parliament, four provincial Council Members, two judges and three senior Police officers."

One of the ways he practises is curing diabetes by enhancing immunity.

There are so many complications of diabetes such as Ischaemic heart disease, renal complication, retinopathy and neuropathy." Ayurveda is specially worried about the heart diseases caused by diabetes.

Ischaemic heart disease arises as a result of insufficient blood supply to the heart. Kidney damage too cannot be overlooked. Diabetes retinopathy is one of the ways that affects your eyes. Initially the focusing power of the eye changes due to swelling of the lens because of the accumulation of sugar and water. Secondly, it may lead to two main eye diseases - cataract and glaucoma. There are four types of diabetic neuropathy- peripheral neuropathy (which most commonly affects feet and legs.), autonomic neuropathy (which most often affects digestive system, blood vessels, urinary system and sex organs), proximal neuropathy and focal neuropathy.

Dr. Rathnapala emphasized the need to get the required tests done. If you have any of the following complications, it is highly advisable to get a test done and check whether you have diabetes.

Excessive thirst and dry mouth, passing large volumes of urine several times a day, rapid weight loss, delayed wound healing, impairment of eye sight, excessive tiredness and if you have a family history of diabetes.

You should be always very careful of what you eat. Your diet should include only the required amount of carbohydrate. The three main causes we should treat are digestive power, serum insulin level and intake of carbohydrate level.

For a diabetes patient medicine, diet and exercise matter alike .

"It is not quite necessary to have rice for dinner. We need rice only in the morning and afternoon. The best thing is to have 'steamed vegetables' for dinner. The best selection would be radish, Ladies fingers, cabbage and fresh pumpkin.

As the doctor emphasized the type of food a patient could eat differs from patient to patient. It depends on one's age, sex, weight and amount of work done per day. "In the case of patients using insulin , it is important that meals are taken at the recommended time.

"Diabetes patients should completely avoid any food item containing sugar, syrups, jaggery, honey, soft drinks (jam, toffees, cake, sweets, juices that contain added sugar, ice cream), condensed milk, yoghurt, curd , and alcoholic drinking, ripe fruits except avocado and papaw." You can moderately take 'par boiled rice', red rice, gram, green gram, soya, cowpea and all items made from rice flour including string hoppers, one egg once a week. 'Mallum,' bitter gourd, ladies fingers, tender green beans, string beans, cabbage, fish, dry fish,sprats, bitter tasting food, food rich with fibre, plantains, papaws and vegetable oils could be added to your meals.

It is highly recommended to take bitter gourd, drumstick leaves, like gotukola, sarana, kankun buds, kohila buds, vel kohila, onion leaves.

Beli leaves and flowers, Ranawara leaves and flowers and Kothalahimbutu are suitable as drinks. It is advisable to take Nelli, semi ripe plantains, madham fruits and Amberella.

"My sincere wish is may all beings be healthy. Finally I would like to extend my gratitude to my late parents, my guru Ambewela Sarananda Thera, K. G. P. Jayatileke, former Director of Institute of Indigenous Medicine; S. D. Dayaratna, Jayantha Kumaranayake and G. W. Ariyadasa (former lecturers of Institute of Indigenous Medicine who helped me achieve this status)." He noted.