About time to introduce myself

atala

When I first came to this site, I had only a few brief answers and perhaps a question or two myself. I did not think I would visit as much as I do more and more. It is really a great site, as I find out increasingly.

My native language is Swiss-German, I am a Swiss hillbillie, grew up in the Swiss mountains, which is why I am always yearning to see even the slightest hill in flat India (that is when I stay where India is flat)

I have stayed altogether about 8 years in India over the past 25 years, mostly the Eastern side, but also some in Pune, and a lot in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, and Auroville. I have an alternative medical project going in TN, so I stay a lot there, but recently I have started spending more time in Sri Lanka, just a brief trip from Chennai. In the past I was more Hindu oriented but developed more of a Buddhist interest over the years.

That is a bit on my back-ground. Nice to be with you all. It is great to be among friends who know so much, and can correct if one's own input is off the mark.

Nick-H

Welcome to the site

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

brownboy66

welcome to IM atala. Given your experience in India - looks like you'll have a bit of advice for us

capt_mahajan

Atala, welcome to indiamike

Prashant.M

Welcome to IM atala . Please tell us a bit more about this alternative medical project.

__________________
Happiness is just a thought away

atala

Well, in the 90ies I started to research established successful alternative cancer therapies in India and tried to see how they work with European patients. I visited some people, locally called doctors, as you all know, with tall claims as is common in India, even though they may not have any degree at all. I found some interesting remedies, did not follow up all of them, but worked with the apparently most successful ones. After collecting my experiences in India as well as with some doctors and patients in Europe, I settled on the most promising tradition, which is one that is working with Siddha medicine in Tamil Nadu, and which has already been proven to be successful with European patients in some cases of advanced cancer, but where the Vaidya who gave the medicine is dead. I am now working to reestablish his treatment protocol which will still take some more time.

Another pet project that I hope to realize is to find for each major disease the best possible practitioner who has the remedy to cure it, potentially, if fate and circumstances allow. The perspective behind this is the fact that most alternative practitioners of say Ayurveda and other indigenous traditions just have one or two remedies that work really well, but since they cannot make a living on them alone, they make claims that they can cure all diseases.

This requires a bit of resources and stamina with the overpowering obstacles that I am confronting. The first and foremost obstacle that I am facing is that generally big dollar signs open up in the eyes of the doctors whom I am visiting the moment I am stepping into their practice. Imagine how much worse it is when I tell them that I am from Switzerland. The second obstacle is that I as a foreigner cannot bluntly tell someone that I do not believe a certain claim, or want to see the details involved. Doctors in India are on a terrible guru-trip. If you show the slightest disbelieve or ask a question too much, they are offended. There are many other problems involved which are associated with the nature of the remedies or the specific treatment requirements. But it is still possible to find solutions to most problems, with patience and perseverance.

As far as i have seen it is not possible to work with many different doctors at the same time, because of their unending Ego. Ideally there would be a clinic where patients come and the doctor with the best remedy for that condition would be selected to treat the patient. But the ego of these people is so tremendous (because they would claim that they could cure all people), I think it is utterly in vain to dream of such a place. But it is still in my mind, because that single very successful remedy that each doctor may have, would be a real boon for suffering humanity.

For me it is mostly the lack of enough resources that confines me in finding only a few solutions. I have no sponsors. I finance my own projects. That is why I pursue only my first project which is more important: to get a serious answer for the problem of advanced cancer.

capt_mahajan

Very interesting, atala.

Once again, I am surprised at the eclectic membership out here

Nick-H

Very interesting, Atala... you must, indeed have a fund of experience unique to IndiaMike

Alohaguy

Atala, you are a dedicated and driven man. Not bad for a hillbillie
Welcome to IM.

Prashant.M

atala wow! Hats off I can only barely imagine the obstacles you might be facing, seeing that you are from another country. Please do keep up the good work.

docgirl2005

Atala, being a doc myself I read your project with interest and had to reply back. You really hit it right about the guru-trip and egos of doctors in India! And even Indians and NRI's like myself have a problem telling certain doctors there we dont agree with their treatment protocols. I had an ENT professor in Chennai(bless him he was brill--but a bit coo-coo) yell at me for hours telling me why he is right and the entire room full of physicians was wrong regarding a patient. Anyways, its cool, eventually I learned alot from the man once I realized his method..

As Prashant said please keep us updated on your project. It sounds fascinating.

singsub

Welcome !!!

Lauviah

Hello Atala,

I,also have a project on alternative medecine and products(ayurveda,siddha,unani and homeopathy )in India.
I'm planning my return to Pondicherry for the beginning of year 08 and would be pleased to discuss with you there or before.

vandy

Your Dedication is PRICELESS !!!!!!!!

And once more, A Warm Welcome to India Mike.

vandy

Earthling

Hi Atala, budding Aurovillian here! Parents took me when I was 9. At that time MMandir was open to child visitors. It is perhaps the most treasured memory of my childhood.

Recently made the move to permanency but have been put off by the incredible politics going on, between the various working groups and the gov of India.

__________________
I don't know with what weapons WW3 will be fought. But WW4 will be fought with sticks and stones.
-Albert Einstein