Bombay, December3:
The next time you feel lazy about stepping out of your house to visit a homoeopath, just plug on to Internet and contact him on-line . You will not only received free advice from him but also he might send you the medicine by courier. And, the payment could be made by credit card over the Net.
There are many homoeopaths around the globe who offer their services on Internet. One such doctor is Bombay,s Dr. Rajesh Shah. He started the `Homoeopathic Information Cell' from his clinic in Ghatkopar this September.
He claims to be the only doctor from Bombay to launch this facility. The launch came at a time when homoeopaths all over the world were celebrating the bicentenary year of homoeopathy.
"The concept of launching homoeopathic services on Internet took shape when I received an E-mail message from a Belgium based in industrialist who was suffering from an attack of migraine e headache for three weeks. He was not getting relief from any treatment." Dr. Shah said "Eventually, the industrialist thought of seeking help through the Net. A bank clerk from Canada recommended that he get in touch with me," he added.
"The industrialist did so immediately and to his surprise received an E-mail `homoeopathic prescription for his headache . The medicine was taken by him, as recommended. By the end of 24 hours, the headache had gone," Dr. Shah said adding,"He thanked me over the Net. The last two lines of his message read: "Thanks to homoeopathy. Thanks to Internet.' I was thrilled to read those words."
Khetwadi homoeopath Bhavana Trivedi, said, "The kind of homoeopathy practiced in India is different from that practiced abroad. The Internet facility can also be used for exchanging information between India and foreign doctors."
Another Vile Parle homoeopath Amith Brilant was excited about the use of Internet to spread the message of homoeopathy. But, she said, "It will take a long time for Indian doctors to provide services on the Net. Hooking on to the Net is an expensive affair. Everyone cannot afford this facility on their computer.
HOMEOPATH PROVIDES ASSISTANCE ON-LINE
On seeking advice on the Internet, he received a prescription from Dr. Shah. The industrialist took the medicine, and the headache disappeared in a day. Dr. Shah then received a massage that ended with "... thanks to homoeopathy, thanks to Internet." Dr. Shah said that this homoeopathy information cell' will provide guidance on the role and scope of any disease by sending out a query on e-mail.
All questions will be answered by experts, so that the patient has a clear idea about the prognosis of the illness under homoeopathy.
The free advice is for illnesses varying from cough to non- healing ulcer, said Dr. Shah.
The idea is to increase public awareness about homoeopathy as part of its 200th year celebrations, he added.
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The Internet craze has set in and people are beginning to use the Net for various reasons. Internet is usually used for business information,E-mail, research, and personal communication. With the usage of the web fast becoming very popular and necessary tool, it's not surprising that more and innovative and useful information is now available on the Net.
Internet now has its own homoeopathic cell where doctors can be consulted for all kinds of ailments. The Foundation for Homeopathic Research, a Bombay-based organization, has launched "The Homeopathic Cell" on the Internet as part of the 200th year celebration of homeopathy. Dr. Rajesh Shah, president, Foundation for Homoeopathy Research, thought of setting up this cell after an incident a few months back. A Belgium-based industrialist sought help for his migraine ailment by putting it on the Internet. As a response, a Canadian who read the message recommended him to seek homeopathic advice from a homeopath in Bombay. The industrialist instantly contacted Dr. Shah on the E- mail and asked for his diagnosis and prescription for cure. After receiving the prescription and taking it, the patient was cured of the migraine. A message soon flashed on Dr. Shah's E-mail that said, "thanks to homeopathy! Thanks to Internet."
People the world over with ailments of bronchitis, viral infections, allergy, arthritis, and incurable ulcers have sought help on the Internet homeopathy cell. Any queries or doubts regarding homeopathic medical guidance can be directed to Dr. Shah on the E-mail address: rajesh@indiaspace.com and will be answered free of charge. Dr. Shah and a team of experts answer these queries immediately. "The purpose of the launch is to propagate homeopathic awareness to over 20 million people in 70 countries through the Internet," says Dr. Shah.
Dr. Shah's homeopathic clinic is equipped with Hi-tech facilities such as a video camera for recording the patient's interview and computers for selection of accurate remedy according to the symptoms.
Dr.Shah is a visiting lecturer with homeopathic medical colleges in India and abroad. He also edits a journal-Homeopathy Times. This journal will be made available free on the Internet.
The Net is creeping into the daily lives of the people who log in and surf through frequently. With homeopathic medical aid now available on the Internet, the need to visit a doctor at his clinic will become redundant.
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Three months ago, when computer freak Dr. Rajesh Shah got his Internet connection in Bombay, he began cruising to see what people were chatting about on the network that links the global computers. He started with 'A'. Some 324 people were discussing Amitabh Bachchan, reel-life's cure for all ills.
Out of curiosity, he proceeded to 'H' to see how many people were talking homeopathy, Big B,s real-life counterpart that isn't. There were none. Instead of sulking in his clinic about the plight of his profession, Shah, 33 year old, decided to do something about it. He put it on the Internet.
"Homeopathy is a victim of ignorance," he says. "People say it's not a science, it's not a substitute, it doesn't cure, it's too slow, it's this,that and the other. We want to prove them all wrong. Not just locally,but globally- on the web.'
And so rajesh@indiaspace.com isn't some time strapped medico's hurriedly scribbled prescription note but Shah's E-mail address. And through it, the curious and the cure-seeking anywhere on the planet can come on line for advice and action.
And quite a few do. A 32-year-old man from Dubai who mixed business with pleasure in the wrong proportion in Jakarta contracted venereal infection, and passed it on to his wife. At his wit's end, he bumped into Shah on the infobahn. And all ended well.
"For those in cities and countries where there are no homoeopaths of homeopathic chemists, the internet is just what the doctor would have prescribed,' says Shah. "We can give information on the ailment, guide you to the nearest college or institute where treatment could be made available."
All though homeopathy made its debut 200 years ago, thanks to Samuel Hahnemann, a practising German allopath, it still isn't the first choice of the sick ailing and dying. In fact, it isn't even the second or third; it's the last choice. People resort to it after they have exhausted other options.
Like the daughter of a prominent Ahmedabad industrialist. After allopathic doctors at the best hospitals failed to ease the pain in her posterior caused by a deep abscess, she came to Shah. "I said give homeopathy a fair trial. If it doesn't work, go back to allopathy. She agreed. I cured her."
No use blaming patients like her. Even wannabe doctors have the same attitude. Most take up homeopathy in medical college only because they fail to get seats for the more lucrative and glamorous allopathy course, and most desert it once lucre and flamour come their way.
Shah was no exception. But he stayed the course and now wants to set right the wrongs. "There's no doubt homeopathy is a definite alternative system of medicine," says he. "If we are still unable to take advantage of it, it's a crime; it's unfair."
For 10 years now, Shah and his wife, Rupal, also a homeopath, have been running the Sanjivak Centre, a homeopathic clinic in suburban Ghatkopar, managing the affairs of the Foundation for Homoeopathic Research bringing out the Homeopathic Times journal, holding conferences and spreading the word about homeopathy.
Finally they have gone cyber like the rest of the world.
And how the misery of a Belgian diamond merchant who had been suffering from migraine for 20 years ended, so claims Shah, soon after a newsgroup discussion. "I'm tried of the disease. Is there any help ?" asked the Belgian. Also on line was a Canadian doctor who E-mailed the Belgian's problem to Shah. A friendly byte later, they lived happily ever after: the doctor and the patient.
"This case opened my eyes to the enormous possibilities the Internet held," says Shah. "People not only were unaware of homeopathy but also didn't know it could help in a lot of conditions, and help quickly and effectively, without any side effects. We just had to let them know."
And that's what the husband-wife team is doing. Under `H' you can now access homeopathy, and will soon be able to access it on other `pages' too. Eventually, the couple intend having their own `server' and creating newsgroups for on-line discussion, consultation and medication.
The Internet not only allows instantaneous exchange of information but also helps overcome the barriers that some countries have set up. For patients in the Gulf where homeopathy is neither allowed to be practiced nor discussed in the columns of newspapers, it is a god sent antidote.
How cynical patients will take to clinical treatment untouched by the doctor's hand is, however, debatable. "We're not interested in treating people on the net. It's not easy and there,s the risk of people self-medicating. All we want to do is keep them informed. They can take it from there." What benefit does he get? "No payment, but plenty of pleasure."
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