NATUROPATHY

The term ‘naturopathy’ is derived partly from a Latin word, ‘natura’, and partly from a Greek word, ‘pathos’, suggesting natural healing for all sufferings. The treatment of any health disorder in this system will be with or through nature. No drug is used, being unnatural and manmade. According to naturopathy, when we use any drugs for healing, we actually take our body systems by surprise as the body cannot assimilate it naturally. On the contrary, in most cases, drugs suppress the body’s immune system and produce toxic side effects. At times, the side effects are more dangerous than the original disease for which the medicine was prescribed. Naturopathic practice, on the other hand, is based on a faith in the body’s ability to heal itself by the natural, internal healing process of the body.

The western naturopaths claim that Hippocrates, the ancient Greek “Father of Medicine”, is the first advocate of a naturopathic approach to healing. But Indian Naturopathy has derived its strength from India’s own medical treatise, Ayurveda, which is more than 5,000 years old. It believes that life is an intrinsic part of an all pervasive Nature, ruled by 5 Great Elements (Pancha Mahabhuta) – The Earth. Water, Fire, Air and Space, and human life is a product of this great cosmic design. The key to its survival, therefore, has to be sought in nature itself.

Naturopathy is ‘holistic” in its approach taking the human body as a whole – it treats the root cause of a disease and not the symptoms. Diagnosis and treatments use natural methods that promote the body’s own ability to heal. Naturopaths focus on treatments based on natural forces, completely avoiding the use of surgery and drugs. Naturopaths aim to prevent illness through stress reduction and bringing changes to diet and lifestyle, rejecting the methods of symptomatic treatment of other systems.

A naturopath’s consultation begins with a patient’s interview focusing on lifestyle, medical history, body language and emotional state as well as a physical examination. Doctors here will not prescribe drugs, but if one is using already, considering the health condition of the patient, doctors may help taper down the doses gradually and will integrate other conventional medical approaches such as acupuncture, physiotherapy, diet and lifestyle counselling with naturopathic treatments. Counselling includes making patients aware of the cause of illness.

Naturopathic treatments at JNI include:

Hydrotherapy – Hydrotherapy uses the healing potentials of water in the form of a variety of baths, jets, Jacuzzi, various underwater treatments, colonics, aquatic exercises, swimming etc.

Mud Therapy – Mud is one of the five elements of nature having immense impact on the body in health as well as sickness. The treatments are full body mud bath, various packs, fomentations etc.

Manual Therapy – It includes various therapies like oil therapy, Vibro therapy, hot stone therapy, deep tissue therapy and Kairali therapy etc. for better blood circulation

Fasting Therapy – Fasting is the supreme cure in Ayurveda & Naturopathy. JNI provides therapeutic fasting in which specific juices/soups are given as per disease condition. It helps in the elimination of the toxins by giving rest to the digestive system and enhancing the healing properties within our system.

Aquatic Exercise – Aquatic Exercise is a physical form of therapy that is taught in the swimming pool and this is a part of our naturopathy treatment. It is especially meant for those who have physical limitation to do asana in the normal course. In naturopathy, the body is taken as a whole, which in its normal state, is ordained to be healthy. It believes that falling ill is not natural and illness, is an outcome of the violation of nature’s law. To regain health, we have to activate our body’s inherent power, and a naturopathic way of life only can activate that innate power, and help the human system remove the toxins which cause illness, from the body.

Yogic Kriya – At JNI, Yogic Kriya such as Neti (rubber neti and jal neti, ghrita neti i.e., ghee drops in nostrils) and dhauti,(vastra dhauti and vaman dhauti) are practiced for internal cleaning and purification of the body. Their main effect is on the respiratory and digestive systems. They:

• Create balance in the tridosha – Vata (wind), Pitta (bile) and Kapha (mucus) – to increase vital capacity, purify the body and promote health by protecting it from diseases.
• Neti cleanses mucus from the nasal passage, thereby allowing air to flow freely without obstruction having relaxing and soothing effect on the nerves.
• Dhauti and Laghu Shankha Prakshalana (colon cleanse) cleanses the entire digestive tract as also respiratory tract and removes mucus, bile and toxins to restore the natural balance of the body.

Yogasana – Yogasana are postures to create strength, awareness and stability in both the body and the mind. We also conduct disease- specific asana. By consciously forming the body in a certain posture, one aligns the inner system with the outer, which:

• Stimulates and maintains smooth functioning of the internal organs and glands of the body.
• Stretches, strengthens and improves the flexibility of all the major muscle groups, lubricates joints and massages the internal organs.
• Improves blood circulation and rejuvenates body cells.
• Boosts the body’s metabolism, lymphatic circulation and hormonal secretion.
• Strengthens the immune function.
• Creates stability, proper spinal alignment and good posture.
• Relaxes the nervous system.
• Helps in even distribution of energy, which in turn helps the mind to develop calmness and peace.

Pranayama – Pranayama is a set of breathing practices that purify and heal our body. It is the science of conscious control of prana or the vital force of the body. It regulates breath to control the life current or inner vital force. JNI will help you learn Pranayama in the correct way so that you will develop the correct habit of breathing. It:

• Purifies the nadis, the pranic channel allows free flow of prana.
• Regulates the nervous system by shifting the autonomic nervous system from a fight or flight state to the calming parasympathetic state.
• Improves ventilatory functions of the lungs.
• Improves resistance to infection.
• Maintains better homeostasis that prevents the body from degeneration and dysfunctions.
• Strengthens the heart and lungs, and regulate blood pressure.
• Controls the mind and brings mental clarity which will help you develop inner peace and balance.

Relaxation – JNI helps you practice and learn “Yoganidra”, a deep relaxation technique, a helpful tool for coping up with day to day stress.

DIET

JNI’s kitchen is particularly geared for nutritional therapy consonant with naturopathy. The basic principle of Naturopathy is that the body contains its own healing power and nature assists in the body’s ability to use the natural world around it for that healing process to be effective. If you do not consume the right kind of food that helps the body in its native ability, and consume items that are unnatural and go against your body’s immunity, you are in fact abusing your body nutritionally.

Food is an essential activity where whims, fancies, illogicality and abuse is maximum. The general tendency is, to select an item if it satiates our taste bud. As a result the mouth becomes the widest gate of diseases.

Eating the least toxic and most natural foods should be the aim. This means:

• Foods that is as close to their natural state as possible.
• Foods that is free of chemical additives and preservatives.

To obtain optimum health and healing through diet and nutrition, our primary intake should ideally include organic whole foods that are as fresh as possible which will ensure maximum nutritional value.

Foods that is typical of a naturopathic diet, and which JNI advocates include:

• A variety of fresh raw vegetables and fruits (organic and seasonal)
• Steamed and cooked vegetables
• Fresh herbs and spices
• Whole grains (organic)
• Healthy fats in moderate amounts: Olive oil, Sunflower oil, Coconut oil, Flax seed oil
• Legumes and pulses
• Dairy products include milk, curd and buttermilk
• Soya and its products – milk, curd, tofu and buttermilk
• Nuts and seeds
• Beverages which include water, herbal teas, and fresh fruits or vegetable juices

It is not only selecting the right food for optimum health, but the method of cooking too is important in maintaining the nutrients at their highest level in the food. Hence a wide range of cooking methods is used in our kitchen like steaming, stir fry, baking, sautéing, grilling and roasting. These preparations are appetizing and also nutritious. JNI holds food preparation demos for patients twice a week so that patients can learn and follow the same at their home.

Making a personal commitment to yourself to improve your diet and lifestyle can be a powerful experience. JNI draws a broad outline as to what kind of food and the way those should be ideally prepared. It is more a matter of self-imposed discipline and a conscious decision that matter most in the case of one’s own palate. That is the only way you will avoid feeling deprived, and at the same time, will be able to continue the journey towards optimum health.

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has a history of about 5000 years and is an important alternative system of medicine across the world. Acupuncture has a wide range of applications. The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed acupuncture as an effective form of therapy for various diseases.

Acupuncture is the treatment of various diseases carried out by inserting very fine needles into the specific points of the body. Insertions take place on the surface of the body through the skin, which, theoretically, have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effect.

The Chinese philosophy of health and healing postulates that it is the energy flow within every living being that makes life possible. This energy is known as Qi (Chi) energy. The channels of this energy run in regular patterns throughout the body through various meridians. Acu points are located superficially along meridians that connect all our major organs internally.

Acupuncture theory believes that illness arises when the cyclical flow of “Chi” in the meridians becomes unbalanced or blocked. Acupuncture achieves its curative effect by clearing the obstruction in the flow of “Chi” and balancing the energy flow. Once the energy flow is restored to normal, the person becomes healthy.

According to this theory, inserting fine needles at these points stimulate various sensory receptors that in turn, stimulate nerves that transmit impulses to the hypothalamic – pituitary system at the base of the brain. The hypothalamus – pituitary glands are responsible for releasing neurotransmitters and endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killing hormones. Endorphins also play a major role in the functioning of the hormonal system, which influences the body’s own internal regulating systems, thereby stimulating the body’s natural healing abilities.

Through the ages, there is ample empirical proof that acupuncture can influences three areas of health care:

• Promotion of health and well being
• Prevention of illness
• Treatment of various medical conditions.

A few major medical conditions treatable in acupuncture are Asthma, Bronchitis, Common cold, Sinusitis, Tonsillitis, Allergies Tinitus, Vertigo, Throat problem, Abdominal pain, Constipation, indigestion, Irritable bowel syndrome, Acidity, Gastritis, PCOD, Dysmenorrohea, Irregular periods, Menopausal symptoms, Premenstrual symptoms, Arthritis, Back pain, Neck pain, muscle sprain, fibromyalgia, Sciatica, Headaches, Migraine, Incontinence of urine, Parkinson’s disease, Anxiety, depression, Insomnia, Nervousness &stress, Hypertension, Chronic fatigue, Hypo / Hyperthyroidism etc.

JNI has expert doctors and acupuncturists with vast experience to handle various health problems that can be treated by acupuncture.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapy is an essential component in JNI’s drugless regimen, as it is capable of treating specific diseases, injuries, or incapacities by using physical methods such as massage, heat through electrotherapy at various range, and exercise without using drugs or surgery. In fact its usefulness to promote mobility and bodily functions of patients down with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), or pain emanating out of other reasons is widely recognised in the medical world. At JNI, upon examination and diagnosis, our expert physiotherapists intervene to treat specific complaints of the patients towards relief – the aim being always to restore optimal mobility of the suffering patients so as to improve the quality of their life.

Physiotherapy is universally accepted as a primary care treatment in most of the pain related conditions. In more complicated cases, it is used alongside, or in conjunction with other treatments, and at JNI, with other drugless therapies such as naturopathy and acupuncture.

Physiotherapy is one of the most effective treatment methods for treating and preventing pain and injury of various sources. The specific, purpose-driven exercises and manipulations can remove pain, strengthen muscles, prevent recurrence, and improve bodily function remarkably.

Based on the diagnosis and the condition of a patient, varied methods are practiced by physiotherapists to treat them. In many cases, it can also take care of chronic inflammation and swelling most effectively.

Graceful ageing

Physical therapy has a unique contribution to degenerative problems as also women-specific problems that include osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, lymphoedema (insufficient fluid flow in lymph) fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain, urinary incontinence etc. While drugs fail miserably, physiotherapy can be most successfully administered in these cases both with advanced equipment and manual intervention.

Latest Cryo- Ultrasound, Endo – Diathermy, IFT with wide range of variation of degree of electrotherapy as per need of the patient, CryoT Shock, advanced Class 4 High Power Laser for acute pain, Shock Wave Therapy for muscle spasm, Cryo- Flow for sprain cases as also to release Myofascial trigger points, Whole Spine Deep Dynamic Wave Therapy and High Tone Power Therapy for diabetic neuropathy, poly neuropathy, and obesity cases. For all kinds of musculoskeletal dysfunction, there are advanced equipments like USB Bio Feed Back and also Impressor – pressure therapy equipment in treating specific muscle injury and urinary incontinence. Besides, our expert physiotherapists will guide you how to take and practice various exercises, such as Kegel, etc. at home.

Physiotherapy is practiced on a global scale. It is safe and helpful for even children and people of advanced age with disabilities.