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| Friday, 25 July 2003 |
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Hypnotic future in medicine The future for hypnotic medicine in the world looks very bright. According to present trends in its ground gaining over allopathic remedies, it won't be surprising to see many of the current specialities in allopathy shading into oblivion, some in the near and others in the not too distant future. This hypnotic future for hypnotic medicine was forecast by several doctors and senior lecturers of allopathic medicine, at a book launching on hypnotic medicine held at the SLMA auditorium in Colombo on Sunday. The book was - Handbook of medical hypnosis written by the Head of the Department of Medical Hypnosis of the Sri Lanka College of General Practitioners Dr. H. B. Jayasinghe. Dr. D. V. J. Harischandra, Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry of the Ruhunu University one of the guest speakers at the occasion who expressed most of the views on the bright future ahead for hypnotic therapy, while congratulating Dr. Jayasinghe for the significant role he has been playing in popularising this medical therapy in Sri Lanka, said: "Among the few areas where hypno therapy could easily be used at present is for relieving of pain, even inscrutable pain. He was wondering why women should undergo labour pain at delivery any longer, when with hypnotically it could be relieved completely within a few minutes, with no anaesthesia drugs at all." It is time he said that all gynaecologists undergo the CGP course on hypno medicine, and use it on their delivering patients. This might affect the field of anaesthesia and the anaesthetists, but could it be helped, he asked? Dr. Harischandra went on to say that as he mentioned earlier the uses of this therapy could be limitless from the present few areas in medicine to which it is being applied. He could see the possibility in the very near future of even hypnotically outing several heart conditions without any drugs. Dr. Harischandra said that he had been practicising hypnotism for nearly 37 years, and felt that the subject is still misunderstood by most in society. However in the past few years, he was glad to see Dr. Jayasinghe's efforts in clearing it up bearing results as evidenced by the houseful gathering at the function. Dr. Harischandra observed that a large number of the Faculty students in Galle were learning this art of medicine and were applying it on patients with success. He recalled a rare instance where a young man whose eyes were alright but was strangely blind for some reason, under hypnosis related an incident in his previous life, where his girlfriend had written him to say that however much she liked and loved him, marriage was out as her parents opposed it. She however wished that he would be able to find much prettier and a nicer girl than her for marriage. Those last few lines had been so unbearable to read that he had just gone blind. When this past memory was removed under hypnotism his sight had returned. Mentally blind Dr. Harischandra said very often in society we hear of such instances, where women when they want to give up their boyfriends write such letters, sending the boys mentally blind. Hypnotically exorcising devils Dr. Harischandra recalled another instance where he hypnotically exorcised (sent out) a devil from a possessed women. She had been suffering for a long time and the family had spent several lacks on devil dancing (thovil) to get rid of the demon but to no avail. Finally they had met Dr. Harischandra to try the hypnotic treatment. It had worked under hypnotism. the devil had said he would go if he was given some blood. That was done, and the devil had gone for good never to return. Dr. Harishchandra said "You can trust devils they will keep to their word, and won't lie like some in politics in this world. Dr. Jayasinghe in a long speech revealing how he got interested in hypnotism and how he studied it in London thanked the media here for helping him with publicity in bringing the message to the public. Dr. G. M. Heennilame, Dr. Sarath Gamani de Silva, Dr. Palitha Abeykoon and Dr. Sampath Nanayakkara also spoke: Dr. Abeykoon, WHO Consultant was the chief guest. On the mentally retarded Dr. Harischandra in the course of his speech referred to a study done abroad using hypno therapy on the mentally retarded where on regression of the past lives most of the subjects had revealed their present plight was due to abuse of power while being in authoritative positions. He said it may be possible to reform society by revealing and the findings of medical studies like this to the public so he was doing this in good faith. ########
Dr. D. P. Atukorale (Consultant Cardiologist) replies heart queries On by-pass surgery Anil B. Amarasekera from Polgasowita writes: I underwent quadruple by-pass surgery over 17 years ago in April 1986. At that time this surgery was not performed in Sri Lanka, but I was fortunate in that I was working abroad at that time and my employer, the Commonwealth Secretariat, arranged for the surgery to be done in London at their expense. Prior to that, for about 20 years I was treated for high blood pressure and shortly before the operation it was found that my cholesterol was high. The rise in cholesterol was detected at a time I was staying in a hotel where I was consuming rich food. This was just before the operation. I returned to Sri Lanka after the operation and had to undergo two angioplasty operations within 6 months in September 1992 and March 1993. Both the operations were done by Dr. Mathew in Apollo hospital in Chennai. Dr. Mathew informed me that my by-passed arteries were not affected. As requested by Dr. Mathew, I underwent several exercise ECG tests after each angioplasty but was never able to go beyond 7 minutes in each case. My blood pressure has, however come down and for the last 15 years or more has been constant at 140/60. I lead a retired life since 1999. Taking into account my past history, I shall be grateful if you would very kindly answer the following queries: (i) What is the reason for my inability to go beyond 7 minutes in the exercise ECG? (ii) Is my diastolic pressure too low, and if so why? (iii) Are there any further tests I should undergo? (iv) To what content will my past history affect my life expectancy? (v) My life is less stressful now, and to what extent will that help? Reply: Graft vessels patent You have been suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD) for more than 17 years and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) has been successfully performed in london in 1986. Although coronary angiogram done in 1992 had shown that the graft vessels were patent, coronary atherosclerosis (thickening of coronary arteries) has been progressing involving other coronary arteries too in spite of your getting the best treatment for your hypertension and diabetes mellitus round your lifestyle changes (vegetarian life and avoiding nicotine). That is why your cardiologist in India has performed angioplasty (PTCA) twice, once in 1992 and again in 1993. This is not uncommon in patients suffering from diabetes who usually get multivessel involvement. (i) Exercise ECG You appear to be worried that you could not "go beyond 7 minutes on exercise ECG." This can be due to fatigue due to ailments such as anaemia or due to dyspnoea (breathlessness) secondary to weak lungs (e.g. airway obstructive disease or emphysema) in addition to your CAD. Has your physician (a) arranged for a full blood count (FBC) to exclude anaemia. (b) has he arranged for pulmonary function tests with a view to exclude 'weak lungs'? Your inability to perform the exercise ECG satisfactorily is most likely not due to poor heart muscle function as you have been informed by your physician that your 2D-echo is normal. A stress echocardiogram may be useful in your case. (ii) Your blood pressure of 140/60 is quite satisfactory and the diastolic blood pressure of 60 mm of mercury is normal for you. (iii) As previously mentioned, (a) full blood count (b) pulmonary function tests and (c) a stress-echo may be helpful in your case. (iv) You have already lived more than 69 years (17 years after your CABG) and as your 2D-echo and exercise tolerance is quite good considering your age and various ailments such as CAD diabetes and hypertension, I am of the opinion that your life expectancy will be normal. (v) As you have mentioned that your life is less stressful now, your prognosis is good. Chelation therapy Chelation therapy (CT) has a definite place in your case and CT may improve the quality of your life. CABG and PTCA are temporary procedures and as these two procedures don't cure or improve atherosclerosis involving the coronary arteries, you may try CT which is not an expensive type of treatment unlike CABG and PTCA. In my experience CT has improved the quality of life of patients whose angina and quality of life have not improved following CABG and PTCA. ******* It's unstable angina B.F. from Negombo writes: I am 67 years of age and I am suffering from a heart disease, and I take treatment from my family doctor in Negombo. I cannot walk a distance of 75 to 100 ft. I cannot even sweep the floor or even chop a small wood and I cannot even lift weight of 10 kg. If I do anything more than what I have mentioned I get a terrible chest pain and so difficult to breathe and starts sweating. This condition remains for about 10-15 minutes, while I need lot of fanning. I am also not exactly sure whether I am getting this pain from my chest or just above the stomach. Sometimes I suspect that I am having gastritis. I take the following tablets daily. (Names deleted from this copy on advice of the medical advisory panel). I am writing to you to kindly seek your advice through this page. It's unstable angina Dear Mr. BF, you are suffering from a condition called unstable angina (acute coronary syndrome) which is a type of very severe angina: You are getting the best medical treatment (according to the drugs you have been put on by your family doctor). As you don't seem to be responding to the treatment, I am sure your family physician after examining will refer you to a consultant cardiologist for assessment of your cardiac problem. The consultant cardiologist, I am sure will arrange for tests such as lipid profile, exercise ECG etc. If your exercise ECG is positive the cardiologist will arrange for an early coronary angiogram. If the coronary angiogram shows major coronary artery blocks, he may arrange for angioplasty (PTCA) or refer you to a consultant cardiac surgeon for coronary artery surgery (CABG) depending on coronary angiography results. Don't waste time So don't waste time. Please consult your family physician again at your earliest. I am quite sure, you will be referred to a consultant cardiologist for the necessary investigations and treatment by your family physician. ###### The Three Ronnies
This was the concluding item of the event - laughter the best medicine. In addition to this there was another show All's Well That Ends Well. also on the same theme, laughter the best medicine enacted by Nalini de Alwis, Nirmali Wickremasinghe, Chitra Herath Guneratne and Dr. Preethi Wijegoonewardene. Both skits were written by the Association President Chrissy Aloysius. The Association which has been on a programme of setting up Home based First Aid Units in the poorer community sectors in the country is calling for support from the pharmaceutical sector in setting up three of the First Aid Units planned for this year in Maskorale, Bandiyamulla and Balagalle. In the picture from left, Dr. Aloysius, Dr. Perera and Dr. Peiris in their Three Ronnies Act. ###### A fourteen-bed ward for Cancer Hospital
Mr. Wijesena said this donation is the fulfilment of the last wish of his mother, who wanted her ancestral property sold to put up this award in her husband's and her's memory. Family members, friends and servants in the household had contributed to this donation. |
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Produced by Lake House |
Three past presidents of the SLMA Drs. Dennis J. Aloysius, B.A.V.
Perera and J.B. Peiris put up a - Three Ronnies show recently at the 18th
Annual Celebrations of the Doctors Wives Association held at Galle Face
Hotel, Colombo.
This 14 bed cancer ward put up by Ajantha Wijesena of Nawala in memory
of his parents late Dr. and Mrs. A.D. Wijesena at the Cancer Hospital,
Maharagama will be donated to the Sri Lanka Cancer Society this Sunday
July 27 at 9 a.m. at a simple ceremony to be held at the ward.
