"Mahatma Gandhi popularized Naturopathy in India by practising it in his own life. He even penned many books on Naturopathy, which today are part of the study material used in institutions teaching Naturopathy", re-called Dr.Shilpa Shah, Founder of SWASTII, a Life Style Medicine and Naturopathy Clinic located in Coimbatore.
"Mahatma Gandhi popularized Naturopathy in India by practising it in his own life. He even penned many books on Naturopathy, which today are part of the study material used in institutions teaching Naturopathy", re-called Dr.Shilpa Shah, Founder of SWASTII, a Life Style Medicine and Naturopathy Clinic located in Coimbatore.
Shilpa is the first Coimbatore based Naturopathist to find a place in the 'Who's Who of Naturopathy '. The Foreword for this publication has been given by the Padma Bhushan awardee Dr.D.Veerendra Heggade.
Born to Honnamma and S.V.Achar in Chikmagalur District in Karnataka, Shilpa has devoted her life to Naturopathy. Dr. Shilpa Shah is one of the ace graduates from the second batch of BNYS (Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences) from SDM College of Naturopathy in Dharmasthala (Karnataka).
"It is a beautiful and meaningful course"
Elucidating on how she mastered Naturopathy, Shilpa said "It is a beautiful and meaningful course. For the first 3.5 years, we follow the same curriculum as MBBS. However, we had Naturopathy and Yoga as separate subjects from the first year and all possible drugless systems of treatment were taught by our teachers. We were taught philosophy first and then Yoga. All the Kriyas are part of our syllabus and one must understand that Yoga is a vast ocean."
"We learn different types of Yoga - Hata Yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga described by the great Patanjali. The course is very disciplined and it prepares us for life. Students have to get up by 5 AM., do yoga and the seniors get an oppourtunity to instruct juniors. The practical cleansing techniques (Kriyas) are also taught. A prayer session is done everyday and dinner is to be had by 6 PM. While the food is purely vegetarian, we have raw meals three days a week", said the Naturopathist from Coimbatore.
For a brief time, Shilpa worked as a lecturer and medical officer at the Ayurvedic Medical College for one year and subsequently she worked at the Government Nature Cure Hospital in Chikmagalur District. In 1997, she joined the JSS College of Naturopathy in Ooty (first one of its kind in Tamilnadu). She was a faculty member and later became the Vice Principal of the college.
Natural birthing
Shilpa's quest to learn on child birthing drew her towards renowned Gynecologist, Dr.Mridubashini Govindarajan in Coimbatore. She focused on natural child birth education and dedicated a lot of time on allopathy through which she enriched her belief on Naturopathy.
With the knowledge and insights we learnt, Shilpa counselled many expecting mothers. Most of the women who had done programmes with Shilpa had gone through 'easy labours' and VBAC ( Vaginal Birth After Caesarian).
The basic advise she fosters on people is to follow the five guidelines known as PANCHATANTRAS - To have only two meals a day, fasting once a week, drinking at least 2.5 litres of water each day, exercising for one hour a day and body massage and exposing one self to sunlight in the process (once a week).
Lifestyle and Diseases are connected
"Most of the diseases of today are connected with lifestyle. Hypertension, heart diseases, thyroid, obesity, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases and auto immune diseases are part of this list. Physical inactivity and wrong eating habits are the reason behind all this. Naturopathy has a cure for all these. If the patient can stay for 10-15 days, a lot can be achieved. Kriya and Yoga will be part of the treatment", says the Naturopathy.
The Diet
"During their stay food is prescribed by us. Fasting therapy is the main feature - Diet Therapy : 'Elimination Diet' will help in the removal of toxins and it is nothing but fasting with light juices followed by a 'Soothing Diet" which includes easy to digest solids like fruits and boiled vegetables", says Shilpa who has a work experience of 24 years behind her.
She adds that diet is not rigid. An analysis is done at each stage and then diet will be modified, if necessary. The last one of the regime, is the 'Constructive Diet' which is preparing one to go home. The system is rebuilt slowly and the entire diet is Satwik.
"Thanks to the good reception, as Tamil Nadu has got more than 5 Naturopathy Colleges and now Post Graduate Courses are also being offered", smiled Shilpa while showing around Swastii, an integrated facility which offers Naturopathy as a solution.
Swastii
Her facility offers treatment for a number of diseases - Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, Infertility, Pain, Skin Diseases, Kidney Diseases, Liver Malfunction among many others. She offers holistic & Clinical Nutrition, Detox Therapies, Yoga, Mindfulness, Pranayama & Meditation, Acupuncture & Electrotherapy, also Natural Birthing & Lamaze classes for pregnant women.
Dr.Shilpa uses appropriate methods of laboratory and diagnostic techniques to help formulate an effective treatment plan. She invests a lot of time in understanding every patient.
A nature lover and adventurist, the Naturopathist from Coimbatore has organised many awareness camps in the city. She is on the Advisory Board of Namo Gange Trust and has been contributing a lot of articles on Naturopathy for publications.
Shilpa had been awarded the ' Outstanding Citizen Award ' by the Jaycees and has been a Member, Board of Faculty and the Board of Studies for Dr.MGR Medical University in Chennai. She is also an online lifestyle consultant for http://www.seraniti.com and http://www.gonutrio.com.
Dr. Shilpa is keen to take Naturopathy further and wishes more people in the city to practice and learn Nathuropathy which was practised by our ancestors.
She concluded by saying "Naturopathy offers long term solutions and the discipline it offers will not merely cure the person, but also make the person better in every sense. Naturopaths are here to make life better and our approach is sure to increase the Gross Natural Happiness of our ancient country."