Alternative healing

Traditional and alternative healing methods have existed alongside allopathy in India for a long time. Some of these techniques like yoga offer an attractive alternative from the many varied, and sometimes harmful side-effects of allopathic medicines. A study comparing the effect of Sudarshan Kriya (SKY), Imipramine (Tofranil), and Electroconvulsive therapy on dysthymia showed that SKY was at least as effective as imipramine in alleviating the symptoms of dysthymia. However, the authors of the study have been extremely cautious in interpreting the results, and for valid reasons. The sample size has been quite small, so it is difficult to generalize the findings. Also, they concede that with a bigger sample, they might get significant differences between the medication used and the yoga technique. Another drawback of the study was due to the inherent nature of the interventions used (SKY, ECT, imipramine), the patients knew which treatment group they had been assigned to. This could have facilitated the formation of beliefs about the results they could expect. Thus, it could have been possible that the SKY group expected that the technique would work for them, and their strong beliefs led to that outcome.

Nonetheless, 68% efficacy of SKY shows that the technique may be considered as a moderately efficacious treatment option. There have been anecdotal reports that yoga as an adjunct to psychotropic medication can lead to better treatment outcomes for psychiatric disorders. The goal of treatment today is not only symptom reduction, but also improvement of overall quality of life. So while I remain guarded in considering all that subsumes under 'alternative healing' in the absence of scientific evidence, this study provides a much-needed critical view of the debate between traditional healing practices and allopathy.