by Jamuna Rangachari

When Jamuna Rangachari was diagnosed with a degenerative illness, multiple sclerosis, it appeared like a blow from fate. However, in the course of the last six years, through alternative therapies and a strong determination, she has achieved significant healing. Her story

Download PDF Format

Hope is the only real antidote to any ailment or challenge. I had and still have a degenerative ailment called multiple sclerosis, and am working on myself. The illness is not pretty. Wikipedia defines it as an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. It is a neurological condition in which the nerves lose their connection to the brain leading to numbness and other symptoms. Yet, I have experienced substantial healing and I do believe this is because I did not allow my spirit to weaken and energetically resisted succumbing to self-pity or the pity of others. This is the only way we can remain strong, and create our own life. I also believe that nothing is incurable. For the body is under the domination of the mind and the mind under the domination of the spirit.

The diagnosis

“What is wrong, Jamuna?,” my aunt asked when she came six years ago to my home in Delhi in 2006. She observed that my movements seemed to have slowed down and that I often went to the bathroom. Well, I knew it too, but I sort of ignored both the issues, despite my husband’s periodic suggestion to go for a check-up. My aunt practically forced me to go to the doctor. The result was multiple sclerosis (MS), which at that time seemed like the end of my life as I knew it. I was young – 36 – with two young children and a husband with a rising career in the Indian Navy. I had everything to live for, and now this...

I was awash with self-pity. I had recently left my career in software development, as I wanted to work in the area of self-development as a correspondent for Life Positive, and wished to have more time with my family. Was this going to be just a dream? Would I become worse with time?

	It was serendipity at its peak, as I had never expected someone to be available almost at my doorstep

The more I researched, the more confused and depressed I became. Then I read the book, Tough Times Never Last but Tough People do, by Dr Robert Schuller, who talks about people who have withstood whatever difficulties life thrust at them. The book tells us how to build a positive self-image no matter what the problem, and to create a positive world for yourself, regardless of what assailed you, be it unemployment, poor health, loneliness, or fear.

This book was the perfect panacea for me at that time. I soon started focussing on reading positive stories, and taking inspiration from people who were combatting many challenges and still remained cheerful and upbeat.

Around that time, my editor, Suma Varughese, wrote an article called Karma and Grace (http://www.lifepositive.com/Spirit/Karma/Karma_And_Grace92008.asp)in her Spirit column which injected me with fresh hope. This article brings out beautifully that when faced with a challenge, one gets the requisite strength to handle it. She mentions that the difference between the karma we earn, and what is actually visited upon us is huge, and then goes on to tell us never to forget that divine justice goes hand in hand with divine grace. This further inspired me to face my challenge with fortitude.

My neurologist, Dr J D Mukherjee, too, motivated me and said, “Just never lose hope. Lead as complete a life as you can."

Acceptance of the ailment


Acupuncturist Dr SS Rawal played
a key role in Jamuna's healing I began to accept that I might have to live with the disease, for which no one knew the cause. Once the acceptance seeped in, I became freshly aware of my many blessings – a loving husband, great children, wonderful friends and relatives, a job and colleagues whom I loved.

Living in the present, and always being thankful for each little aspect of life was also something I kept working on. I did do some research on why some people get this disease, attended a few meetings with the support groups, but this did not help me in any way for I did not wish to keep thinking about the ailment, but focus on solutions.

My children knew something was wrong, but my husband and I agreed that we did not want to tell them too much at that stage. Children respond to life as we teach them to. Hence, we never allowed them to feel something was wrong, or let their life be affected in any way.

Acupressure and oil pulling

Working with Life Positive turned out to be one of the acts of grace Providence was cushioning me with. I was exposed to alternative therapies, and even more important, the holistic philosophy which proposes that the body, mind and spirit are connected and healing is a composite of all three. I learnt acupressure points from the well-known acupressure healer, Ketan Shah, who said it would improve my general immunity and restore my balance in the body. I also learned oil pulling from him. One gargles a teaspoon of sesame oil in the mouth for 15 minutes until it turns white and frothy in order to remove toxins in the body. I practise both these techniques faithfully.

Another technique that came my way while in Delhi, was foot reflexology. My supportive husband actually learnt reflexology along with me. In the course of my work, I attended a talk by Dr Salila Tiwari, and then took her therapy in naturopathy. This helped my energy levels. I did all the yoga asanas she recommended, and made sure I always had a lot of fruits and vegetables. By 2008, thanks to these therapies, my incontinence was much better, though not completely cured. I was walking independently, but I still used to wobble a bit, raising quite a few eyebrows.

I found out about adult diapers, which I felt I might have to use in long journeys, and walkers, which I thought I might have to use while walking. I never stopped going out, knowing that I would lose courage if I stopped.

Acupuncture

It was in 2010 that I read about acupuncture and Dr Muthukumar in Chennai. My brother’s baby daughter, Aditi, had hydrocephalus, which even surgery had not rectified. I happened to read about Dr Muthukumar, and on a visit to Chennai I took my young niece to him. When I went there, I found many people who seemed to have benefitted greatly, so I could not help asking him if my disease too could be overcome through acupuncture. He answered in the affirmative.

When I returned to Mumbai, one of our family friends told me about an acupuncture doctor, Dr SS Rawal, in Colaba itself, where I was staying. He even managed to procure his number. This was serendipity at its peak, as I had never expected a healer almost at my doorstep.

Improvement


Jamuna Rangachari is a writer who
has authored two books for children,
and compiled and interpreted Teaching
Stories-I and II for Life Positive. I started going to him and in a couple of months, I had full control over my incontinence. After four months, my son said, “Amma, you are looking and walking much better now. What are you doing?” This was the first time he had actually acknowledged that I was not too normal earlier. My son’s observation was a clear sign to me that acupuncture was working on me. In a few months, people began asking me what I was doing that made me look and walk so much better. I had now became a symbol of how radically one’s health could improve.

My husband’s colleague had severe back pain, and someone told him to ask me where I was going. I directed him to Dr Rawal. In a matter of months, he became much better. When my neighbour became bedridden from severe back pain, I convinced her to come with me and soon, in a couple of months, she too had become much, much better.

As for me, I went to Dr Rawal morning and evening for one-and-a-half years. Even he was touched by my constancy. Currently, we have been transferred to Lonavla, and I have found an acupuncturist here, too, again by the grace of God, who is now in touch with Dr Rawal to consult him and inform him about my progress.

As far as I am concerned, I am walking well now and have no real symptoms of MS. People keep telling me I look great with the perfect weight for my height, and I certainly do have more energy. I even travel at peak hours in Mumbai local trains, which indicates clearly that I am able to do all that I wish. There is a slight weakness and pain in my lower limbs, which my acupuncture doctor says is a process of returning to normalcy. I am doing yoga and am not on any medication. My recent MRI report showed my lesions have reduced – one more clear indication that I am on the path to recovery.

Side-effects? Yes, there is one. The only side-effect acupuncture has given me is regularity in my menstrual cycle, which Dr Rawal says is because acupuncture harmonises one’s body.

Normal life

Today, I am leading a normal life, and I have surely found the direction towards wellness in a drugless, non-surgical way. Now, even my neurologist, a remarkably open-minded allopath, asks others to get in touch with me to motivate them.

I do strongly recommend inclusion of alternative therapies in medical schools, as they can surely aid in combating multiple sclerosis and many other ailments.

Am I hundred per cent all right? Well, there are still some lesions, but I am leading a hundred per cent functional and independent life. I am sure this will continue to improve as Providence has shown me the path to wellness.

See more articles on Healing : http://www.lifepositive.com/Articles/Healing