There is only one disease-accumulation of toxic waste in the body. And there is only one cure-helping the body to remove the toxins. This is the radical approach of naturopathy which banks on fasting, diet control, hydrotherapy and other non-drug treatments

Institute of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, BangalorePlush and popular

Set up by industrialist and naturopathy enthusiast Dr Sitaram R. Jindal, the Institute of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (INYS) on the outskirts of Bangalore is the best-known in its category in the country. As it looks luxurious, uses an array of modern gadgets, and attracts a fair share of the rich and famous, it is nicknamed Jindal health farm.

In popular perception it is seen as an expensive place. Its promoters are hard put to explain that it is a charitable institution, well within the reach of the middle classes. INYS covers 70 acres of land and has beautiful walkways and a comforting lake.

The place has three housing categories—Cottages, Huts, Nests and executive rooms, with graded facilities and varying rents. Also provided is a recreation centre, a library and facilities like laundry, tailor, salon and beauty parlour.

INYS has its own farms where fruits and vegetables are grown organically. Out of the 160 beds, 30 have been set apart for charitable cases and 30 for those under research. Being researched is treatment for a few major diseases like diabetes, hypertension, migraine, ulcer and asthma, all considered incurable otherwise.

Applicants are admitted only after a scrutiny by a panel of doctors. Those suffering from cancer, tuberculosis, skin diseases and pregnant women are barred. Yet, there is a health rejuvenation scheme which allows people anxious to tone up their system to apply for a 10-day stay.

Dr Jindal turned to naturopathy while he was a college student in Calcutta in the 1950s after it cured him of abdominal complications and tuberculosis. After graduating in naturopathy from the Lucknow University, he joined his family business and established INYS in 1978.

A Radhasoami by faith, he was inspired by the charitable nature cure hospital at Radhasoami Satsang, Beas in Punjab. In an interview he gave to Life Positive in his office in Delhi, Dr Jindal, CMD of Jindal Aluminium Ltd, made it clear that naturopathy is not magic or miracles: ‘‘The doctor’s role is only advisory here. The patient needs to make sacrifices, strictly following natural principles even after going back home. If you stay on course, you will not need to come back again.’’

Yoga shares equal billing with nature cure. ‘‘Naturopathy helps you regain health, and yoga maintains it. If you cannot follow nature cure principles, do at least half an hour of yoga or any other strenuous exercise like swimming or playing a game and you will be okay,’’ said Dr Jindal.

At INYS, patients can learn yogasanas, kriyas and pranayama from trained experts and follow the routine at home. Dr Jindal believes that middle class people benefit the most from nature cure. This is because they cannot afford to take off from work for long periods to stay at a naturopathy institution, so they are better disciplined.

Rich people, on the other hand, believe they can buy health with wealth (which isn’t true), and don’t stick to the nature cure regimen. However, some of the politicians who have stayed at INYS including Atal Behari Vajpayee, Arun Shourie, Ramakrishna Hegde and Maneka Gandhi behaved, Dr Jindal reports.

Dr Jindal had planned to open INYS type institutions in all four zones of the country but was discouraged by the problem of strictly enforcing discipline vis-à-vis diet, etc, at the Bangalore institute, particularly with richer in-patients.

However, among naturopaths, Dr Jindal will be considered a liberal. He approves of colon irrigation, a specific procedure which is done with an imported machine. ‘‘Its one session equals 20 enemas,’’ he says. INYS can also boast of a full-fledged diagnostic section comprising modern laboratory, X-ray machine, ultrasound, etc. They also have fully equipped physiotherapy and acupuncture departments.

CONTACT: INYS Ph: (080) 8394926 URL: NATURECURE-INYS.ORG