The right diagnosis
December 2009
By Jamuna Rangachari
Every part of the external body reveals the condition of specific internal organs says Ketan Shah in an advanced workshop
Though aware of acupressure, understanding the pressure points on the meridians and pulse diagnosis, empowered me to correct my own condition in a better way,” says Darryl D’Souza, a supply chain consultant from Mumbai. Darryl has been suffering from an advanced stage of candidiasis with a weak digestive system. Curing the ailment itself could be a long haul. Still, working on the pressure points, and analysing the improvement through his own pulse, has empowered him to deal with it.
“I never knew there were six types of diabetes. With pulse diagnosis, it has become easier to diagnose and strengthen the affected organ,” says gynaecologist Dr Asha Awasare. “My throat problems are totally under control after I learnt how to diagnose and set them right,” avers actress Smita Jaykar. Calling it a wonderful, holistic technique, she hopes more people would use it.
Rhapsody about acupressure was a constant feature of the advanced workshop on acupressure conducted by Ketan Shah under the aegis of Life Positive Foundation in early October.
Pulse diagnosis
The workshop began with sharing of experiences after the basic workshop attended earlier with Shah. He began by explaining the importance of diagnostics, the subject of the current workshop.
“You cannot really help anyone feel better until you know what they are suffering from,” he said, and announced the new session would concentrate on various tools to understand the condition of oneself or someone whom we wish to heal. “Remember not to rely only on one tool, but confirm if your understanding is correct by checking the relevant acupressure points,” he began.
“The pulse itself can give you tremendous guidance,” he emphasised and demonstrated how it is done. Six major organs, namely, the small intestine, gall bladder, urinary bladder could be sensed on the edge of the left hand by just placing three fingers next to the wrist. By moving the fingers slightly further you could come in contact with the points related to the heart, liver and kidney.
Similarly, other organs, like the large intestine, stomach, and spine could be sensed on the edge of the right hand by just placing three fingers next to the wrist. By moving the fingers slightly further you could gauge the points related to the lungs, spleen and brain.
Initially, the sensing was not too easy and all of us groped to sense the points. “I cannot feel my heart throbbing,” said one of the participants, perplexed. After practice and guidance, he still was not able to sense it throbbing. “Well, you are alive, aren’t you?” replied the bemused Mr Shah. After a couple of sessions, we got the hang of the technique.
“Excessive throbbing means the organs want more energy,” he told us and advised us to sense the organs at various times during the day to understand the mechanics better. “Early morning diagnosis when the body is completely rested is the best,” he emphasised. He asked everyone to check their pulses the following day and practise with others.
Other diagnostic techniques
If the first day was all about learning pulse diagnosis and the organs associated with each pulse point, the second day was about understanding how specific organs themselves could reveal other problems. Face diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, nail diagnosis, and teeth diagnosis were discussed and understood.
Different areas of the tongue are believed to reflect the health of various organs. If there is an unusual colour, coating, and/or shape in a certain area, special attention is paid to the corresponding organ system. As with any assessment method, the doctor does not rely on tongue diagnosis alone, but uses it to provide a complete picture of a patient’s health. Normal tongue colour is light red, indicating that a person’s vital energy (called qi) is strong. It also reflects the health of the internal organs and blood circulation. Changes in the tongue colour usually reflect chronic illness.
The face too reveals many issues and correlations can be made between the condition of the face and the internal organs. Nail changes may signify a number of disorders elsewhere in the body. These changes may indicate illness long before any other symptoms appear. Please do remember that everything you see on the outside of your body is a reflection of something going on inside. Specific teeth relate to specific organs. For instance, wisdom teeth relate to the kidneys and the bladder, and incisors relate to one’s heart.
Meditations
Interspersed in the workshop were meditations such as connecting with one’s loved ones and departed souls. In the process, one could see the pattern of one’s life and see how every relationship moulds each one of us. “The key intent is to make you more powerful so that you can heal others,” said Shah, stressing that one should thank Providence for giving the opportunity to heal oneself and others.
Chakras
The third day of the workshop moved entirely from the body to the mind and spirit. “A complete treatment must include the emotional angle also,” stressed Shah, beginning a session on chakras and their significance.
“The higher chakras are not necessarily more valuable than the lower ones, they just signify something different,” he emphasised and explained the seven chakrasand the corresponding significance. A meditation on each of the chakras was done by chanting the mool mantra before winding up with a promise to practise further.
Reflections
Darryl practised his skills diligently on the first day. He was much better on the second day and by the third day almost a veteran! Meenakshi, who also practised a lot, said she was more confident and Smita Jaykar said she would love to help others with her skills. Dr Asha Awasare was eager to hone her skills. The mood was definitely upbeat as one left the workshop armed with the knowledge acquired.