The past few decades saw prolific writings on Yoga by different authors. Like a huge banyan tree, it is constantly branching out to expand its horizon by evolving different methods of practice with each branch claiming uniqueness in its effectiveness to produce results. Its curative potential is being assessed in various research centers all over the world. There are Colleges and Universities set up exclusively for teaching Yoga and Yoga Philosophy. There are innumerable books on Therapeutic Yoga – Yoga for Asthma; Yoga for Diabetes; Yoga for Heart problems; Yoga for Back Pain etc., to cover almost all diseases. Short-term programs exclusively for Stress Management, Personality Development, Disease Curing and fitness are available. But, despite all this, a Yoga System that guarantees cure for diseases is yet to be evolved.
Modern System of Medicine with its latest equipment for testing, analysis, surgeries and different formulations of medicines is making its sway. It ironically holds on to the point that chronic diseases cannot be cured but only be managed with administration of medicines. It insists upon periodical medical check up, regular in-take of medicines or injections, and exercise to prevent complications. With the passage of time, due to degeneration of the body systems or due to patient’s neglect, diseases in the body get more and more complicated. Vital organs, internal working systems and joints start malfunctioning. Degenerated parts or organs can be removed or replaced by surgical means. The possibility of surgery produces more fears in the minds of the patients. Surgery is a very expensive procedure and ordinary people cannot afford it. Further, it does not guarantee permanent relief or cure. Sometimes, surgery incapacitates the patient or becomes a cause for his death. This uncertainity creates panic in patients suffering from heart ailments, diabetes, arthritis, or spinal or knee disorders.
Surgery is not a safe alternative, as it often results in complications. Reactions like burning sensation, itching, sleeplessness, gastric disorders, body swelling, water retention, tremors, hair falling, headache, breathlessness etc. torment their body and make life miserable. The patients are forced to continue with these life supporting medicines despite their reactions or side-effects for want of a safe alternative.
Alternative Systems of Medicine like Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Siddha or Unani, do provide relief to chronic ailments. Working in consonance with modern medicine, these systems of medicine have been found to be helpful in reducing the side effects of modern medicine. But they are not an alternative to modern medicine.
Patients with complicated health problems are, therefore, resigned to their fate unable to find a solution to their sufferings.