Raajeev Aggerwhil
By Raajeev Aggerwhil
As an Indian American, I am torn between the choice of Western medicine and Eastern medicine. During my last three visits to my doctor, I have consistently failed to buy the medicines prescribed by him. Each time he would ask, “Do you want us to call the local CVS so they will have the prescription ready?” I would say, “No, Doc. Just give me the written prescription and I’ll pick it up.” As I make this excuse, I have some conflicting thoughts going on in my mind.
It bothers me that my doctor always prescribes antibiotics which would kill everything in the body. That is the most American way to take care of a problem. “We know there might be a couple of bad guys in there. Bomb everything. It worked in Afghanistan, and it will work here.”
I generally don’t question my doctor’s judgement but if I did, it would go something like this. “But Doc, it didn’t work in Afghanistan.” “Of course, it did. We created so many defense contractors’ jobs. It’s the same thing here. If we don’t attack your body with a blitzkrieg of pills, think of the children that might starve in the pharma executives’ households.”
Drugs are like a battlefield. If you fire too many pills in the desert, you will end up killing the good guys with the bad guys. “Sure, we killed the virus. But we also wiped out the entire 28th white cell platoon.”
It is an established fact among the humorist pundits that the best comedy is based on truth. It turns out that these jokes are based on some elements of truth. I found some articles in medical journals on Healthline and National Library of Medicine that support the fact that the roughly 40 trillion microbes that live in our body, most of which are in our gut, help defend our bodies against outside threats such as viruses, parasites, and bacteria. The microbes create a gentle balance that can be disrupted by a variety of medical treatments, especially antibiotics. Researchers say some antibiotics, including commonly prescribed tetracyclines and macrolides, can kill healthy gut bacteria and advised that people taking antibiotics should eat foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt and sauerkraut.
It is hard to explain to my American friends that as a Bania, I am not trying to save money by refusing to take some antibiotics or some pills to suppress symptoms of various flare-ups.
My body is holier than Iraq, Afghanistan or even Vietnam. It is not going to be a battleground and face the consequences of mustard gas or some bazooka just because of a minor fever or bad breath. Over 20 years back, my doctor diagnosed me with DNS, deviated nasal septum, and recommended surgery that would alleviate my nasal blockage.
He said the DNS would lead to congestion and require frequent antibiotics. At that time, I felt surgery would be an overkill and seemed a bit extreme, so I decided not to pursue that path.
I didn’t want to offend him by saying that Western medicine is imperialistic and is designed to kill and conquer. Even though Eastern medicine is holistic, grounded in non-violence, it has its own short comings. Eastern doctors are inclined to ask, “Can we live with minor discomfort? If we give it some more time, it may decide to go away on its own.” They view bacteria as tenants living in our bodies. “Let’s give the tenant a 30-day eviction notice that we might someday actually enforce. Who is to say that a bunch of bad bacteria don’t have the same rights living inside your skin as you do?”
I visited this Ayurvedic doctor in India for help with some skin issues. He said, “Look at the bacteria/virus as a homeless encampment. You need to approach them with understanding and support in the form of a poor diet and lack of exercise.” “But Doc the irritation really bothers me.” “I think we need to approach it slowly, with some incense and some peppers and whatever else I can find around this place.” I said, “Doc, that’s not a medical plan. That’s a gift basket.”
Over the course of years, I have tried to come up with an unscientific practical balance that works for me. I try to listen to my body. For minor discomforts, I try to determine the root cause of the problem. If I have a headache, is my body trying to tell me to relax? Can I fix it with a hot shower, a bit of meditation or a nap? If it’s something major, I do rely on my Western doctors for their accurate diagnosis. Their reconnaissance is excellent thanks to their ultrasound, sonograms, and images from satellites and spy planes that give a comprehensive view of the bad guys. However, when it comes to taking action, it is a complex decision and after gathering all the facts, I rely on my gut.
For my DNS, my procrastination to delay surgery and listen to my gut actually worked. Over the years, my regular meditation and Yogic breathing exercises, helped with frequent blockages and virtually eliminated the need for any decongestants and antibiotics. For other allergies and skin irritations, I have found Ayurvedic and Homeopathic medicines to be more effective and helped get to the root of the problems. What combination of Western, Eastern or Holistic medicine I use is a personal choice and depends on the criticality and urgency of the situation. Sometimes when you are ready to throw in the towels, you need the blitzkrieg of imperialistic pills, a scalpel, or a dagger to annihilate the latoon-ke-bhoot, the stubborn bad guys! Often, I have found the peaceful approach to be more effective, less pills more peace. And I avoid my pharma rep friends as much as possible.
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Raajeev Aggerwhil is a Los Angeles-based comedian. Follow him on Instagram @raajeevcomedy
To see his videos on YouTube, search for his name.
