International day of persons with disabilities – 3rd December 2011

Did you know that according to the new report there are more 1 billion people across the globe face substantial  barriers in their daily lives.The day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every aspect of life.

Lets see which countries are user friendly for people who suffer from disabilities .One of the main concern that I always felt was how people with disabilities travel ? With the growing modernization and the population explosion in  countries like India ,China etc .Here modern infrastructure is being built but in India I have seen minimal thought given to the disabled people.

When I travel by the local train to reach the platform from where the train leaves its just impossible for a wheelchair bound person to access this service.Now since few years there is a small compartment which is specially for the disabled and also for the cancer patients.This is a good initiative by the government .

The public transport buses have 4 -5 seats reserved for the disabled but here also there is no facility for a wheel chair bound person.Last week when I was traveling in the BEST bus there was a heart breaking incident a mother was sitting with her son who was suffering from cerebral palsy and was also blind and a person came who was also little disabled he started fighting with that lady that she should vacate the seat .The lady explained that it will be impossible to leave the child sit alone but the other person didn’t understand the complex disease the child was suffering from .

Looking at this whole thing a fellow passenger offered his seat.The point is there has to be awareness campaigns where people understand how to deal with disabilities and also a board has to be put where care takers can seat with the disabled people.

Some of the best practices that I have encountered in India where disabled people are concerned is the outlook of the general people.Indian people are very helpful when they see a disabled person who needs any help like while crossing streets, some organizations are doing tremendous work,also the students from schools and colleges are very friendly and helpful.

Did you know ? 

http://www.specialolympics.org/#

Special Olympics is a global movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability. We are helping to make the world a better, healthier and more joyful place -- one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time.You can do your bit by donating for the cause

http://www.paralympic.org/Paralympic_Games/

The Paralympics are elite sport events for athletes with a disability. They emphasize, however, the participants' athletic achievements rather than their disability. The movement has grown dramatically since its first days. The number of athletes participating in Summer Paralympic Games has increased from 400 athletes from 23 countries in Rome in 1960 to 3,951 athletes from 146 countries in Beijing in 2008.

http://www.deaflympics.com/about/

The Summer and Winter Deaflympics are among the world's fastest growing sports events. More than 4,000 deaf athletes and officials from 77 nations participated in the 21st Summer Deaflympics in Taipei, Chinese Taipei, in September 2009. Over 600 athletes and officials participated in the 16th Winter Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, United States in February 2007.

Some of the famous people

Albert Einstein
The Mathematician/Physicist who had a learning disability and did not speak until age 3. He had a very difficult time doing maths in school. It was also very hard for him to express himself through writing. 

Alexander Graham Bell
Had a learning disability 

Cher
Has dyslexia 

Christopher Reeve
Never has a person with a disability commanded so much media attention in recent history. Christopher Reeve, crippled after a horse-riding injury, wants to be up on his feet & wants to help others stand confident too. His life is now dedicated to harnessing the power of medical research to get up & ride again. 

Thomas Edison
Edison had a learning disability. He couldn't read until he was twelve years old and had a very difficult time writing even when he was older. 

Francsico de Goya
Spanish painter (1746-1828): At age 46, an illness left him deaf. He went on to create the most famous Spanish art of the 19th century. 

Helen Keller
She was Blind, Deaf, and Mute .Devoted her Life to Persons with Disabilities

Ludwig van Beethoven
Known to be deaf one of the famous musicians

Robin Williams
was diagnosed to be suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) as a child. He never refuses a role related to medicine e.g Awakenings, Patch Adams. 

Sarah Bernhardt
French actress (1844-1923) Disabled by a knee injury, her leg amputated in 1914, she continued starring on stage until just before her death. She is regarded as France's greatest actress -- "The Divine Sarah". 

Stephen Hawkings
Physicist/mathematician has Lou Gehrigs Disease and is in a wheelchair. He needs a computer to speak. 

Sudha Chandran
Indian actress and classical dancer. This brave lady dances with a Jaipur foot. She has acted in a movie on classical dance called "Nache Mayuri" & today acts in a variety of TV serials. 

Walt Disney
Had a learning disability

These are few of the points that I have put in this article.There is lot that needs to be done and if each of us does our bit we will definitely achieve the desired outcome…

Article written by,

We bring health to you….

Dr.Santosh Joshi

Classical Homeopath

Call us on : +91 9819155780

Email : tosh116@gmail.com

Blog :  www.homeopathyclassical.blogspot.com

Dr.Joshi's Center for AUTISM CARE -FAQ’s for AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER - www.drjoshis.com

                                                                     www.drjoshis.com

1. What is autism? 

Autism is considered a spectrum disorder because symptoms and severity vary from individual to individual. Autistic children express differently from each other. Autism is characterized by failure of the child to develop communicative language or form proper social communication. But they show motor and other skills far beyond that of a mentally retarded child.

Autism is characterized by varying degrees of impairment to develop communicative language or form proper social communication. Some of them are obsessively pre occupied with inanimate objects such as lights, running water or spinning objects, and also by repetitive behaviors. Symptoms range from mild to severe. Some of them gradually develop extreme talents such as in mathematics and these are retained mostly throughout the life. Studies of people with autism have found abnormalities in several regions of the brain which suggest that autism results from a disruption of early fetal brain development

There is a milder form of the disorder known as Asperger's Syndrome. Other developmental disorders that fall under the Autism Spectrum Disorders are Rett’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified), and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. If you have concerns about your child's development, don't wait: speak to your doctor about getting your child screened for autism.

2. What is meant by “On the spectrum”?
Autism is considered a spectrum disorder because symptoms and severity vary from individual to individual. Though the Autistic children show similar traits they are individual and express differently from each other. one child may have not developed speech and have difficulty in learning how to read and write, where as another child can easily read and write and can be attending normal school. Some children may display hypersensitivity to touch noise and other may have no sensory issues at all.

3. How common is autism?
According to the survey by Centers for Disease Control, autism affects as many as 1 in every 100 children and it is rising by 10-15% every year. It is the most prevalent developmental disorder in today’s time. Boys are more susceptible than girls to develop Autism but it is seen that girls manifest a more severe form of the disorder that the boys.

4. How do I know my child is Autistic?

No two children with autism are alike, each one managing a different set of symptoms. But there are some signs and symptoms that are common and may be recognized as early as the toddler years, or even sooner. They usually do not have or do not sustain eye contact and have trouble communicating with other people or they may communicate in ways that others cannot easily understand. They may hardly speak and even if they speak it’s just babbling and not coherent. They're also prone to repetitive behaviors like flapping their hands constantly or uttering the same phrase over and over again. They may also be over sensitive to sights, sounds and touch.

Criteria for Autism

A total Of 6 or more items of the following with at least 2 from [1], and one each from [2] and [3] are satisfied by the patient:

[1] Qualitative impairment in social interaction:

Marked impairment in facial expression

Failure to develop peer relationships

A lack of spontaneity in sharing interests

Lack of social or emotional reciprocity

[2] Qualitative impairment in communication:

Marked inability to initiate or sustain conversation with others.

[3] Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped pattern of behavior

Encompassing preoccupation with one stereotyped and restricted pattern.

5. How did my child develop autism?
No one is yet able to point to a probable cause. Though a disorder as common as autism would have a known cause, in many ways it's still quite mysteriously not known. Recent studies have suggested a strong genetic basis for autism. There are about 20 sets of genes that may play a part in the development of autism. Genes are not the only one responsible for all the cases; there are other triggers which are yet not discovered.

6. Does vaccination cause autism ?
Many studies have been conducted to determine if a link exists between vaccination and increased prevalence of autism, with particular attention to the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and those containing thimerosal. These studies have not found a link between vaccines and autism It remains possible that, in cases, immunization might trigger the onset of autism symptoms in a child with an underlying medical or genetic condition.

As this is a sensitive topic it is best to discuss it with your healthcare provider who will guide you and ensure the optimal well-being of the child. Establishing open communication and trust with a physician who understands each child and his or her family is the best strategy for keeping a child healthy. 

7. What help my child needs if He/She is Autistic?

Do not Panic first understand and learn about Autism from the right source that can be your doctor. You will need a good team of doctors, therapists, psychologists and teachers who understand and have experience with autism and can respond to his needs appropriately. Your healthcare provider can guide you toward various intervention programs and suggest complementary therapies. It also helps to associate with the existing network of parents facing the same challenges as you.

8. How to I deal with the diagnosis of Autism?

It is difficult to come to terms with the diagnosis that your child is having Autism but there is always a brighter side to every adversity. As we know the Autistic children have some special capabilities which the normal kids may not pocess.For e.g. some of the children we saw one was having a extraordinary power to memorize things only after reading once, one of them was brilliant in drawing and another in playing musical instrument. So do not blame your self or feel sad or hopeless. Take the right steps understand the disorder and if take care from your healthcare provider who will guide you with the exact nature of the disorder and how to deal with it. Keep the faith.

9. What therapies do I need for my child with Autism?

There are various therapies that are useful some of them are –

• Speech Language Therapy (SLT)
• Occupational Therapy (OT)
• Sensory Integration
• Physical Therapy (PT)
• Social Skills
• Picture Exchange Communication system
• Auditory Integration Therapy

10. What role Homeopathy plays in Autism?

Homeopathy is a holistic treatment and it plays a vital role in treatment of Autistic children. With the Constitutional Homeopathic treatment we can achieve increased level of concentration, decrease in hyperactivity and channeling of the energy in a constructive method. Homeopathic remedies act at the level of the Psycho Neuro endocrinal axis. Homeopathic treatment is safe and without side effects.

11. Can Autistic children become independent?

Yes Autistic children can become independent with the right intervention programs, therapy and proper care from the early stages once the child is detected with Autism. A sustained effort is needed to achieve the desired outcome from therapy and treatment. As Autistic children are having special capabilities which when nurtured properly can be a great asset in making the individual independent.

For Homeopathic Consultation With Dr.Santosh R.Joshi Classical Homeopath

Write to us at : ask@happylivin.com

or Call us : +91 9819155780

Website : http://www.happylivin.com/autism-treatment.php

Lichen planus – treated with Classical Homeopathy

The patient came with the complaints of eruptions on the legs ,waist and on the soles.The complaints had started two and a half years back.The eruptions first appeared on the right leg and then have spread to the waist and the soles.The eruptions are very painful and there is lot of scaling of the skin.

The complaints are aggravated by the following conditions
Stress
In a closed place

Following conditions give partial releif to him
Cold water application
Uncovering the part

Along with the itching there is severe burning sensation in the affected area.

The patient also is suffering from Tinea versicolor along with Lichen planus.

There were no other complaints besides this.

The emotional nature of the patient is as follows.

The patient is very anxious by nature .If his family members do not come on time he becomes very anxious.He will have lot of negative thoughts like ; have they suffered from accident ? or something must have gone wrong.He will immediately call the person concerned and confirm if they are safe.If this is not possible then till the time they do not come back he will be very anxious.

Also he has lot of anticipatory anxiety .He thinks what will happen to his family if he dies suddenly ? He is very attached and pocessive about his family members.

At the professional level he is from an engineering background.He was working with a company for 18 years and held a good position.But suddenly the company closed down due to heavy losses.This created a huge setback and also caused lot of insecurity.Due to the shutdown there was financial crisis in his family life.This went on for a few months.

Then the company made arrangements for temporary jobs in a government office but here they were kept on a temporary job.Due to this his salary was reduced from what he used to earn and also the constant fear that what if he is removed from the job.How will he suppourt his family this causes a lot of anxiety and also increses his complaints.

This is going on in his life for the last 5 years.Out of frustration he becomes angry sometimes and blasts out in front of his collegues.He is also very sensitive by nature.

As a child he was staying in a small village .He was very shy as a child but he used to be very angry by nature.He used to get into physical fights,used to break things.He never shared his things with anybody.He was very pocessive about his things.

He used to be afraid of his father as he was very strict besides this there were no fears as such.Also he is very fastidious he wants all the things in order otherwise will get angry.

Relations with his parents ,wife and children are very good.

Personal history
Diet : Non-vegetarian
Craving : Fish,Sweets, salt, Eggs
Aversion: excess of oil in the food

Thermals
Sun : causes burning of the skin,uneasiness and headache
Fanning : likes
Air conditioner : O.k
Covering : takes covers
Bath : Lukewarm water
Season : likes all seasons

Urine : normal
Stools : normal

Thirst : large quantities of water
Perspiration : Not much Palms and soles

Sleep and dreams disturbed.Dreams of going to a function.

Past histiry
Jaundice
Uric acid levels were elevated

Family history
Father (76 years) No major illness
Mother : ( 69 years ) Hypertensive

On examination
Eruption on the lower limbs ,waist,gluteal region with scaling.Fungal infection in the armpits.Eruptions are of Lichen planus
Swelling below the eyes was marked
Blood pressure was within the normal range
Throat was congested
Teeth caries and few of them have been removed.

Date

Prescription
6/4/06

1) Kali.bi 30c 3 doses for 3 nights
2) Sac.lac
1-1-1
3) Sac.lac
2pills 4 hourly for itching
14 days
21/4/06
The patient called up to give a feedback.
Marginal improvement in the eruptions.
Anxiety had reduceddd.
Itching and burning was less by 25 %
Sleep was better.
Same doses were continued as above for another 14 days.
3/5/06
Patient came with improvement in the eruption.Also the itching and burning was reduced to a marked level.
Patient was feeling better emotionally and sleeping well.
He wanted medicines for a longer period.
Patient was put on placebo for 1 month and was asked to report after the medicines got exhausted or if there was an acute problem.

However the patient never reported back after the last prescription.we came to know after a few months from the person who had referred him to us that he was much better and due to some reasons he has not reported back.Anyways we were happy to know he had recovered from his illness.

Treated by
Dr.Santosh Joshi
Classical Homeopathic
Website : www.happylivin.com 
Email me on : tosh116@gmail.com for more details and consultation
Call us on : +91 9819155780
The above case is for reference only please dont self medicate.