GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR TREATMENT

GENERAL GUIDELINES TO BE FOLLOWED BEFORE DURING AND AFTER THE PERIOD TREATMENT

Some general guidelines are described below for all the patients to follow before, during and after their stay at our hospital. Following these guidelines will help patients to be calm and peaceful and also get the maximum benefit of the treatment that is given to them. These guidelines are as given in the Ayurvedic and Siddha texts. Please go through this very carefully.

Patient’s Rights, Responsibility and role :
Patients Rights:

1. To receive high quality care appropriate to the patients needs and consistent with the scope of the hospital.
2. To receive considerate care regardless of race, religious belief and age.
3. To know the name of the physician who has the primary responsibility for co-ordinating care.
4. To receive information about the illness, treatment and prognosis.
5. To receive counselling regarding the estimated cost of the treatment and payment schedule at the time of admissions as well as subsequently.
6. To be provided with confidentiality during examination or treatment.
7. The patient is assured of the medical records.

Patients Responsibility:

1. To provide complete and accurate information including full name, address, telephone number, date of birth, insurance details whenever necessary.
2. To provide accurate and complete information concerning present complaints past medical history, hospitalization and other matters relating to the patients health.
3. To follow the treatment plan advised by the physician, including the instructions of nurses and other health professionals as they carry out the physicians orders.
4. To treat hospital staff and other patients with dignity and respect and not to conduct any activity that will disrupt the work of the hospital.
5. Not allowed to bring alcohol, smoking, unauthorized drugs & weapons in to the hospital ever.
6. Strictly follow visiting hours and visiting formalities of the hospital.
7. Leave valuables at house and bring only those items necessary during hospital stay.
8. Assure that the financial obligation of the patients care are fulfilled as per hospital policy.
9. Strictly restricted the usage of plastic within the hospital.
10. To pursue diet regimes suggested by the physician.

Patients Role:

  • The patient should have total faith in the Physician. Ayurveda and Siddha gives the patient the right to enquire and go searching for a good physician - however once he has identified the physician and decided to take his treatment, then the patient should have full faith in the capabilities of the physician and follow his instructions without demur or question or doubt.

  • It would be very good if patient could just give total control to the physicians once they are admitted in our Hospital. This will make the task of the physicians easier and will also hasten the process of healing within them.

  • Patients may not be able to understand the meaning of some of the instructions or treatments or restrictions. They need not worry. By the end of the course of treatment, they will be able to understand things better. Some of this cannot be understood clearly by mere verbal explanations and so, it is better to be patient and just obey the physicians.

  • Please remember that all our physicians here are trained and recognized physicians by the government of India and some of them have several years of experience in this field. During patients stay here, physicians are as responsible for their health.

  • Once patients have developed this faith in the physicians and their healing prowess, patients should give them all the information possible to enable them to make an accurate diagnosis and prognosis and decide your treatment program.

  • Please don't hold back any information from the physicians when they come to consult. Even what patient may consider as unimportant or immaterial may be of significance to physicians and so please answer all questions with due consideration.

  • Even if patients had forgotten to give some information, please don't worry – they can continue to give information through the period of their stay. However it will be better to give everything right at the beginning.

  • According to Ayurveda and Siddha and siddha, the physician examines the patient by three means - darsana, sparsana and prasna- lt means by observing, by touching and by questioning: By mere observation, the physician makes some recording. Then by touching, feeling the pulse etc. he is continuing to gain understanding of patient and his/her problem. And finally by questioning and by the information patient volunteer, physician is able to create a good picture of the patient and their problems (if any) and make the appropriate diagnosis and decide upon the treatment programs and medicines suited to the patient.

  • This process of darsana, sparsana and prasna will continue right through the patient stay in our hospital.

CHENNAI HERITAGE HOSPITAL’S APPROACH TO MODERN TREATEMENT AND INVESTIGATIONS:

  • To enable proper documentation, and to enable patient also to get an understanding of their problem in a language every one understand, the physicians may recommend some investigative procedures like blood tests, X-rays etc. for which the hospital will make the necessary arrangements.

  • It would be best if these tests are repeated twice during the course of patient stay here - in the middle of your treatment and at the end of the treatment. However the Physicians will decide if required for these repeat investigations. If the physicians feels the need for more tests, they will inform patient accordingly.

  • Though Ayurveda and Siddha were also equipped to deal with certain emergency conditions, today conventional or western medicine has advanced to such an extent that this system is best suited to deal with emergency conditions presently.

  • Our institution believes that we should be able to give the best treatment in the interest of the patient and so, we also might invite allopathic consultant to the hospital. He will be visiting you whenever necessary as advised by our physicians.

  • In case of occurrence of any condition which our physicians think needs immediate attention, the allopathic consultant will guide you and if necessary, we will make arrangements to take you to a nearby Allopathic hospital which is well equipped to deal with such conditions.

  • We do hope that you understand that this arrangement has been made in your best interest. Please note that such decisions are taken only to enable you to get the best treatment and enable fast recovery so that you can continue with the treatment after that.

  • It is best if you just leave the decision to the physicians and abide by what they say and we assure you that everything we do will be only in your interest. Your only responsibility to help healing, while you are here is to follow what the physicians say

GENERAL TREATMENT SCHEDULE AT OUR HOSPITAL:

  • There are four important components to the treatment, which need to be borne in mind. They are: a) Internal medicines
    b) External treatment
    c) Diet
    d) Restrictions

  • All four are equally important parts of the treatment and you need to ensure that you follow all of them meticulously during your stay here.

INTERNAL MEDICINES:

  • After the physicians decide on your Treatment program, they will decide on certain internal medicines and external treatments to be given to you.
    The internal medicines are normally of the following types:
    a) Medicated decoctions with herbal pills (sometimes) –kashayam with guligai
    b) Herbal powders - choornam
    c) Medicated ghee (clarified butter) –ghritham, Nei
    d) Medicated lehyas (medicated jam) – lehyam, legyam
    e) Self generated herbal wine - arishtam/asavam
    f) Tablets – Natural and Coated
    g) Capsules
    i) Thailam – Medicated oils for internal and external usage
    j) Parpam and Chenduram – nanoparticulated medicines

  • Ayurveda and Siddha consider that the entire plant, animal and mineral kingdom are sources of medicine. In other words, there is nothing in this world that is not medicine. However for practical purposes, we use generally only around 600 different herbs (and a few mineral and animal products where absolutely essential) and their combinations in the treatment of various diseases. It is from this vast selection that the physicians will decide what are the best medicines suited to you and your condition. The texts specifically say that there is no fixed recipe or dose for a disease; both are determined on the basis of the disease, nature of alimentary tract of the patient, his strength and age, place and time. Thus as you may see, the treatment is for the individual patient and not for the disease. The internal medicines are normally given at the following times:
    1. When there is no food in
    2. In the middle of a meal
    3. In between morsels
    4. From time to time
    5. Both before and after food
    6. At the commencement the stomach of a meal
    7. At the end of a meal
    8. With each morsel
    9. Mixed with food
    10 .At night (bedtime)
    * Though these are the general dosage timings adopted for most patients, your individual dosage timings will be decided by the physicians who will inform you accordingly.
    * Please be sure to follow the given instructions regarding the intake of medicine carefully. This is especially for the medicine on empty stomach - you should ensure that you do not eat or drink anything for at least 90 minutes before and 60 minutes after intake of the medicine. If need be, a little water can be taken after taking the medicine.

  • Some of the medicines may be bitter - please remember it is Marunthu not Virunthu. It is medicine not a feast. Hence take it with a smile and a prayer.

EXTERNAL TREATMENTS:

  • Normally a course of intensive treatment is for an average duration of around 2-3 weeks. For women, treatment is not done on the days of menstruation, and so the treatment may be extended for another 4-5 days.

  • The physicians will decide the treatment best suited to you based on your condition. They will also decide the time of the day when you will have your treatment - though you can let them know your choice, the final decision will depend on the availability of therapists for the specific time slot that you have chosen.

  • A typical course of intensive treatment would start with:

  • Abhyangam or simple oil application followed by sweda or steam for the first 1-3 days. Intensive treatments like Vasti, Virechanam, Vamanam, Pizhichil, Dhara, Shirovasthi, Navarakizhi etc. for the next 10 days
    * Please note that the Abhyangam is as much a part of the treatment as the intensive treatments.
    * All Ayurvedic treatment programs have a preparatory phase, a main treatment phase and a post treatment or recuperative phase - all the three phases are equally important for the success of the treatment. Hence, please don't think that the Abhyangam is not really important.

  • During this entire process, please remember to keep your physician informed of any changes that you feel in your system. There could be an aggravation of your problem or there could be an abatement of pain. There could also be the formation of a new problem. This is primarily because during the treatment we are actually aggravating the toxins in the body and bringing them into the alimentary canal from where they are sent out either naturally or in a forced manner. During this process of aggravation, there can be a manifestation of symptoms. Please don't worry about it. Just inform your physicians who will do the needful if required. On many occasions, the manifested symptoms will disappear by themselves after awhile - however you should keep your physicians informed.

  • If you desire to know more about the different treatments, please ask your physicians - they will explain the same in detail to you.

  • Up to 6 therapists do some of the treatments simultaneously.

  • You need not feel embarrassed by their presence. They are all very good and caring people and are there only to help you to get better. If you feel intimidated by any of them or if you feel that some of them talk too much or are not concentrating on their job, please do not hesitate to bring it to the notice of the physician.

  • Your health is of primary concern to us and if the therapists are not concentrating on nursing you back to health, we will most certainly take necessary action - hence we reiterate that you should not hesitate to bring it to our notice.

  • Lastly one important point that needs to be mentioned here once again is that you should have full confidence in your physician's ability to decide what is the best treatment for you and to just abide by it. If he feels that you need an enema or purgation, he will certainly recommend the same for you. If he feels that your problem can be treated by doing pizhichil or dhara that is what he will recommend. Or if he feels that you don't need any external treatment and that you need only consume internal medicines, he may ask you to take the treatment at home.

DIET:

  • Food is an important part of the Ayurvedic and Siddha treatment process. But it is not as most of you understand in modem parlance. During the treatment especially, our emphasis is specifically on food that can be easily digested, as the digestive power is very low.

  • On coming into our hospital, you may kindly inform the physicians &dietician, the type of food you are accustomed to in terms of quality and quantity. Based on that, the physicians will formulate a diet for you, which will support the treatment program that you are to undergo.

  • However, we have also formulated a general diet, which is normally suitable (with small alterations) for almost all the patients undergoing treatment. This is a very simple diet, which can be easily digested, and which contains less spices, oil and salt.

  • We are aware that it is difficult for you to take bland and simple South Indian vegetarian food for duration of 5-6 weeks.
    o However we request you to make the effort - as this food rests easy on your stomach, and especially during your intensive treatment when the digestive fire is weak, this food is normally easily digested.
    o If you find that you are unable to digest the food, please inform the physicians and they will make appropriate changes to your prescribed diet.
    o However you should take the effort to eat this food. We recommend it from the point of view of Ayurvedic and Siddha treatment. We feel that this is wholesome food, which will serve your body well during the treatment. All the requirements of the body will be served well with our food & the medicine also supplements the needs.

  • If you would like to take some food other than what is prescribed for you, please contact your physicians. By directly requesting the canteen, this food will not be served to you. The physicians have to approve it before it is served.
    o Please make sure that no food article is brought from outside the campus to the rooms - & this will help your healing process, if you are contented with the Canteen food.

  • Many among you request us to give more salads and fruits/fruit juice. We must inform you that in Ayurveda and Siddha, we do not normally recommend intake of raw vegetables and in fact, the texts specifically say that uncooked food should not be taken during the treatment. This is also the reason why even fruits are not regularly given, though if the patient insists we permit the intake of one fruit every day.

  • Please note that we serve only simple vegetarian food from our hospital canteen. We do not permit the intake of non-vegetarian food during the treatment.

  • Intake of alcohol and tobacco and narcotics is also strictly prohibited during the period of your stay in our hospital. We request you to co-operate with us for your own benefit.

  • We invite you to give recipes to the canteen, based on the dietary restrictions that we prescribe and with the consent of the physicians - we will be only pleased to prepare these recipes and serve to the patients.

  • Finally please remember that any food taken continuously from the same source over a long period of time will become tasteless. It is all primarily in the mind. If you are able to control your senses and make yourself aware of the need for this food in the treatment process, and say a prayer every time you take your food, you will find that the food tastes increasingly better.

  • Intake of alcohol and tobacco and narcotics is also strictly prohibited during the period of your stay in our hospital. We request you to co-operate with us for your own benefit.

  • We invite you to give recipes to the canteen, based on the dietary restrictions that we prescribe and with the consent of the physicians - we will be only pleased to prepare these recipes and serve to the patients.

  • Finally please remember that any food taken continuously from the same source over a long period of time will become tasteless. It is all primarily in the mind. If you are able to control your senses and make yourself aware of the need for this food in the treatment process, and say a prayer every time you take your food, you will find that the food tastes increasingly better.

OTHER REGULATIONS:

  • Do not sleep during the day time

  • Avoid sleeping with the head raised too high or too low.

  • Never suppress natural urges viz urge for urination, defecation, flatus, yawning, eructation, thirst etc

  • No alcohol, smoking generally and specially during the treatments

  • Maintain celibacy, reduce exercises during treatment days.

  • Do not read or write for a long time

  • Do not think too deeply

  • Do not shave, cut your nails and hair

  • Do not eat food contrary to the instructions of the physician

  • Do not talk in excess or in a high tone

  • Do not indulge in activities requiring physical exertion including heavy exercises.

  • Do not become unduly tense or angry or sad as this affects the mental equilibrium

  • Avoid exposure to fog, wind, smoke, dust, rain and sun.

  • Do not travel in two wheelers.

  • Avoid prolonged walking, sitting and standing.

  • Do take medicines at the proper time.

  • Do go to bed early at night

  • Do wear slippers when walking

  • Do cover your body with a shawl / blanket especially when you are outside in cold seasons.

Please understand that these restrictions are for the benefit of the patient only and hence you may kindly do your best to follow all the restrictions or at least those that are insisted upon by the physicians for your specific condition.

The only activity that we recommend during this period is listening to music or mantras or spiritual discourses, which create good vibrations and only support the healing process. If you need any cassettes or tapes, please contact the hospital library or inform the Administration and they will arrange for the same - We do have a small library of such tapes exclusively for patients' use.

SOME POINTS FOR THE COMPANIONS:

  • We are aware that since the treatment is of very long duration, the people who come with the patient invariably get restless and bored.

  • However the companions have a very important role to play in the healing process. They have to keep up the patient's morale, attend to all his/her needs, remain cheerful, have presence of mind, keep the physician informed of all changes within the patient, his/her likes and dislikes, problems he/she is facing etc.

  • It is important for the companion not to let his own problems or boredom affect the patient or to discuss with the patient regarding such issues.

  • We understand that it is difficult for the companion to take the food given to the patient.

  • Hence if he or she so desires, he can go to the canteen and request for some special food that he can take there itself. In the interest of the patient, please do not take such food to the room or discuss such food with the patient.

  • Please keep the patient happy and even if at times, the patient is angry or sad, it is the duty of the companion to cheer up the patient and divert his attention from the cause of his /her emotion.

  • Thus the companion has a very important role to play in the recovery of the patient.

  • In the cottages, we have provided television for the sake of the companion. However please do not keep watching it all-day or long or keep it very loud and disturb the patient. Also please do not permit the patient to watch the television.

  • Try to spend as much time with the patient as possible so that he does not get bored or depressed - this is especially so in the cottages, where the patient cannot mingle or talk with other patients.

POST-SCRIPT:

  • As you may notice, all the instructions given above are specifically meant to help the patient to derive maximum benefit from the treatment and from the duration of the stay in our hospital.

  • Our hospital has simple facilities and does not meet very high standards of service in hospitality and hygiene and we are constantly trying to improve the quality of our services.

  • However we are also very careful and ensure that none of this interferes with the actual treatment and that the patient does not suffer physically due to this.

  • For in Ayurveda and Siddha, we believe that if there is appropriate internal hygiene, external pollution cannot affect the individual. Hence our whole aim is to create that internal purity by which external factors will no longer affect you.

  • Hence it is our request to you that small hygienic problems, mosquitoes etc do not unduly affect you. Though we are trying our best, there are certain practical difficulties due to which we are not able to keep away the mosquitoes.

  • But you can rest assured that in all these years of functioning, there has not been a single case of malaria in this hospital or a single case of infection through mosquito bite and the reason for this is the medicated oil and internal medicines that you are using during your stay here.

  • Hence though we request that you to take the necessary precautions and protect yourself, please don't become stressed at any point of time during your stay here - this will certainly not help the treatment.

  • Please inform the physicians regarding any problems that you may have with regard to treatment, diet, hygiene or anything else, and they will certainly take care to ensure that your health is not affected due to lack of adequate attention to any of the above areas.

Dr. R. Sivakumar M.D.(Ayu), M.B.A. (Hosp.Mgmnt.)
Medical Director