 She
looks at the whole picture
By Roshan Peiris
one could easily mistake Vaish Sathasivam for a model, given her striking
looks. But she is a clever young girl with a goal and an unusual career.
She is a Homeopath, having qualified at Regent's College, London.
Vaish had her schooling at St. Bridget's and at Stafford Ladies College
and made up her mind to pursue medical studies in India. "But with
the unsettled conditions in India at that time just after Rajiv Gandhi's
assassination I decided to go to London. I had always wanted to study medicine."
But why homeopathy? "I read some literature on homeopathy and decided
it was the sort of medicine I had in mind. For example I found that in
allopathic medicine I did not find answers to a lot of questions that baffled
me. I found homeopathy more comprehensive and hence opted to study it at
Regent's College for three years."
There is no specialisation as such, she said, in homeopathy. Vaish explained
that the basis of homeopathic medicine is holistic and basically recognises
that the body can repair and maintain itself. She qualified this by saying
that homeopathy treatment stimulates the immune system.
Vaish said there were many myths and notions about homeopathy which
are evidently wrong. "It is said that in homeopathy the cure is a
slow process. This is not so at all. How can it be, when homeopathy is
used even in first aid treatment where time is of the essence.
"Homeopathy can be used in cases'' where there is bleeding due
to a cut or some injury and when fingers get trapped," she added.
It is also said that certain food and drinks are not allowed in homeopathy.
Vaish explained, "There is no hard and fast rule about say, drinking
coffee or eating pineapple. It all depends on the sensitivity of the individual's
system. Some are able to take coffee in small quantities, with no adverse
effects, while others have after effects such as nausea."
She has even written her thesis on the unusual subject of "the
therapeutic use of homeopathy in the treatment of cholera" which is
still found in the "developing" world.
How does one treat cholera? "In homeopathy one describes the symptoms
of the disease- a cardinal rule in curing any disease. One does not distinguish
symptoms of one disease as such, say cholera, but tries to see a complete
picture. That is how a homeopath works. The complete picture is the person's
physical, emotional and even mental state."
Vaish Sathasivam has now set up her own clinic at Cambridge Place, Colombo
7.
Neelan elected
Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam was elected Chairman of the Minority Rights Group
International, the London based international human rights and research
organisation. Dr. Tiruchelvam was elected to a four year term and will
succeed Sir John Thomson, the former UK Permanent Representative to the
United Nations, in New York.
MRG has published almost one hundred reports on issues relating to minorities
and also publishes the 800 page world Directory on Minorities. It enjoys
consultative status with the United Nations, and was active in the framing
of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Minorities and in securing a permanent
mandate for the UN Council of Europe, the European Union, and the Organisation
on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Help
Kidney and financial assistance
Sisirakantha Manaram Fernando, 42 years, of 24/3C, Sagara Lane 5, Uyana,
Moratuwa is suffering from acute end stage renal failure . To save his
life, he very urgently needs a Kidney from 'B' Positive (Blood Group) donor.
Doctor Chula Herath has advised that the kidney transplant be carried
out without delay at an Indian hospital.
Sisirakantha is a father of a 12 year old son. He is unable to meet
the cost of about Rs. 600,000/- . He requests financial assistance from
willing donors and well wishers to make this surgery possible. Those wishing
to help could kindly remit their contributions to M.S.M. Fernando Fund
Account. No. 10611114618 at the Bank of Ceylon, Idama Branch, Moratuwa.
Please contact the following telephone numbers for further details during
weekends and after 7.00p.m. on weekdays-Tel.. 647189 or 648255.
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