“Healing beyond medicine,” (Sunday TGE, Nov 1) featured an allopathic doctor who studied Vedic astrology and looks at longevity, karma and astrology to understand health and diseases. He links the role of planets and zodiac signs to particular health conditions. Vaidyakiya Jyotisha or medical astrology, a branch of Vedic astrology, considers the five elements (fire, water, air, earth and ether) which are in nature and in living beings. When asked how to apply medical astrology, he gave an example that a surgery could be scheduled on a date that would favour the patient. If a patient does not respond to a medicine, then his/her natal chart could be examined and start medication on a more effective day. If a patient requires immediate operation or medication, will it be postponed if the date and time are inauspicious? In a hospital there could be several patients whose stars could be favourably aligned on a particular day but due to some constraints it will be impossible to treat all of them. Medical astrology maybe fascinating but circumstances would not permit its implementation.
SRIDHAR D IYER, Caranzalem
