Faith heals. Yoga heals. Wholesome food heals. A strong will to survive heals. The human body heals. The best reflection of these statements comes to us from the life of Geeta Priyadarshini Arora. In 1997, a lively, young lady of twenty-seven arrived at my office, flying all the way from California. Traumatized emotionally by an unhappy childhood and marriage, she also suffered from multiple auto-immune disorders. Geeta had lupus, meningitis, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and Hodgkin Lymphoma. With just six months to live, she was ready to try alternative therapy as her final hope.
While I advised herbs and an Ayurvedic detoxification program called Pancha Karma, Geeta owes her recovery to her own body. It mirrored her strong will to survive. She also went on a vegetarian diet, practiced yoga and breathing exercises. Within a month, her symptoms improved. As she continued to invest in her body's power, Geeta showed that it is possible to live a fulfilling life, disease-free, for over twenty-seven years despite dull initial projections. Her belief in her body's capacity to heal without medications pushed her to become a yoga teacher. She also studied Ayurveda as a science. Geeta has shared her journey in her book Divine Delight: A Spiritual Healing Journey through Consciousness, Ayurveda and Yoga.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, followed by cancer. What would surprise many is the third entry, which is the cause of 10 percent of deaths. Called iatrogenic (Greek, latro: doctor, gennan: as a result), these are medical errors made by the medical establishment². Some examples are, when you get an infection as a doctor examines you, you are not notified of the serious side effects of drugs, or if your mental state becomes worse during treatment. Even errors during surgery count. These statistics only include deaths, which are easy to measure statistically. The actual numbers are higher, as a patient who suffers from serious side effects of treatments are not included.
I see several cases a month of misdiagnosis caused by the lack of coordination between various medical specialists. Recently, a renowned clinic sent me a referral for a patient who was diagnosed with Non-Alcoholic Liver Disease. While reviewing his laboratory results with him, I asked him how long he has been diabetic. The patient was surprised, as he had never been told by his doctor that he was diabetic.
Just as a healthy body is foundational for a fulfilling life ahead, it is my parents, with their vision and values who have crafted my value system. My father Shri. Dharmpal Singh Sodhi, an educator and school principal, strengthened the need to constantly invest in education and ethics. My mother, Shrimati Veena Sodhi, a poet, singer, philosopher, and teacher, taught me to counter life's curveballs gracefully, with a gentle but confident hit. Despite hardships, my father's emphasis on education ensured that three of his four sons went to medical school, while another became an engineer. Despite their humble beginnings and different personalities, my parents enjoyed their evening duets while raising four sons together. It is their singing that rings in my ears every day. It is to their credit that I retain any cultural interest.
I thank my brothers Dr. Tejinder Sodhi, Jitender Sodhi and Dr. Shailinder Sodhi for always having my back. They are the best reminder of my parents after they left us. My son Gunny and my daughter-in-law Dr. Kirat Sodhi, gave me enough reason to work hard for the next generation. They also gifted grandchildren Aarav Sodhi and Amyra Sodhi. Amyra is the first girl born in our family after three generations.
The arrival of Rekha in my life in 1983, gave me the best friend I could hope for. I value her love and complete faith in me as we progressed through life's difficulties, lengthy periods of separation and challenges of starting an independent practice. She raised our son alone in India and helped our extended family when I pursued my medical training at Bastyr University. She supported my career by training in Panchakarma to work with our patients, managing our clinic with her exemplary organizational skills, tracking and balancing our finances. Through cancer and the loss of our other son Rishi, for more than forty years, she remains my strongest backbone, my biggest cheerleader, and a steadfast companion.
I credit Himachal Pradesh, particularly the Mandi district with its rolling hills, Beas River, and the wilderness, for instilling in me a love for the mountain air, herbology and natural medicine. The temples for the Hindu Goddesses and the Gurudwaras were an important part of my childhood. They taught me that spirituality and selfless service are both important and can co-exist. My family traces its lineage to several Gurus of the Sikh religion, beginning from Guru Ramdas up until Guru Gobind Singh who are part of the Sodhi clan.
Acupuncture & Acupressure (194)
Gem Therapy (22)
Homeopathy (518)
Massage (22)
Naturopathy (432)
Original Texts (220)
Reiki (58)
Therapy & Treatment (172)
Tibetan Healing (130)
Yoga (45)
हिन्दी (1085)
Ayurveda (3252)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Visual Search
Manage Wishlist