The Prakash Cancer Clinic
As I mentioned, we did a lot of research into Ayurvedic medicines and the practitioners. When Dr. Prakash was recommended to us, we researched him as well. We learned the following.
The man
Dr. Balendu Prakash
Dr. Prakash is an Ayurvedic physician carrying on the tradition of his family. His father accidentally discovered a treatment for cancer in the 1960’s that seemed to be fairly effective. Dr. Prakash has continued developing the formulas to the point where he is getting results that are consistent and predictable. Cancer treatments with positive outcomes are so commonplace at his clinic in India that patients travel from across the world to see him. He now travels to other countries to meet with patients there.
After Dr. Prakash received his Bachelor of Science degree, he completed a five-year B.A.M.S. course in Ayurveda. Since then he has opened his clinic and research center in India, and traveled all over India and to over 30 different countries treating individuals suffering from cancer and multiple sclerosis.
He has also been very active in the allopathic medical community as part of his efforts to legitimize his treatments in their eyes. He was awarded an active membership in the New York Academy of Sciences in 1997. The following year, he was listed in the International Who’s Who of Professionals. In addition, he is the only Ayurvedic physician to become a member of the Indian Co-operative Oncology Network (ICON), a select group of cancer experts in India.
The clinic
Since we were there, Dr. Prakash has recently opened a new clinic in Mumbai, which is much more convenient for international travelers. The clinic we went to is about 6 hours north of New Delhi by train plus a 20-minute crazy taxi ride.
Grounds and buildings of the clinic
However, we were very pleasantly surprised by extent of his facilities. The room in which we stayed was like any simple, yet comfortable, Indian hotel room. There was a western toilet, and hot water in the shower and sink. Of course, as is typical in India and many other eastern countries we have visited, the shower was over the middle of the room, so everything got wet when it was used.
Clinic Kitchen Buffet
The kitchen is simple, as is the food. But, it is freshly prepared every day, and they told me they tried to get organic when they could. Depending upon the condition of your body forces, the diet might be restricted in certain ways. It is vegetarian with the exception of eggs, milk and paneer, which is a kind of cheese. One of the three forces of my body was too “hot”, so I was not allowed to have garlic, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and a few other things, at the initial stages of my treatment. This is all the stuff that makes food taste good! But, I thanked God that I was in a place where they actually expected the patients to recover.
Patients Exercising
After we returned to Canada, and time went on, I would email Dr. Prakash begging to be allowed to add back garlic, for instance. He would grudgingly acquiesce except when it came to tomato. That was
Hot Oil Treatment
forbidden! It would react negatively with the medicines. I was off tomatoes until two and a half years later, when I finally finished taking the medicines. I am very happy I am not Italian. That would have killed me!
This is shirodhara, a hot oil treatment where fairly warm oil is trickled down onto your forehead so that it flows over the top of your head. Sometimes they use warm milk, as it is considered very healing. It is to relax that part of the brain behind the forehead. It takes twenty minutes or so, but you are not supposed to fall asleep. However, I defy anyone to be able to lay there, listening to soft, relaxing music, with a soothing stream of warm oil running over your forehead and down the top of your head, without falling asleep. It is very relaxing and soothing. You really don’t want to get up afterward. They also gave us hot oil massages.
The medicines
Just about anything that grows can be used as ingredients in the medicines. In addition, minerals, gems such as rubies and diamonds, and metals including mercury are also used.
Ball of raw mercury, on right, and final, processed form, on left.
A number of different methods were used to fire the medicines. In all cases, the mixture was placed into a clay pot that was sealed up and placed on the fire. It was left there for hours, even days. On the left, they burned wood. On the right, they carefully weighed out a precise amount of dried cow dung, placed that in one of the holes, lit it, and placed the pot on top of it. Obviously the cow dung burned at a different temperature than wood.
Firing the medicines
They even keep a cow dung manufacturing machine close by. It is quite amazing, really. They stuff hay and other vegetation in one end, and out the other comes . . . Well, you get the picture. That machine also provided milk for the kitchen.
When the fire has burned long enough, and the pot has cooled, it is broken open and the contents, which are a solid, brittle mass, are separated from the clay of the pot. The mass is then broken up into small pieces.
Places in which pots of medicines are fired.
One thing that always amazed me about India is that women, in the most beautiful saris would be doing very dirty work. Work like these women are doing here, or women sitting in someone’s driveway, in beautiful saris, and breaking up a big pile of rocks into gravel with small sledge hammers. We are so blessed!
Breaking up the contents of the pot into small granules.
After the fired material from the pots was broken up small enough, it was further ground mechanically in big powered mixing bowls.
Substances normally considered toxic to the body are often used, including mercury and silver salts. However, by the time they get through the
Iron Bhasma prior to processing.
processes, they become beneficial. The ball shown here is raw mercury prior to processing. The reddish substance on the left is the final form before it is ground up and added to other components.
One of many powered grinding machines.
Some of the medicines take three years of processing before they are ready! Once the medicines are ready, they are pressed into little balls, or powdered and individual doses wrapped by hand in tiny paper envelopes.
Warning!
There have recently been a flurry of articles in the press about toxic heavy metals in Ayurvedic medicines purchased over the internet. These medicines are becoming very popular, and I don’t believe there is any organization ensuring quality control.
I don’t think trying to diagnose yourself and ordering such medicines is a good approach.
If you are considering this option, I recommend you contact Dr. Prakash’s institute. He has worked very hard to legitimize his treatments in the eyes of the allopathic community. From what we observed, he is very conscientious about the preparation and administration of his medicines.
Contacting Dr. Prakash
Recently, Dr. Prakash has been exploring other applications for his formulas, and establishing new clinics. Patients are now coming to him for his effective treatment for severe migraine headaches.
You can get more information on his clinics at www.padaav.com. If you do contact him, please tell him how you learned of him and that I still am so grateful to him. Thanks.
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