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Nature Cure and Non-Communicable Diseases: Ecological Therapy as Health Care in India

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph S. Alter

    (Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, USA)

  • R. M. Nair

    (Bapu Nature Cure Hospital and Yogashram, Gandhi Samarak Nidhi, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, New Delhi 110091, India)

  • Rukmani Nair

    (Bapu Nature Cure Hospital and Yogashram, Gandhi Samarak Nidhi, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, New Delhi 110091, India)

Abstract

With rapidly increasing rates of non-communicable diseases, India is experiencing a dramatic public health crisis that is closely linked to changing lifestyles and the growth of the middle-class. In this essay we discuss how the practice of Nature Cure provides a way of understanding the scale and scope of the crisis, as it is embodied, and a way to understand key elements of a solution to problems that the crisis presents for institutionalized health care. As institutionalized in contemporary India, Nature Cure involves treatment and managed care using earth, air, sunlight, and water as well as a strict dietary regimen. In this regard, the essay shows how Nature Cure’s bio-ecological orientation toward public health, which is grounded in the history of its modern incorporation into India, provides an expansionist, ecological model for holistic care that counters the reductionist logic of bio-medical pharmaceuticalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph S. Alter & R. M. Nair & Rukmani Nair, 2017. "Nature Cure and Non-Communicable Diseases: Ecological Therapy as Health Care in India," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:12:p:1525-:d:121950
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Deepa Pandit-Agrawal & Anuradha Khadilkar & Shashi Chiplonkar & Vaman Khadilkar & Vivek Patwardhan, 2017. "Screening score for early detection of cardio-metabolic risk in Indian adults," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(7), pages 787-793, September.
    2. Barik, Debasis & Arokiasamy, Perianayagam, 2016. "Rising Health Expenditure Due to Non-Communicable Diseases in India: An Outlook," MPRA Paper 77223, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 15 Nov 2016.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yaquelin E. Calizaya-Milla & Jacksaint Saintila & Wilter C. Morales-García & Percy G. Ruiz Mamani & Salomón Huancahuire-Vega, 2022. "Evidence of Validity and Factorial Invariance of a Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS) in University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-12, September.

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