Feb 2010 - Michigan South Asian

Page 9 February 2010 Michigan South AsianMake A DifferenceBy Vidya KumarWe are already into Februaryand we are getting into our routineafter the holidays and theNew Year. February being theshortest month and spring ismore than a month away thisis the time to plan for the future.Future also means lookingahead to see how we can giveback to the community.When I landed in north America,the first task was to lookfor a family doctor. The firstfew visits to the doctor’s office,took up in filling the necessaryforms for organ donations. Thethought being you are saving alife and who cares what happensonce you are dead mademe go through the filling up ofthe donor forms.At the time the National BoneMarrow Registry was not heardand so no testing or forms werefilled up. When the awarenessspread and came to know thatwhen you are alive you can donatebone marrow- out of ignorance,I did not want to sign forthe Registry thinking that it willvery painful if I were to donatebone marrow.In one of the Bone marrowdrives it was explained anypatient’s best possibility offinding a match is within theirown ethnic group or anyone offull minority descent or anyonewho is of mixed ethnicities arefining it difficult to get a match.Also that the pain is minimumand there is no cause for anxietymade me get into the registrylast year.The statistics says that for Caucasianthe likelihood of findinga marrow match is 80% but forSouth Asians and other minoritygroups the numbers dropdrastically to less than 30%.This February month make it apoint to fill up the donor cardswhen you are waiting in thedoctor’s office for eyes, kidney,lungs, heart, etc. and also getinto the National Bone MarrowRegistry.We all have the power to helpand our little effort in filling upthe forms and getting into thenational registry can save a life.Readers are requested to writeany comments or suggestions toinfo@palepages.com.Read MichiganSouth AsainHealthBy Narender Pati, R.Ph,D.Ayu.International Wellness Foundationwww.iwfusa.orgHealth is a dynamic state ofbalance. If you are healthy inthe morning, it is not guaranteedthat you will be healthy inthe evening.If you took care of foot painand sighed with relief, you mayexperi¬ence stomach pain,headache, cold, congestion, orsomething else later.What are these dynamics andwhat needs to be in balance?How do we maintain a healthystate?HEALTH was defined as“absence of disease” until theWorld Health Organizationadopted a new defini¬tion in1978. WHO defines Healthnow as “a state of completephysi¬cal, mental, and socialwell-being, not merely the absenceof disease or infirmity”.According to Ayurveda, theold¬est medical system thehistory ever known, Health isdefined as “A state where thebodily humors, fires, tissues arein balance with ap¬propriateexcretory functions, along witha blissful soul, clear sensesand mind”. When all these arein line with your true nature,called Prakruthi, that you areborn with, and then health isexperienced. The more youdeviate from this true na¬ture,the more Dis-Ease.Is this true nature or “Prakruthi,”same for everyone?There is no one exactly likeyou in this universe; similarly,your Prak¬ruthi is as uniqueas you. You are not a standardized,pasteurized, or homogenizedentity.The first step in maintaining ahealthy state is to know yourPrak¬ruthi. That opens thedoor for un-derstanding yoursensitivities and tolerances. Ithelps you to adopt what fitsyour nature, and enhances yourhealth, at the same, time toavoid what can be bothersome.Your health and disease is theresult of interaction betweenyou and your surroundings.The interactive tools are yourfive senses: sound, touch, vision,taste, smell and the greatmind. The Intelligence is aseparate entity. The five sensesand the mind perceive the surroundingsand give us the senseof pleasure.(Continued on Page 16)Most South AsianStudents who travel20000 plus miles forstudies in Michiganfeel home sick withinthe first 30 days oflanding.They would love togo some place calledhome and talk to orspend time with afamily.ADOPT A STUDENTFamilies interested increating a ‘Home AwayHome’ for these studentscan email their contactinfo and we will post iton MichiganSouthAsian.com.Interesrted students willcontact you directly.Email:info@michigansouthasian.comPAMVis about telling children thatconsumption of violent contentin media can haveadverse health impacts.Join the Parent group today.www.PAMV.orginfo@pamv.org | 248-677-5523April 2010 ISSUEREAL ESTATESpecialAD Opportunity For:REAL ESTATE AGENTS& ProfesionalsWe welcome articles.info@michigansouthasian.com