Rare national honour for Vashi medico Dr Kurien Thomas has been hailed for his contribution to the field of alternative medicine

Rare national honour for Vashi medico

Dr Kurien Thomas has been hailed for his contribution to the field of alternative medicine

Dr Kurien S Thomas, founder — executive director of Effective Living Clinic in Vashi recently received a gold medal from the Indian Board of Alternative Medicines for his extra ordinary contributions in the field of alternative medicines. The award ceremony was held in the month of December at Kolkata. Dr Thomas, an MS, MD (AM), MBA, and PhD was the only person from Navi Mumbai to be honoured by the board. He says that he feels humbled that his work has been recognised on an international platform. Kurien has been running his clinic in the satellite city for more than a year now. He is well known as an excellent yoga therapist, counsellor and a corporate trainer. It was after touring several countries abroad that he decided to settle down in Navi Mumbai considering the fact that his family resides here. “I realised that people in the west do not like popping pills and therefore prefer going in for alternative medicines. Many people may receive awards from various institutions and associations, but receiving it from the board can be very different. Anything apart from allopath is called an alternative medicine. It consists of treatments like homeopathy, yoga, acupressure and aroma therapy. It is something which one derives from natural resources. I believe that in case of alternative medicines a person should continue with their treatment once they have left the clinic also. Although alterative medicines may take time to show their results, but that is so because they are known to cure a person from the roots,” said Dr Kurien who also has a doctorate degree in relationship management to his credit. He has been effectively working therapeutically with patients having a variety of mental health problems and difficulties regarding various life issues. Life issues may include bereavement, the effects of childhood sexual abuse or current abuses, relationship issues, domestic violence or major trauma. While mental health could mean problems like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post traumatic stress disorder or psychosis. He has always tried to work collaboratively with the patient to explore their underlying issues and empower them to consider change for the better to bring positivism in their life. Ask him what are the most common health problems which are reported by the residents here and he said, “A lot of people here face breathing troubles. Besides I have patients who come to me with knee and back problems too. I feel one of the main reason for this could be because the satellite city is known to have a vast educated population who keeps doing their work on laptops, computers etc. Besides because of the city having a number of call centres, there are many youngsters who are seen getting addicted to habits like smoking. I have people who have come to me and ask for the most natural ways in which they could quit smoking.” His patients range from 3 years to 89 years almost. “When I got a mail from the board informing me about this decision of theirs I was extremely elated and felt happy about the fact that I was being honoured among such dignitaries. I wish to work more hard to provide the society with the best I can in the future as well,” concluded Dr Kurien.