Ludhiana, April 23
The efficacy of homoeopathic system of medicine in treating mental diseases was under focus at the one-day workshop, organised by the Indian Institute of Homoeopathic Physicians here on Sunday.

More than 100 homoeopathic practitioners from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh attended the workshop and shared their experiences in the treatment of mental illnesses.

Dr Ravinder Kochhar, principal of Lord Mahavira Homeopathic Medical College, who presided over the session, explained in detail different kinds of mental diseases and medicines needed for their treatment.

Dr Rama Kant focused on the proper method of taking case history, while Dr Rajesh Sofat made a video presentation on the treatment of schizophrenia through homoeopathic medicines.

Dr Muktinder Singh discussed several cases of 'obsessive compulsive disease' in which the patients repeated the same chores time and again. He also interacted with the delegates on effects of different medicines, indicated in various kinds of mental diseases.

Ludhiana, April 23
SPS Apollo Hospital, here, will hold a lithotripsy camp on April 24 and 25 to mark the inauguration of ‘Stone Clinic’ in the Department of Urology.

According to Dr Pamposh Raina, consultant urologist and transplant surgeon at the hospital, no technological advance had exerted a more revolutionary effect in the history of medicine than Extra-Corporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL).

Earlier, open surgery was the only form of therapy for the urinary stone disease. Terming ESWL as a non- invasive therapy for urinary stones, he said the procedure did not require anaesthesia and decreased morbidity associated with the open surgical procedures. The patient could be discharged from hospital on the same day and resume working the next day.

The clinical use of ESWL had started in 1982. Ever since, efforts were being made towards improving lithotripsy technology to increase treatment efficacy and eliminate the need for anaesthesia. The lithotriptors, these days, fulfilled both these criteria.

He further added ESWL was safe in the paediatric age group. Children were shown a lithotripsy session in progress, prior to subjecting them to the procedure, which helped relieve their anxiety and apprehension. Most of the children did not need any anaesthesia while a few of them might need sedation or anaesthesia during the procedure.