Kejriwal responding to treatment, feeling better

Bengaluru, March 7 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is responding to the naturopathy treatment he is undergoing for chronic cough and diabetes at a private hospital on the outskirts of Bengaluru, a medical officer said on Saturday.

"Kejriwal is responding to our treatment and feeling better than when he was admitted here on Thursday. There is improvement in his health and outlook," Jindal Naturecure Institute chief medical officer Babina Nandakumar told IANS.

Appreciating 46-year-old Kejriwal for cooperating and following the strict regime prescribed at the institute, Nandakumar said the patient was disciplined and obedient in responding to the rigorous and time-consuming procedures.

"Kejriwal is following our regime sincerely and undergoing various therapeutic exercises from early morning to evening with 30-minute breaks for food and rest. The treatment is tailored to reduce his blood sugar level, which is high (above 300) and give relief from coughing often," he said.

The treatment includes cleansing his lungs of the phlegm that is causing him to cough due to accumulation of secretions and bringing his blood sugar under control as he was not able to do despite taking 50 units of insulin daily.

"Kejriwal is taking our treatment for the second time after he was benefitted by it when he was here in 2012 along with (social activist) Anna Hazare for relief from diabetic symptoms," Nandakumar said.

Though the team of doctors treating him wants Kejriwal to stay at the institute longer than the 10 days he came for, the Aam Aadmi Party leader may not be able to do so due to the ensuing budget session of the Delhi legislative assembly later this month.

"We told Kejriwal to extend his stay by another 10-15 days for the treatment to take effect and get relief from chronic cough, though reducing and controlling blood sugar level will take longer time," he said.

After waking up at 5 a.m., Kejriwal participated in yogic exercises, including various postures (asanas), breathing (pranayama) and meditation (kriyas).

"We have given him castor oil massage, hot stone message, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and colon therapy to detoxify his body," the doctor said.

Kejriwal has been put on a strict diet of vegetable and fruit juices, sprouts, boiled salads, chapatis and soup.

"As he skipped breakfast, he had early lunch at 11 a.m. and early supper at 6 p.m. so that he could relax and go to sleep early," the doctor added.

Kejriwal is staying with his parents Gobind Ram and Gita Devi in a two-room cottage at the sprawling institute.