Overcoming insurmountable disabilities(Prosenjit Chakraborty) I am Prosenjit Chakraborty from Guwahati, India. I wish to submit that I have been able to successfully reverse the effect of aggressively progressing severe and progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in me through decade-long personal experiments on myself by applying Ayurveda and Yoga.

I contracted Multiple Sclerosis in 2000, at the age of 26 years then and thereafter the disease progression left me totally permanently disabled at one point, when my doctors concluded my condition as non-reversible and that I was fast moving towards a vegetative state and eventual death. And, as I went absorbed into consistent personal experiments- based upon ancient Indian wisdom- over years, here I am today doing my daily chores, doing everyday shopping for my home, riding my motorised tricycle on busy roads, serving as a contractual worker, and being the appointed coordinator for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India.

Here's an account of the eventful journey of my comeback. In September 2000, I suddenly experienced numbness in my right armpit, and thereafter very quickly, I developed total blindness of my right eye and Doctors confirmed the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. I was later certified as totally permanently disabled by DGET, Govt of India in 2012. Back then, in 2002, I had to quit my work; as along with my physical disability, MS decreased my ability to concentrate and deep think. By mid-2008 I was not able to walk anymore and was on wheelchair since then.

On March 24, 2009, I went to Christian Medical College (Vellore) for treatment. I was admitted for 78 days in the hospital. There, my consultant, Prof Dr. Ashish Macaden, enquired "What drove you to CMC?" I said "Sir, I have come here to stand and walk". Dr. Macaden was blunt and yet he politely replied, "No, I don't think, it's possible". Somehow, his response actually gave me greater resolve and stronger resilience. The real turnaround arrived for me later in 2012, by when I went totally bedridden and developed urinary retention for over 17 hours and was in excruciating pain. I was taken to the nearby Sanjeevani hospital where I gave consent for an immediate surgery that would allow me to void the urine but never in life would allow me to pass urine through the normal penal route; Lying on the Operation Theatre table, I prayed to the divine Holy Mother, for one single chance in this life. With utmost trust, just before the surgeon would start the procedure, I pleaded with him to try once more to help the natural passage of my urine using a catheter. My doctor was kind and he relented. Miraculously then, it worked. On my way back home, I made a deep resolve to reverse the MultipleSclerosis (MS) in me.

Despite all positive motivational imports, my condition went on to worsen consistently. By early 2015, I couldn't even turn myself sideways while being ridden to bed, now. By then, it became amply clear to me that as modern medical science doesn't have the answers to my problems I myself have to find the answers, otherwise, I will have to pass the remaining part of my life in bed. Somehow, I always had an innate belief and conviction, that I will not be bedridden for the rest of my life. Despite the struggles, I stormed into the world of Internet and began studying deep the nature of the disease, its pathophysiology, the latest scientific developments. I connected with experts worldwide in the field of Modern medicine who helped me in my self-study.

The first solace for me came from the following shloka of ancient Ayurvedic Physician Seer, Sushruta: समदोषः समाग्निश्च समधातु मलःक्रियाः। प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रियमनः स्वस्थइतिअभिधीयते॥ (सुश्रुत संहिता सूत्रस्थान १५/१०) Samadosha, samagnischa, Samadhatumalkriyah ! Prasannatmendriyamanah, Swastha iti abhidhiyate !! (Sushrut Samhita, Sutrasthan, Chapter. 15, Shloka/Hymn 10) According to ancient Ayurvedist Sushruta; An individual/person who is in a state of equilibrium of body's; Doshas (humors), Agni (digestive fire), Dhatus (tissues), Malah kriya (Physiological functions of excretions etc.) and whose Aatma (soul), Indriya (senses) and Mana (Mind); all are happy, is considered as a Healthy individual. This definition of Health closely resembles to that given by World Health Organization (WHO). Sushruta emphasized all parameters like; anatomical, physiological, mental and spiritual well being. From his teachings, I recognised that if I can somehow bring about an equilibrium of my body humours, I or anyone can restore sound health. Further, the saying of Swami Vivekananda "Words of seers (Rishis) are eternal truth" gave me the conviction to follow the above expounded by our ancient Indian wisdom.

I also referred to the following sloka/hymn of Charaka Samhita for alleviating very severe spastic paresis (Urustambha) of my lower extremities. चन्दनं धातकीं कुष्ठं तालीसं नलदं तथा |३०| Charak Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana Chapter 27. Management of Urustambha (Diseases of thigh and hip) The patient suffering from urusthambha should also take Santalum album, Woodfordia fruticose, Saussurea costus, Abies spectabilis, Cyperus pertenuis.

Over the last decade, my intensive learning from modern neuroscientists about the pathophysiology & inflammatory cascade of MS and deliberately Integrating those with ancient Indian Wisdom had me do four things: (1) Evolve in developing the customised Ayurvedic Decoctions that have eventually stopped the inflammatory response of MS in me by maintaining the equilibrium as mentioned above.
(2) Daily Practices of yoga.
(3) Sunbath on non-rainy days for about 18 months so far.
(4) Deliberate eating and lifestyle modifications that support bringing the equilibrium as stated above.
I developed the decoctions by strictly adhering to the Ayurvedic Principles of my own Prakriti (my own psychosomatic condition) and Vikriti (morbidity) and experimented the said decoctions solely on myself, literally making myself the guinea pig.

The herbal decoctions that I developed are solely based on my own research, instinct and intuition. I specifically worked on developing Vata dosha pacifying herbal decoctions (वात शामक क्वाथ) having Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Oxidant and Nootropic properties. The push-up, kneeling exercises, and more particularly how to adjust mentally and lead a life on a wheelchair, which I learned during my rehabilitation program at CMC Vellore also helped me immensely.

After practicing the above, currently, MS in me has been confirmed to have entered the No Evidence of Disease Activity phase. Current MRI scans show the MS lesions to have been significantly gone compared to earlier scans. Also, my disability score as measured by EDSS has come down to 7 from the previous 9. The above has been confirmed by my treating doctor Dr. Lakshyajyoti Basumatary (DM, Neurology) during the most recent consultation.

After being totally home ridden for 12 years & bed bound, here is I am today doing my daily chores, doing daily shopping for my home, riding my motorised tricycle on busy roads, serving as a contractual worker, and being the appointed coordinator for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India. I'm also a Reviewer of the Phytomedicine Journal of ELSEVIER. On April 24, 2022, I participated online as a faculty in an Indian Federation of Neurorehabilitation (IFNR) subsection of the Indian Association of Neurology Webinar. Here I spoke about what I did to transform myself from being a stage 4 multiple sclerosis patient, to having reversed the severe symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis in me and rehabilitated myself. My research and results thereof can pave way for a generalised cure and reversal of the disabilities for the millions of Multiple Sclerosis-afflicted & disabled patients.

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