The man behind ‘natural’ mission

28 years in public life, Dr Manthena, the man behind holistic approach of treatment and no-pill sutra, believes truth can't be weighed with money

Now that the intensity of the pandemic is slightly taking a downward curve, there is a sense of hope and euphoria among everyone. But if there is someone who has helped cure Covid-positive patients during the lockdown just by making them fast, it is nutritionist and naturopathic practitioner Dr. Manthena Sathyanarayana Raju.

Known for his famous zero-oil and low-salt diet, therapeutic baths, his master remedy (fasting) to heal diseases without a pill, and yoga therapies, Dr Raju used a wide variety of natural treatments in treating medical afflictions. However, his services in naturopathic medicine are by and large not so popular.

Starting off as a foot soldier to spread the message on principles of nature care going village after village in 1992, Sathyanarayana Raju, as a young B.Pharm graduate, had to give up his job to get into full time service. Now with 28 years of public life — giving public discourses, talks, interviews, televisions shows and setting up Aaroegyaalayam, Dr. Raju believes there is still a long road ahead in bringing the desired change, as he says, “truth has to seep in slowly, one can’t expect overnight results”.

Ask him whether the pandemic has any impact on his lifestyle, he says “not even one percent”. “We humans have just 25 percent of immunity power compared to animals’ 75 percent. The word ‘taste’ has taken the centrestage when food is served on a platter.

We’re least bothered how nutritious it is. Eventually, we fall prey to diseases. We require ammunition to face the external enemy that infiltrates into our body. Good that Covid-19, in a way, created good awareness among people in raising immunity,” he says.

No-pill sutra

Naturopathy doesn’t propagate “pill to illness”, unlike the prescription procedure of English medicine. “Take any animal that is infected with a virus. The only medicine that it administers is fasting. When you abstain from food, antibodies are developed to empower the immune system and thus the virus gets neutralized.

Administering a pill for every now and then would make immune system week. I have successfully helped recover more than 300 coronavirus positives during the lockdown in Andhra Pradesh. I made them abstain from food for about seven days to regain their senses of smell and taste and have successfully tested negative — only with the master remedy called fasting.”

Back to the basics

Dr Raju saw a sea change in people’s food habits compared to the lifestyle of the ’90s. “Back then, we did not have the luxury of fast-food outlets, no home deliveries. On an average, a person turns diabetic only after attaining 60 years.

Now, we see diabetics everywhere as young as 20. And blood pressure, thyroid all have been taking a heavy toll on our wellness, a very disturbing trend. And alcoholism and meat-consumption will only make things worse.

At the same time, there is a trend of age-old food practices picking prominence. Faulty nutrition patterns are being replaced with old ones. So, it’s high time that we get back to the basics in lifestyle management.”

Probably, because of his preachy tone and strict diet regimen, Dr Raju feels, “People fear to consult him. Or skip the channel when I appear on television. Because, I say no to salt, oil, spicy pickles. I ask people to plan early dinners. I don’t recommend white food products. Who is interested in my sermons,” laughs the doctor, adding naturopathy is the toughest subject to implement.

---

Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.

Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .