Thanks to technology, you don’t really have to renounce the world, climb the Himalaya and meditate for decades to experience nirvana. Trance needn’t come with marijuana, LSD, or its like either. It’s easy and instant—with Biological Feedback Treatment (BFT).
When I was told that an hour of BFT would not just erase all traces of stress and aches, but also get me into a trance, I had no second thoughts. My overwhelming enthusiasm met with a lot of scepticism from friends and family, though. “How can it be?” many asked.
“You are being taken for a ride,” some said. A friend even suggested that I was going to get a “bheja fry!” Having taken in so much gibe, some funny, most of them freaky, it was with mixed feelings that I went in for my shot at nirvana.
Dr Ratnakant B Patil—the first and only one to offer BFT in Bangalore—simply smiled at my trepidation. His calm demeanour did much to soothe my nerves.
He explained the procedure to me: First comes a Japanese massage called Shiatsu for 20 minutes. While at it, comes an oxygen fix—a dose of 95% pure oxygen for 20 minutes. Then comes artificial meditation. He calls it ‘acusleep’. An American computerised device called Electro Acuscope sends miniscule amounts of electricity into the brain, thereby inducing an alpha brain wave state. This, in simple terms, is trance or a deep state of meditative awareness.
Studies have proved that the alpha-state of brain relaxes the mind and body, enhances brain’s efficiency, creativity, eliminates or considerably reduces stress and anxiety. After the ‘acusleep’ comes the ‘tuning’. According to Chinese medical practices, the external ear represents the whole body. Aches or pains anywhere in the body can be treated by focusing on the ear, it says. The electro acuscope is used to stimulate different spots of the ear, thereby focusing on specific problem areas.
Well, it sounded too good to be true, but I was game. The doctor sat me on this ultra comfortable reclining chair, which I later learned was the electro magnetic shiatsu-massage lounger. The music played soft, happy Hindi songs. It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the massage. I had a specific problem—aching neck and lower back, plus a migraine attack. Ten minutes into the massage, I was smiling.
When the oxygen tubes were put around my neck and the canulae fitted to my nose, I was ready to welcome the invigorating breath of fresh air. With a slight whiff of lemon grass, the oxygen literally cooled my head. Twenty minutes later, my headache was nearly gone.
The trance was waiting in the next room. I must admit to a few scary thoughts (the bheja fry image, of course) when the doctor applied some electrolyte gel on my temple and strapped my forehead with wires attached to the machine (electro acuscope). I chose some random music for the session, climbed onto the reclining bed. The doctor switched on the machine and I braced for shocks, which, fortunately, never came. A tingling sensation and small flashes of light—that was all I felt initially. I was left alone, awaiting nirvana, with a switch in my hand just in case something else chose to come my way.
Slowly, I relaxed. Subtly though, I felt my mind clearing. I was no longer aware of my body or my aching back and neck. I was defying gravity, weightless and floating. It was indeed an aha moment. I was at peace, as close to nirvana as anybody living in the city could possibly get.
The doctor had told me to think positive thoughts, and things which I would like to change within. I was long ready with a mental list. The doctor says when in an alpha brain wave state, our thoughts are reinforced or rather get ingrained in the mind.A bell rang after 30 minutes.
The doctor then worked on my external ear. Little electro acupressure to my ears followed. And presto! My migraine was gone, and so went the back and neck pain. I was promised spectacular results, yet this surprised me.
I do not know if my aches would return later. But over 24 hours after, I still feel fresh, cool and calm. A fee of Rs750 doesn’t seem too steep for some euphoria, short though it was.
For details, call Dr Patil at Kampo Clinic, Cunnigham Road. on 080-22267780.
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