BOBBY STREET VIDEO MUSEUM
Bob Street
Love Street Lamp Post
Winter 1989
Meherabad Medicine
Bob Street, familiar to Western pilgrims to Meherabad, practices homeopathic medicine full time. He works five days a week at the Meher Health Center in Aragon and one day a week at Dr. Gopher’s clinic at Meherabad. He also dispenses remedies from his own room at Meherabad next to the room of Mohammed the Mast.
In the following interview Bob discusses homeopathy and other ''natural' medicines from a medical perspective he has gained in the basecamp of the Avatar.
Post: How did you become interested in homeopathy?
Bob: In 1974 I came to Ahmednagar with the intention of spending the last eight months of my travel visa there and then returning to my job in America working for James Cox. During this period Adi had a heart attack and became bedridden. He asked me to look after the work at the office, registering pilgrims, attending to their flight, bus, and train reservations, telegrams, and so on. I ended up doing that for three and a half years, beginning in 1974.
It was a very high stress job, and I developed severe migraine headaches. Maybe three of four times in the period of a year I got headaches that would run two or three days. During a particularly difficult night in one of these periods I woke up in excruciating pain. It was 2:30am and it would be at least four hours before I could possibly see any doctor. I was taking Baba's name over and over, wondering how I would ever survive that four hours, and thinking to myself, ''This is a case for morphine injection!", when Adi appeared, having been roused by my distress. When I told him what the matter was, he said, "Wait a minute, I'll give you some medicine." He returned with a few homeopathic pills. I remember thinking to myself, "Well, these pills are fine, but this is not a case for general medicine. This is going to take an extreme remedy!"
Nevertheless, within 10 seconds after taking the pills, the headache was 90% gone! I had great respect for those medicines from that time forward. Adi encouraged me to study homeopathy. I told him I didn't have any interest in medicine, that I didn't have any background in science, and that it wasn't my subject. He said, "Well, this is a science of a different type." But still I didn't have much interest.
Six months later Adi gave me some books and said, "Here, you should study this. It will not only be helpful to you, but to many other people also." I started reading the books and became quite interested. It was a science of a different type -- a simple science, but a science, yes!
So I studied with Adi for about three years. At the same time I would ride my bicycle out to Meherazad every morning and sit with Padri for about half of his clinic; then I would go back to open up the office.
In 1978 I moved to Meherabad to take up the study and practice of medicine full time. I studied for another four years or so with Padri.
For the last five or six years I've been going to the Meher Health Center five days with Dr. (Khambatta) Alu, and spending one day at Meherazad with Dr. Goher. Post: Did Baba ever say anything about homeopathy? Bob: Feram Workingboxwalla, who had been with Baba since the 20's, and who worked as a secretary for Adi, related the following story to me: "I [Workingboxwalla] was present when Goher's brother Jal came to Baba with his wife. Jal's wife had an ailment that was not responding to orthodox treatment, and Jal asked Baba, 'What do you think? Is homeopathy a good thing? Should we try it?' "Baba's response was: 'Homeopathy can bring the dead back to lifer However, he went on to qualify this statement, saying, '...but this requires a master of that science."'
What I take Baba to mean by "bring the dead back to life" is that perhaps cases that had no hope with conventional treatment could be cured by homeopathy. In my own experience, some cases that were considered hopeless and terminal have been cured.
But Baba said, "It requires a master of that science." It takes a deep study to master homeopathy. Homeopathy was there from the beginning around Baba. Along with Padri and Adi Sr., Baba's brother, Adi Jr. was a homeopath. So were Dr. Ghani and Baidul. There was another homeopath named Morley. Chaganmaster practiced herbal medicine along with homeopathy.
Throughout Baba's life he had many different styles of medicine practiced all around him. There was ayurvedic medicine, allopathic, homeopathic, biochemic...and he had Goher familize herself with and keep a few of these medicines. Goher has always had a great love for homeopathy and some of the other things, but she doesn't have time to study them all, and so has encouraged many of us others to study them: study homeopathy study the Bach flower remedies, etc. In general, Baba enjoyed teasing all the doctors. His sign for doctor was [here Bob draws the edge of his extended forefinger down across his cheek] … which is the sign for "barber".
Post: Did Baba ever say anything specifically about the Bach flower remedies?
Bob: No, not that I know of. But Goher would encourage us to study it, among others.
Post: Any more stories about Baba and homeopathy?
Bob: Yes, Padri told me stories. Baba used to ask Padri for homeopathic medicine. Baba would take the medicine; then –literally a minute later he would complain, "I don't feel any better."· Padri would explain to him then, "Baba, it takes some time".
"I see," Baba would say, nodding His head. Then, after another one or two minute: "I still don't feel any better!"
This went on so often that eventually Padri told Baba, when He asked for homeopathic medicine, "Baba, these medicines don't work on you: they're not effective." But then Baba would protest and - for example – rub his throat and gesture, "Well, you know I have this throat infection, and Goher's given me this, and she's given me that, and Donkin has done this - all these strong drugs- and nobody can make me any better. I really think that homeopathic is the best for me."
So Padri would eventually be led to believe that Baba was really quite serious about taking homeopathic medicine, and again he would give Him a dose. Baba would take it: in fact, He would sometimes take the entire vial at once! Then, after a very short period of time, He would protest that He felt no better, and would say something to the effect that "Ah, you're all barbers. What do you know? Nothing!"
This was a recurring amusement with Baba. On January 31, 1969, when Baba was severely ill and having convulsions, be was being treated by Donkin, Goher, and Padri. Dr. Ginde from Bombay was called, as was Dr. Nile. All were attending Baba with whatever treatment they thought was indicated. Padri was administering his homeopathic medicine. As usual, Baba was teasing Padri. Every five minutes Padri would give him a dose. Baba would say "Your medicine is not affecting me. I'm not any better. Your homeopathy is useless. You're all barbers. What do you know!" Then Padri said to Baba: "But Baba, you haven't taken the last dose [in the treatment series of six doses)!"
Baba said "Oh right! Give me the last dose!" So Padri gave him the final dose, some sort of powder. Within a few minutes of taking the "last dose", Baba dropped the body.
Post: Can you relate other stories about Baba and health?
Bob: I think it's important to bear in mind that, although Baba encouraged people to take treatment, not just neglect their health, he always stressed that He was the most important thing. If you have a health problem, fine, tend to it -- be practical. But don't let it consume your life; don't let it be the focus of your life. Try to keep Baba there in the center. I think the reason Baba wanted people to look after their health was so that they could focus on Him and be attentive. When people would come for His darshan, He would always inquire, "Was the food all right? Have you slept well?" He wanted people to be comfortable and to be in good health and relaxed so they could pay attention to what he was saying. That's what I gather from Goher. She has a balanced outlook, that you leave everything to Baba, yes, but it's your responsibility to do something about your health, also. That's where our sense of discrimination comes in. Padri would tell me, "Neither pamper the body, nor neglect it. Don't go to the extremes."
Post: If you were here in the West and came down with, let's say, psoriasis - what sort of treatment would you seek?
Bob: I would take homeopathic treatment for any kind of skin condition. I don't think allopathic treatment is effective in curing chronic skin conditions, and I don't think it's totally safe. The suppression of skin conditions can lead to other problems. You see so many instances of children with eczema and asthma, and you hear the story of the asthma getting worse after the skin cleared up, and then the asthma gets better and the skin gets worse. In my own experience I've seen two people contract severe kidney disease after the suppression of a skin disease by allopathic treatment. After taking natural treatment, the skin conditions came back, but the kidney condition improved.
Post: What specifically was the allopathic treatment given? Cortisone?
Bob: Well, yes, cortisone is one of the favorites. There are zinc ointments. There are many treatments.All the other doctors in our clinics refer the skin cases to me for homeopathic treatment. There's a spirit of cooperation in our clinics, of really wanting to help the patient. Post: Are there particular ailments that get referred to the ayurvedic doctors?
Bob: Ayurvedic treatment is sometimes extremely beneficial for asthma. It's also used for digestive problems, and women's complaints - menstrual irregularities, urinary tract infections. Coughs. I don't know too much about ayurvedic medicine, although I do use an ayurvedic remedy for asthma. Actually, there's not much real, authentic ayurvedic medicine practiced in India. I mean the kind where the doctor takes the pulse of the patient and then prescribes a specific herb, or a combination of specific herbs. Ayurvedic medicine is somewhat similar to Chinese medicine. Unfortunately, India did not record that system of medicine as well as the Chinese did. The knowledge, although it has not really been lost, is in so few hands that it's taking time to rejuvenate. What you're left with mostly today is a lot of ayurvedic patent medicines. In other words, "take this medicine for all joint pains, or take this for all asthma problems." What is really required for more widespread effectiveness is more specific diagnosis.
Allopathy is practiced on about 3/4 of the patients at the Meher Health Center, and homeopathy on 1/4. The center there sees about 80 patients a day. There's a small ayurvedic practice there, but not much.
In Meherazad there's a more eclectic approach, because pilgrims come through. Whatever service they have, Goher lets them practice that. We've seen chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture, massage, physical therapy.
Post: Baba took chiropractic treatment, for example, after his automobile accidents?
Bob: Yes, Dr. Kenmore treated him.
Post: Ben Hayman?
Bob: Yes.
Post: Are there particular ailments that you have noticed seem to lend themselves to treatment by acupuncture?
Bob: Well, yes …again, except for homeopathy my exposure is somewhat limited. However, it seems to me that acupuncture is very useful in cases of patients who are oversensitive to medicines, who can't tolerate it, whose nervous systems are in a state of hypersensitivity. I think acupuncture can make the system more normal in its sensitivity to stimulus. Certainly, afflictions of the nerves, paralysis, etc. -wherever the nervous system is affected, acupuncture can be helpful. My little exposure to it makes me feel is has a great range of possibility. For some of the more chronic problems, it's always complemented with herbs.
The aim of all natural therapies is to stimulate the vital force. The chiropractor says "we have to align the spine and get the energy flowing in the body." The homeopath says "we have to stimulate the immune system in a very specific way. The health is deranged in a certain way, and we have to mimic that derangement to cause a response against it." The acupuncturist stimulates or rebalances the energy of the body by needles, and then nourishes and treats the nerves with herbs. The idea behind all of these natural therapies is that the patient cures himself. That's why they claim that they can be curative rather than just palliative. We want to make a permanent change in the constitution of the person, not just mask the symptoms.
Goher treats primarily with allopathic medicine, but she uses a little bit of ayurvedic, a little bit of homeopathic. She often refers chronic cases to me.
Post: If you arrived in a western city today and were looking for a doctor, or a group of doctors, what sort would you look for, and how would you go about it?
Bob: It depends on your complaint. Each system has something to offer, and it also has its limitations. Allopathic treatment has major failings in the treatment of chronic illness. But antibiotics are life-saving drugs; surgery has saved lives and has rehabilitated people and made life livable...there's a place for allopathic treatment. But if I were looking for a doctor, and I had a chronic problem, for instance joint problems, or chronic digestive problems, or whatever, I would seek out homeopathic treatment, or a naturopathic treatment, or Chinese treatment. These natural therapies can be extremely beneficial if they're practiced by someone who is adept at them. They take a deep study - no less, and perhaps even more, than conventional medicine. It's something that takes the deepest thought and concentration. A chronic disease is chronic because it's difficult to get over.
Whatever medicine you're using, what ever therapy, it has to be someone that really understands the root of that disease. It's not some thing you can pick up in a few months If you've got a chronic problem that's been going on 10 years, it's not unreasonable to expect six months of treatment. I've seen 30-year problems cleared up in six weeks. But they're not all like that. It takes a longer period for some people and some ailments. As Baba lovers, the most important thing is to take His name. Then use your brain, try to understand a little bit about your condition.
Post: Would you mix therapies?
Bob: I would want to try one thing, and give it a chance. Sometimes therapies can be mixed beneficially, though. I wouldn't mix allopathic and homeopathic treatment unless you have a condition that requires allopathic treatment - for instance, diabetics taking insulin, etc. They have to continue those. If there is improvement, then the allopathic drugs can be reduced. Epileptics that are on barbiturates cannot suddenly stop those drugs; they have to be slowly discontinued. In those cases we must treat both ways at once.
A person with emotional problems can be treated homeopathically, but this should be supported with good (psycho) therapy. We've had psychotherapists tell us they were able to make much better progress with their patients who were taking homeopathic therapy at the same time. They were able to get to the problems more rapidly. The Bach Flower Remedies are very helpful in treating emotional problems. Post: The idea that you can get any kind of lasting results treating emotional states with a physical substance sounds to me like getting God Realization with LSD.
Bob: When I first heard of them, I was also a bit skeptical that they could treat real serious problems, but over the years I have developed a tremendous respect and love for these medicines because of the results I've seen. I think that in the future people are going to have a much deeper respect than they do now for them. Although they're extremely gentle in their mode of action, they're extremely powerful. I've seen people that are quite ill - non-functional - respond very powerfully. Spectacular changes. That have lasted.
I've been to the Bach Center in England a couple of times. Dr. Bach was an MD who practiced bacteriology and pathology, then became interested in homeopathy and practiced that for about 10 years. He wanted to go to the root cause of disease, which he eventually concluded was the mental and emotional state. He felt that life was a spiritual endeavor that our suffering was not to be attacked and destroyed, but to be understood. He felt disease was our friend that it was trying to show us that we were going in the wrong direction.
The atmosphere at his house in England, where the center is, is beautiful. It reminded me a lot of the Meher Baba Center at Myrtle Beach.
Post: How do you decide between homeopathic treatment and Bach remedy treatment?
Bob: I give the Bach remedies when I feel that the symptoms are marked and clear, where I don't have to guess. If a person says, "I am so angry, I'm so jealous…" If they tell you clearly what they're experiencing, that's a very easy prescription, and those are the cases in which I use Bach remedies. Or if the problem is strikingly in the mental sphere - for example, if the person is just gripped with hypochondria. I'm trying to use them more and more. Padri told me, before the Pilgrim Center opened, "You should learn these [Bach] remedies. There will be 56 species of mad coming here!"
Post: What would you describe as the strengths of allopathic medicine?
Bob: Allopathic medicine does an excellent job diagnosing illness and determining the specific pathology, because their treatment is going to be directed towards that specific pathology - using strong drugs. Of course, the doctors do make mistakes, but diagnosis is often a very difficult matter. Post: You're saying that one advantage of allopathic medicine's non holistic approach to medicine is that it has led to exceptional skills in the diagnosis of specific pathologies?
Eruch on Medicine and Healers[Editor's Note: The following comments were made by Eruch in Mandali Hall, December 1987.]
Post: How can we separate real therapies from bogus ones? There are so many different kinds of medical treatment being offered now in the West and it's hard to know what has real substance and what is simply voodoo.
Eruch: Baba Himself made use of allopathic medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic, and ayurvedic medicine. The greatest thing a healer - any healer - can do for his patient is to empathize with his condition. This is the most healing thing.
God laughs when a physician thinks he has healed someone. The physician takes on sanskaras, and also gets involved with the patient's sanskaras, when he takes credit for results. Post: What advice would you give someone with a chronic health problem who has experienced many disappointments in seeking to be healed?
Eruch: It is good to seek help, but reliance on Baba means that you resign yourself to His wish and will with respect to the resolution of the illness. Resignation does not mean that you cease trying to correct or improve your situation. It just means that you leave the results to Baba, and remain content with the outcomes He ordains.
Bob: Yes. Medical training in the West is pretty thorough. I have a deep respect for the amount of knowledge that Western doctors have. I might disagree sometimes about the manner of treatment. I like working with allopathic physicians because of their understanding of pathology and physiology. Dr. Alu Khambatta, an allopathic physician, is the head of the homeopathic department at Meher Health Center. (Her mime used to be spelled "Aloo", but Baba would tease Dr. Aloo by spelling her name "Alu", which is the Indian word for "potato". That's how she spells it now.) Dr. Alu has an interesting history. Baba at one time ordered her not to practice medicine...in fact, "not to do anything", and this was an order that stood for several years. This was a difficult order, as she was a very active person. To pass the time she learned to play cards and things like that. Around 1952 she asked Baba about studying and practicing homeopathy.
Baba said "all right", and gave her some money for books and to go to Bombay to study, where she worked in the homeopathic wing of a large Bombay hospital for four years. For a number of years she was head of the TB sanitarium in Aragon. She retired there, and has for the last five or six years been practicing at the Meher Health Center. She's 85 years old, gets on the back of my scooter five days a week to go down to the health center, and works there for 3-4 hours.
Dr. Alu has an order from Baba to take His name whenever she gives medicine. For her to remember that, she's formed a habit of having the patient takes Baba's name with the medicine. I try to remember Baba or repeat his name when l give treatment and I encourage my patients to take his name with their treatment. Padri used to say, "Take His name, then this powder, and if you die, good!"
Post: How does Dr. Goher's allopathic treatment differ from what you might get from, say, an average western physician?
Bob: Goher's connection with Baba makes her unique as a physician. She expresses some of the compassion that Baba expressed for humanity. She is an inspiring example of what a physician should be. She has a genuine concern for the patient - so much so, that I never think of her as being "an allopathic doctor", as opposed to "a homeopathic doctor", etc. - I think of her as a real a ample of what a physician should be - gentle, kind, caring. I can't help but think that Baba himself has given her these qualities. Not to say that other physicians don't have these qualities, but she ex presses them in a way that touches people very profoundly. Other doctors - not necessarily followers of Baba have come to her clinic, drawn by its humanitarian work, and have been just overwhelmed by the atmosphere of compassion that prevails there.
Goher can give the same drug that another doctor might give, and the effect isn't the same. If I really felt that some doctor was the kind of person I wanted to treat me, I might overlook the fact that, say, maybe I felt I didn't really like allopathic drugs. I might take his treatment anyway. I feel that what is in the mind and heart of the physician can cure people, regardless, to some extent, of his style of medicine.
Post: Eruch made similar comments to me last year- about the importance of the healer's attitude.
Bob: Yes, I really believe that the results that we're getting in our homeopathic department are better than the knowledge of those of us that are practicing homeopathy there. I think it's a demonstration of what can be done when medicine is given with His name, and in that spirit.