Condition of 'spirited' 18-yr-old with hole in heart better after alternative treatment, says family

Under the spell of hypnotherapy

Condition of 'spirited' 18-yr-old with hole in heart better after alternative treatment, says family

Once a firm non-believer in the spooky world of spirits, 18-year-old Vaishali (name changed on request) used to laugh each time she heard a ghost story. That was till two years ago, when the teenager was "diagnosed" with a "spirit" by a doctor who claims to have changed her life by expelling it.

Vaishali was six months old when she was diagnosed with a hole in her heart.

"We took her to several doctors, who said it was impossible to operate," said her mother Shubhangi. "She didn't walk much, rarely made friends and was a third of her ideal weight. At 16 years, she weighed 25 kg."

After constant visits to doctors and lakhs spent on treatment, the Sulakhe family was scared out of their wits two years ago when Vaishali's condition worsened. "She was admitted to the ICU as she turned blue-black and had convulsions. Doctors told us they had no further treatment left," said Vaishali's uncle Sunil Sulakhe. "By then she couldn't walk at all and was very weak. A family friend suggested we take her to hypnotherapist."

Vaishali was taken to Dr Ali Asgar Gilitwala, who practises alternative therapy such as hypnotherapy and pendulum dowsing. Gilitwala claims Vaishali was troubled by a spirit or "negative energy attached to her past life" and he worked on releasing it. "This is not a cure and I asked her to continue her medication," said Gilitwala. "I worked on her subconscious to remove her negativity, resulting in a change in her personality and a will to live."

The Sulakhes back Gilitwala's claim. "She still has a hole in the heart; it hasn't been cured, but what this therapy has given us is invaluable. My daughter, who never climbed stairs, now goes to movies with friends.

She goes to college," said Shubhangi. "The biggest change is she gained 10 kg because she decided to."
The family claims the therapy has not only reduced her visits to the doctor, but also the drug dosage she needs.