I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in the beginning of 2003, when I was a resident in Nuclear Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. It started with intractable constipation and abdominal pain leading to tenesmus and bloody diarrhea. Colonoscopy made the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, blood tests revealed iron deficiency anemia, and I was started to anti-inflammatory agents and steroids.
 

I was born and brought up in India and attended the Armed Forces Medical College, in Pune. I came to the US in 1998 and completed a Masters Degree in Physiology at the Medical College of Virginia, before starting my residency training. I got married and my wife came to the United States in 2002. We were expecting our first child when this catastrophe happened.
 

After graduating in July 2003, I joined the St. Luke’s Roosevelt hospital in Manhattan and we moved to New York. My symptoms got worse (bloody diarrhea with frequency and urgency, severe abdominal pain and cramps, and severe weakness) and there was no relief from the medications. Colonoscopy showed severe inflammation and my hemoglobin was 5.0. I weighed 118 lbs and every day was a challenge. My gastroenterologist suggested immuno-modulators and total colectomy. This was a very scary moment for me and my family.
 

We were desperate to find anything that could help my situation as I was scared of taking immunomodulator medication or going for total colectomy. One of my physicians gave me IV iron injections which helped. We tried several diets and supplements and the first thing that made me feel better was an Ayurvedic preparation sold online by an Ayurvedic physician in India.
 

I started reading about Ayurveda and what it had to offer for my condition. I made the suggested lifestyle changes and got even better. Slowly I tweaked the herbal combination and fortunately my symptoms started getting better. Then I started practicing yoga-pranayama suggested for my condition and became symptom free.
 

In the process of healing myself I got certified by the National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine and started dispensing Ayurvedic herbal supplements to my family and friends. When they got better it encouraged me to start my own practice. I am also a Diplomat of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine.
 

Through this practice of Integrative and Holistic Medicine we heal chronic diseases with Lifestyle Changes, Nutritional Medicine, Healing Yoga-Pranayama, Personalized Herbal Supplements, Guided Imagery, and Spiritual Counseling. Consultation is available through telephone and Skype also. Please call or email to make an appointment.
 

With best regards and speedy recovery.
 

Peeyush Bhargava M.D
Phone: (832) 304-3251