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Published: Sunday July 5, 2009 MYT 3:17:00 PM

Indian scientists use astrology to cure heart patients


NEW DELHI: Indian astro scientists have become starry-eyed. They are looking to the stars to heal heart patients.

While it may sound out of this world (pardon the pun), scientists at the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi have resorted to doing exactly that.

They are boldly taking the science of astrology to a new dimension.

The scientists are busying calculating the movements of stars and planets of patients to understand how they can reduce or avert the increasing heart-related diseases just by studying their horoscopes.

"We have studied about 80 horoscopes of people, their place of birth, time of birth and the position of their planets.

"Then, we advise them accordingly, when a person is likely to suffer heart ailment, under what situation, or the right time for a person to undergo surgery if he is advised by a doctor.

"We refer to ancient astrology books where the knowledge of diseases and its treatment were recorded, ages ago. We have, so far, recorded a 70 per cent success rate," Dr Shatrughan Tripathi, head of the project at Banaras University told Bernama in a recent interview.

Impressed by the celestial findings, India's University Grants Commission has permitted Dr Shatrughan and his team to further the project with a RM45,000 funding for the next three years.

Now, several 'astrology hospitals' have emerged in Varanasi in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where astrologers prescribe suitable gemstones, beads, mantras and herbal medicines to patients.

"Heart disease is a major problem and it is even mentioned in over 60 ancient texts like the Rigveda (Hindu scared book).

“We are not doing something new, we are only trying to promote traditional astrology in a more scientific method.

"For a start, we are focusing on the heart...later, we will move to other diseases related to eyes, kidney and liver," said Dr Shatrughan. - Bernama

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