Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has recovered from chronic cough and high blood sugar after nine-day naturopathy treatment at a private hospital here, a senior doctor said on Saturday.
"Kejriwal's chronic cough and blood sugar are under control, as he recovered well under our treatment," Jindal Naturecure Institute medical director Babina Nandakumar told IANS.
With his 10-day stay at the institute hospital ending on Sunday, Kejriwal will be returning to Delhi on Monday by evening flight.
"As Kejriwal has responded well to the naturopathy system of medicine, including yogic exercises, diet, specific therapies and walking, he has been advised to continue with them till his health stabilises," she said.
Being aware of Kejriwal's hectic schedule and engagements, the doctors have advised him to maintain strict diet, take food at prescribed times and go to bed early to get up early.
"As Kejriwal is unable to extend his stay here due to the upcoming budget session (of the Delhi legislative assembly) and other pressing engagements, we have prescribed a regime comprising naturopathy treatment, diet and exercises," she said.
Kejriwal's blood sugar has come down to 130 pp (postprandial) and 90 fasting from a high of 300 mg/dl when he was admitted on March 5.
"Frequency of Kejriwal's chronic cough has also come down. He has shown remarkable improvement on both counts," Nandakumar said.
The 46-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener was earlier treated at the institute on the city's outskirts when he came with social activist Anna Hazare in February 2012, as he had high blood sugar level but no cough.
"Kejriwal stayed with us for 16 days and followed our nature cure regime, diet and treatment instructions meticulously. On discharge, his sugar level was within normal limits without medication," Nandakumar recalled.
During the last three years, due to preoccupation with social and political activities and punishing schedules, Kejriwal could not maintain the lifestyle changes he had learnt at the institute.
"Deviation from natural lifestyle has had its toll and his blood sugar level shot up to 300 mg/dl plus. Insulin and oral diabetic medications could not stabilise it and it remained erratic. As allopathic medication could not control it, he decided to revert to naturopathy at our institute," Nandakumar said.
Preliminary tests on March 5-6 showed that Kejriwal's stressful lifestyle, including consumption of aerated drinks, irregular eating habits, high level of pollution in the national capital and accumulation of toxins in his body have resulted in chronic cough and high blood sugar level.
"We gave detoxifying treatment in the form of yogic therapy and diet comprising vegetable and fresh juices, sprouts, ayurvedic liquids, soup, boiled vegetables and chapatis to rejuvenate his entire system," the director added.
The institute has advised Kejriwal dietary changes and daily practice of prescribed yogasana, pranayama and kriya (breathing/cleansing technique) when he returns to Delhi.
Kejriwal has been staying with his parents Gobind Ram and Gita Devi in a three-room cottage in the sprawling institute.