Femina Article

Dr. Nikita Kulkarni, MD Homoeopathy and founder of Dr. Nikita’s Homoeopathic Clinic, always wanted to become a doctor. She herself has been undergoing long-standing treatment for sinusitis since childhood, and homoeopathy has been a boon in her life.

Fascinated by the science behind the power of the small pill, she decided to pursue homoeopathy as a career option. Today, she is helping countless people through this rapidly growing science that is gaining increasing popularity and acceptance worldwide.

She talks to Femina about homoeopathy in detail.

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT EXACTLY IS HOMEOPATHY AND THE PRINCIPLES IT IS BASED ON.

Homoeopathy is a system of medicine discovered by German scientist Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. Just as every science is based on certain principles, homoeopathy is also based on fundamental laws and concepts.

There are seven cardinal principles in homoeopathy, but the most fundamental law is “Similia Similibus Curentur”, meaning “Like cures like.” It is this principle that sets homoeopathy apart from allopathy and naturopathy.

HOW HAS HOMOEOPATHY TREATMENT ADVANCED IN THE LAST DECADE?

In India, homoeopathy is included as a national system of medicine under the Ministry of AYUSH. It is the second largest system of medicine in the world, where more than 100 million people depend on it as a first line of treatment.

Just as every science has undergone a revolution, homoeopathy is also evolving rapidly. There has been a vast increase in homoeopathic medicine manufacturing companies both nationally and internationally. Homoeopathic patents and cosmetic products are also seeing increasing demand.

THE CURRENT SITUATION GIVEN THE PANDEMIC IS VERY STRESSFUL. DOES HOMOEOPATHY HAVE MEDICINES THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19?

Homoeopathy can offer promising support not only physically but also mentally by helping relieve stress and emotional distress. Bach flower remedies can especially be considered during such situations.

These medicines may be used efficiently for both pre and post COVID-19 care.

ARE THERE ANY MEDICINES TO HELP INCREASE IMMUNITY?

Yes, definitely. There are effective homoeopathic medicines that help strengthen immunity. Homoeopathy boosts the body’s natural defense mechanism and supports overall well-being.

WHAT ARE SOME HEALTH TIPS YOU WOULD SUGGEST TO THE READERS TO STAY SAFE IN CURRENT TIMES?

My advice to everyone is to follow a healthy and balanced lifestyle by keeping a check on diet and exercise. Indulge in stress-relieving activities such as meditation and regularly follow up with your doctor.

Because health is not one of the priorities — it is the only priority.

Address: Dr. Nikita Homeopath – Shree Swami Polyclinic

Plot No. 5, “Swami Bungalow”, Pranjal Society, Shivtirth Nagar, Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune.

Contact: 8983027020

Instagram: dr_nikita_Kulkarni_md

Facebook: Dr. Nikita's Homeopathic Clinic

Meghalaya, The Abode of Clouds

I went to Meghalaya with a tired, exhausted mind. Travel isn’t just an escape. It helps you tune in with yourself, find yourself, introspect. It’s therapy in motion. An emotional reset. And Meghalaya is not just a destination. It’s a feeling you will never forget.

Here, clouds don’t just settle in the sky. They walk beside you. Here, you don’t just breathe in air. I learned to breathe in water too.

Living in Meghalaya, the wettest place on earth, means you have a front-row seat to one of nature’s most dramatic phenomena.

Day 1: Cherrapunji - Rain and Rhythm

We drove from Shillong into a world that kept getting greener. Every turn brought another waterfall, unmarked and unashamed, spilling over cliffs like the earth had too much joy to hold.

Our very first stop was Prut Waterfall. Breathtaking, spectacular, panoramic. It felt like waterfall therapy.

Jal Chikitsa, water therapy, is nature’s oldest sound healing technique.

When you stand near a waterfall, three things happen to your brain and body:

1. Negative ions – Falling water releases millions of negative ions that increase serotonin, reduce depression, and boost energy. Science calls it “Nature’s antidepressant.” Anxiety can’t compete with 80 decibels of surrender.

2. Awe + Flow – The waterfall teaches you to let go of what’s beyond your control.

3. The result – Mind gets rinsed. Heart feels lighter. You remember how to flow.

Watching those mesmerizing landscapes and lush greenery lowered cortisol, reduced burnout, and promoted mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Day 2: A Village That Whistles and a Meal That Hugged Me Back

We visited Kongthong, India’s “whistling village” in East Khasi Hills, ∼60km from Shillong.

Here, the Khasi people don’t just name their children. Mothers compose a unique 14 to 18 second melody for each child at birth called Jingrwai Iawbei. It’s their true name. A tune that echoes through the hills, calling them home.

Later, it rained. That soft Meghalaya drizzle that makes everything greener.

We were soaked, hungry, and a little lost when Bah Kong Daplin invited us in. No menu, no prices. Just a smile and three words:

“Eat, you are home.”

On a banana leaf: steaming rice with fresh vegetables. I don’t remember every ingredient. I remember her hands.

She served every spoonful with an apology: “Sorry, simple food only.” She refilled my plate before I could ask, scolding me like an aunt: “Eat more. Travel makes you thin.”

Between bites, she whistled her daughter’s tune and told us how nature takes care of them and protects them. That’s the power of Mother Nature.

Travel far enough to find yourself. Eat local to remember the place.

Day 3: The Living Bridge That Rebuilt Me

3500 steps into Meghalaya’s heart

“Where human patience meets Mother Nature’s genius”

The most scenic bridge I have ever seen.

After 3,500 uneven stone steps carved into Meghalaya’s mountains, lungs burning and legs trembling, you turn a corner and it hits you.

A bridge, not built but grown. Woven from aerial roots of ancient rubber trees by Khasi ancestors who had more patience than blueprints.

A bridge that teaches you that real strength isn’t hurried. It’s nurtured.

I stood barefoot on it, feeling it pulse beneath me. Or maybe that was my own heart, finally slowing down to match the forest.

Lost in lush greenery — and found in gratitude.

The first 1,000 steps lie. They are easy. You feel heroic. But then the steps remind you who’s the boss.

Day 4 – Mawlynnong: Pride in a Leaf-Bowl 🌿

Titled “Asia’s Cleanest Village” in 2003, and it lives up to every bit of it.

I’ve travelled to 5 Asian countries. Seen spotless cities, strict waste laws, smart bins. But nothing hit like Mawlynnong.

A tiny village tucked in a tiny state — Meghalaya — holding the title of Asia’s Cleanest Village since 2003. No plastic on roads. Bamboo dustbins every few steps. Flowers, not litter, lining the lanes.

The waste management here isn’t a campaign. It’s a habit. It’s culture.

Walking those lanes, I felt something different. Not just admiration — pride. Proud that a small Indian village is schooling the continent on sustainability without noise, without fuss.

Lunch was an emotion. We were served delicious local Meghalayian food in a traditional hut. No plates, no steel. Just banana leaves, bamboo shoots, and recipes passed down generations.

The style was completely different — sit on the floor, eat with hands, feel the earth. And the love? That was the main ingredient.

“You’re home.”

Mawlynnong doesn’t just show you cleanliness. It shows you dignity. In simplicity, in community, in care.

Day 5 – Shillong: Walking Through the Clouds ☁️⛰️

The Scotland of the East, and it knows it.

They call Shillong the Scotland of the East for a reason. The moment we entered, the cool climate hit us — that crisp, pine-scented air that makes you breathe deeper.

Lush greenery everywhere you look. Deep valleys that drop into mist. No wonder the British felt at home here.

Today we visited Laitlum Canyon. And I’m not exaggerating when I say it felt like walking through the clouds.

One step, sunshine. Next step, you’re swallowed by fog. Visibility dropped to 5 feet. The valley disappeared, then reappeared like magic.

We were literally lost in the fog — and loved every second of it.

Laitlum means “end of hills” in Khasi. Standing at the edge, watching clouds roll under your feet, you get why.

It’s not just a viewpoint. It’s an experience. Silent, vast, and humbling.

Shillong doesn’t shout. It whispers through its valleys, and you listen.

The Lesson – When Nature Became My Therapist 🌿

I went with a tired mind. With anxiety sitting heavy on my shoulders, fatigue in every step, and a heart that felt a little lost.

I came back a stronger version of myself.

Nature didn’t just host me — it healed me.

Every waterfall I stood before whispered the same lesson: let go.

Just as water surrenders to gravity, I learned to release what I couldn’t control. No resistance. No fear. Just flow.

The treks humbled me. Each climb reminded me how much my body shows up for me, every single day.

I felt gratitude in my bones — for breath, for strength, for the ability to move, to pause, to keep going.

But the deepest healing? It was in the quiet moments with family. Away from screens, deadlines, and noise, we found each other again.

Laughter came easier. Silence felt safe. The bond, once stretched thin, was recreated.

So no — this wasn’t just a vacation.

This was a therapeutic journey.

One that sat with my traumas, didn’t judge them, and slowly, gently, helped me fix what was frayed.

I return not just rested, but rebuilt.

Ready to accept challenges, not run from them.

Because nature taught me: you don’t fight the current. You trust it. You flow with it. And for that, I’m grateful.

– Dr. Nikita Kulkarni