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When his American doctor suggested shoulder replacement surgery, veteran reporter T. R. Reid decided to investigate other options. This program documents his three-week stay at a clinic in southern India dedicated to the ancient practice of Ayurveda, a form of Hindu medicine. Reid's treatment involves astrology, entreaties to the Hindu god of healing, and a seemingly bizarre regimen of massages, mudpacks, brews, and caustic eyedrops-all with the goal of realigning his body's doshas, a concept roughly similar to the classical and medieval "humors." Although the patient initially wavers between skepticism and nonchalance, he ultimately discovers some improvement, along with insights about faith, the placebo effect, and the limits of Western science. (54 minutes)
