Samantha Ruth Prabhu on Friday shared a long note clarifying her stance on alternative therapy after she faced online backlash from medical practitioners for promoting potentially hazardous medical practices.

At the beginning of her explanation, the Kushi actress said she chose alternative medicine over conventional treatment for her ailment because the latter was expensive and not making her better. She has been suffering from myositis, an autoimmune condition, which forced her to take a long break from the film industry.

“Over the last couple of years, I’ve had to take many different types of medicines. I’ve tried everything I was strongly advised to take. As advised by highly qualified professionals and after doing as much self research as is possible for a lay person like me. Many of these treatments were also very very expensive. I would always keep thinking about how fortunate I am that I could afford it and about all those who cannot. And for the longest time, conventional treatments weren't making me better. There’s a good chance it was just me and am sure they will work very well for others,” Samantha wrote on Instagram.

“These two factors led me to also read up on alternate therapies and treatments. And after trial and error, I found treatments that worked wonderfully for me. Treatments that also cost a fraction of what I was spending on conventional healthcare,” she added.

There has been a social media ruckus since Samantha suggested to her fans that they could try hydrogen peroxide nebulisation for treating viral infections, posting a photo of herself undergoing the treatment. The post sparked controversy, with medical practitioners from home and abroad severely criticising the actress for promoting a practice that could seriously affect a patient’s well-being.

Samantha, however, defended herself against such criticism, saying the treatment was suggested to her by a well-qualified doctor and that it had really worked wonders for her. “I am not naive enough to go about strongly advocating a treatment. I merely suggested with good intention because of all that I have faced and learnt in the last couple of years. Especially that treatments can be financially draining and many may not be able to afford them…This treatment was suggested to me by a highly qualified doctor who is an MD, who has served DRDO for 25 years. He, after all his education in conventional medicine, chose to advocate an alternate therapy,” she mentioned.

The Family Man actress also came down heavily on a certain medical practitioner who had launched a scathing attack on her take on alternative medicine. “A certain gentleman has attacked my post and my intentions with rather strong words. Said gentleman is a Doctor too. I have no doubt that he knows more than I do. And I am quite sure his intentions were noble. It would have been kind and compassionate of him had he not been so provocative with his words. Especially the bit where he suggests I should be thrown in prison. Never mind. I suppose it goes with the territory of being a celebrity,” she wrote.

Samantha went on to say that she only suggested the treatment as an affordable option for people for whom conventional medicine isn’t working.

“I posted as someone who needs medical treatments and not as a celebrity. And I certainly am not making any money from the post nor endorsing anyone. I was merely suggesting a treatment as an option after undergoing it myself, for others who may be looking for options because conventional medicine isn't working for them. Especially more affordable options,” she further stated.

The actress, however, promised to be more careful in future while sharing information about the treatments that helped her health. She also talked about how difficult it is for a patient to choose among a variety of options offered by different lines of treatment.

“I’ve had so many well meaning people suggesting ayurveda, homoeopathy, acupuncture, Tibetan medicine, pranic healing etc. I heard them all out. I was merely doing something similar. Sharing something that worked for me, as an option. And I know many of us dealing with health issues need that help, especially given how overwhelming it is when every option has qualified people who are so certainly sure of their polar opposite opinions. Both sides, for and against every treatment, are both so sure and persuasive. It's difficult to navigate these and find good help,” she signed off.