HOSPITALS : THE AYURVEDIC HOSPITAL

The changes in the environment like climatic variations; pollution of air and water; stress and strain of body and mind; other hereditary problems; and modern trends in food habits like eating fast foods are the major reasons that create health problems for the people.

The Ayurvedic Hospital at Kumbalam was the only State Government institution in this Island those days. I have heard that there was a Police Station working in that building earlier. The people in the nearby islands also depended on it for their day to day health problems. I remember, ‘Ammachi’ took us there to get medicine to eradicate round worms. Dr. Sukumaran Nair prescribed a medicine, which looked like jaggery with similar taste. It was really a good medicine. I saw most of the patients collecting ‘Kashayam’, astringent juice of herbs and oil preparations as medicine. A young mother, while squeezing her baby to her breast, said in her local dialect, “Ayurvedic medicines are known to have no adverse effects on the internal organs of the body or systems; whereas the English medicines may damage the vital organs in human body like the kidney.” Another woman, as if she had bitten into something sour, retorted saying, “English medicine is a speedier remedy.” The former added, “When you don’t get any relief you have to approach the old systems of medicine.”

I do not find any special reason to give precedence to a particular system of medicine. The government should take steps to develop and improve Ayurvedic medicine and Homeopathy so that they could be at par with Allopathic medicines.

I vividly remember another occasion when a bachelor youth lamenting to the doctor, “I am suffering from ‘Tharan’, dandruff, and that I am losing my hair.” Without muttering a word, Dr. Abdulkader, the Ayurvedic physician, took out a newspaper, spread it and started to comb his own hair. He was suffering from the very same problem. How could he prescribe a medicine? However the doctor advised him to use some shampoo or the ‘Thali’, natural shampoo, would give him the relief. I have noted very few who admit their inability, mistake or helplessness, a great quality indeed!

Pankajakshy Amma Cheriaparambu-Chala and her husband, Parameswara Kaimal, donated ten cents of land to the government for a worthy cause. An Ayurvedic hospital was constructed on this land, which is opposite the Kumbalam Siva temple. A good number of the local Islanders avail of the facilities provided by this hospital. I myself and my family used to consult Dr. Rani and her assistant doctor, Dr. Tony Antony Kallampally.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com