DEPARTMENT OF Malayalam

Project F.No. M.R.P. (H) - 1992/11-12/KLMG023/UGC-SWRO

SUMMARY OF THE FIDINGS

There are five distinctive systems of medicine prevalent in India. These are Allopathy,  Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani and Nature cure. The Western system of medicine that came to India as part of colonization  found strong influence among the people very soon. The chief  aim of the physician is to treat  an ailment completely and maintain the health of the patient. In the majority of the cases it is observed that the patients experience cure while taking allopathic medicines but the symptoms show up when they stop taking these drugs. Also, the continuous intake of such drugs having toxic effects causes various damages to the body.

Alternative systems of medicine are often seen as very helpful situations where Allopathy fails. Traditional medicine is the most popular in Kerala. The ancient and folk related mode of therapy is referred to as the traditional system of medicine (World Health Organization). Ayurveda with its numerous subdivisions, home medicine and the indigenous medicine of various caste groups and tribal folks are together  referred to as the indigenous medicine tradition of Kerala. As far as Kerala is concerned, Ayurveda and indigenous therapeutics are inextricably intertwined.

The indigenous or traditional system of medicine includes those popular among tribals, familiar to villagers and those acquired through systematic study. Ayurvedic therapy belongs to the third group. However, the three modes are considered as traditional medicine. 

The three different modes of treatment in the traditional system of medicine are: 1) using drugs  2) using certain spells and charms  3) a combination of drugs and spells. There existed the practice of deifying certain diseases like epilepsy, fever and small pox. People believed in the efficacy of exorcism in removing ailments. Sacrifices and offerings were performed for prevention and were believed to be easily cured by spells and charms. The combined administrations of drugs and spells are also seen in ancient toxicology and some simple medical practices of village folk. Backward communities like Mannas, Malayas, Pulluvas, Panas, Velas and Parayas have a tradition of indigenous system of medicine. The secret behind this system is the use of some rare and native medicines.

There are many rudely circulated stories about Ashtavaidyas, the Ayurvedic experts. One can find physicians of great heritage and expertise in many villages even now. There are people who cure wounds, fractures and inflammations with some herbal remedies. Traditional physicians were also experts at treatment of rabies and toxicology.

The important ingredients of indigenous  medicine include the roots, flowers, fruits, seeds, essence and bark of plants, skin, tusk, fat, urine, faeces and milk of animals certain mineral substances and sea products. Most of the drugs obtained from nature become suitable for use only after purification. Knowledge about the reactions on side effects of drugs and natural cures from part of traditional medical wisdom. Single medicine therapy is the characteristic feature of indigenous medicine. Many incurable diseases can be cured by this method. It is very clear that our ancestors had great knowledge and experience of the sensibilities and good and bad effects of all drugs. Native works on medicine are more popular among the traditional physicians of Kerala than the well known ones like Charakasamhita, Sushruthasamhita and Asthangahrudaya, Sahasrayogam, Aharakalpam, Vaidyamanorama,Chikitsamanjari, Yogaratnaprakashika, Yogamrutam and Sarvarogachikitsaratnam are the prominent ones. The authors of these texts are great scholars of indigenous medicine. Kerala also achieved remarkable progress in fields of ‘Balachikitsa’ (Child treatment), Kannuchikitsa (ophthalmology), Unmadachikitsa (psychic treatment) and Vishachikitsa (toxicology). There are many reputed families skilled in these branches in Kerala.

            There are Aryan and Non-Aryan traditions of Ayurveda. Ashtavaidyas who have authority of the Vedas  represent the Aryan and eminent ‘vaidyas’ with Bouddha tradition and knowledge  of Sanskrit from the Ezhava-Thiya communities are the advocates of the non-Aryan tradition. Itti achutan, Uracheri gurukkal, Thayyil Kumaran Krishnan etc are some names worth remembering here. Tribal and folk communities like velas, annas and malayas – the practitioners of ethnic medine – used to learn Ayurveda along with their conventional medical practices. Home medicine also came under this traditional system. Single medicine therapy –sung one who ingredients – was the most common and popular in the traditional system.

Various fields of specialization or expertise in traditional medicine are Balachikitsa (Paediatric treatment), Unmada chikitsa (Psychik treatment), Kalarivaidya and vishachikitsa (toxicology). Kerala has many experts skilled in the treatment of certain ailments like jaundice, blisters, burns and some skin and eye diseases. They are not full  time physicians and their therapeutic tradition usually consists of combinations of one or two drugs.

Many amazing facts become evident when we study the great indigenous medical tradition of Kerala.

1. Western system of medicine gets abundant support and encouragement from the government. As a result, alternative system of medicine are unable to cause any impact in the public life.

2. Alternative system of medicine turns out to be very helpful in situation where Allopathy fails to cure the ailment.

3.    Western system of medicine is quite ineffective for diseases like asthma, allergy, poisoning, burns and eye diseases.

4.    Keralites rely on the traditional system of medicine in cases of snake and insect poisons.

5.    Allopathy does not have an effective cure for jaundice. But the same disease is very easily cured by the traditional system of medicine.

6.    Majority of the drugs used in the traditional system are nature based and plant based which reduces the possibility of any risks to the body.

7.    Traditional system adopts preventive measure along with effective cure and is based on each individual patient.

8.    Medicines that are simply chemical combinations act very quickly on the body. As these are not that acceptable to the body, they cause  many harmful effects too.

9.    Diagnosis solely based on the examination of affected part of the body is totally unscientific.

10.  Diseases do not centre on particular body parts. So, the traditional system suggests an overall treatment for the patient.

            Even in these days of great innovations in scientific and medical fields, a large chunk of Keralites still rely on the traditional system of medicine. I found many traditional physicians serving patients selflessly, independent of advertisements and other public stunts in the villages of kerala. These traditional medical practitioners who diagnose without the help of any modern equipments are like Jeevan Mashais (Arogyanikethanam). The traditional physician relaying on observing the nerves to recognize the symptoms and thus deliver the patient from the disease becomes the role relief of modern society. Nowadays, many people are slowly becoming aware of the disease caused by the usage of modern drugs. People have clear idea about  the side  effects of allopathy medicines. It is the reason for their great interest in nature and medicinal herbs.

            The speech made by Prof. S. Dasgupta of Kolkata National Medical College at the Indian Science Congress points out the necessity of restricting the unlimited use of modern drugs and promoting indigenous  systems of medicine for preserving public health.

            In the probe conducted as part of my study, I avoided Ayurveda hospitals and centres of Ayurveda treatment and studied those who go for consulting the traditional physician by the simple ‘Mouth to Mouth’ system rather than depending on advertisement. Highly educated people and commoners were among them. Most of the Ayurvedic (indigenous) medicines are natural and plant based. As a result, it suits the body very well. Medicines akin to chemical substances act on the body very quickly but I found out that they are well aware of the harmful effects of these drugs.

            Traditional systems of medicine adopt measures to prevent diseases along with curing them. It follows the individual based treatment practice.

            Diseases do not arise all of a sudden. It is a long process and therapy is the process of reversing it. This is the reason for the time lag in traditional system of medicine. Continuous treatment even after the disease is cured prevents the body from being affected again. Allopathic drugs having chemicals as ingredients quickly attack and subdue our body along with the disease which subsequently weakens the body. Today, people are aware of these facts. As a result, we take more interest in the nature and our medicinal plants. Ayurvedic treatment considers the patient as a whole individual rather than some organs. Body, senses, mind and soul together constitute life. Diseases do not centre on certain organs or body parts. The method of diagnosis that consists of examining only the affected part is unscientific. The traditional system of medicine are different from them. It gives equal importance to body, sense and mind and prescribes comprehensive treatment that includes exercise, rest and diet control.

            Modern Ayurveda includes modern knowledge too. It uses modern scientific discoveries for diagnosis and treatment in a way that suits its basic tenets. It is the reason behind the obliteration of diseases with little chance for a second time occurrence.