TRADITIONAL MEDICAL SYSTEM IN
CONTEMPORARY KERALA SOCIETY
Report of Minor Research Project with the Financial Assistance
of U.G.C.
Submitted to :
UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION
Submitted by :
Mrs. Ancy Sebastian
Asst. Professor
Dept. of Malayalam
Deva Matha College
Kuravilangad
Kottayam
Kerala - 686 633
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.