Coimbatore: Singapathy , a remote village on the foothills of the Western Ghats, is just a cluster of one-room houses. It is also home to Chetty, the oldest healer for the Irula tribes, who sits under a large banyan tree, sporting a yellow shirt and veshti.
In front of him is a display of plant stems, roots and branches of various species.
To meet a tribal healer like Chetty , TOI accompanied a group of 30 Ayurveda doctors, medicinal plant researchers, botanists and zoologists, to remote tribal hamlets of the Western Ghats on Thursday afternoon, in an attempt to document some ancient medical knowledge.
Although his appearance may betray his expertise, Chetty is considered one of the most reliable healers in the Chadivayal, Singapathy, Siruvani belt. Apart from learning a few things from his grandfather, he has not had any formal education.Regardless, he's an expert in medicinal plants with a herbal garden of his own.
"I have all the plants and medicines needed to cure any ailment," he says. The man, true to his word, even managed to surprise the researchers and doctors with the ex tremely rare Indian head ginger. "Called plant insulin, it is an exotic species used to treat diabetes," said medicinal plant researcher and scientist at Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, C Kunhikannan. "Though he claims he plucked it from the mountain, it's hard to believe because the species can be naturally found only in South America," he said. He was also in possession of a few stems of Boikullam plant. The plant's properties to treat eye problems has been well documented over the decades. It is extremely beneficial to animals too."During Pongal, cows and other cattle are garlanded with garlands made from this plant," said P Kaalichamy, a healer. This plant also has the power to dissolve kidney stones.
The Ayurveda doctors also met a village healer who is an expert in conducting smooth deliveries. The healer said, "I give the woman a little castor oil before she goes into labour. I also rub her belly with castor oil. After the baby is born, we give the mother and child a bath," she said. The mother is fed rasam rice which contains cumin, pepper, garlic and some chilly which helps her recover from post-partum complications, she added.
In front of him is a display of plant stems, roots and branches of various species.
To meet a tribal healer like Chetty , TOI accompanied a group of 30 Ayurveda doctors, medicinal plant researchers, botanists and zoologists, to remote tribal hamlets of the Western Ghats on Thursday afternoon, in an attempt to document some ancient medical knowledge.
Although his appearance may betray his expertise, Chetty is considered one of the most reliable healers in the Chadivayal, Singapathy, Siruvani belt. Apart from learning a few things from his grandfather, he has not had any formal education.Regardless, he's an expert in medicinal plants with a herbal garden of his own.
"I have all the plants and medicines needed to cure any ailment," he says. The man, true to his word, even managed to surprise the researchers and doctors with the ex tremely rare Indian head ginger. "Called plant insulin, it is an exotic species used to treat diabetes," said medicinal plant researcher and scientist at Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, C Kunhikannan. "Though he claims he plucked it from the mountain, it's hard to believe because the species can be naturally found only in South America," he said. He was also in possession of a few stems of Boikullam plant. The plant's properties to treat eye problems has been well documented over the decades. It is extremely beneficial to animals too."During Pongal, cows and other cattle are garlanded with garlands made from this plant," said P Kaalichamy, a healer. This plant also has the power to dissolve kidney stones.
The Ayurveda doctors also met a village healer who is an expert in conducting smooth deliveries. The healer said, "I give the woman a little castor oil before she goes into labour. I also rub her belly with castor oil. After the baby is born, we give the mother and child a bath," she said. The mother is fed rasam rice which contains cumin, pepper, garlic and some chilly which helps her recover from post-partum complications, she added.