No Pain, No Gain
That is the principle behind the often weird medicine practised in Inida
by NESHMIA
That is the principle behind the often weird medicine practised in Inida
by NESHMIA
Leech Therapy
Very Popular In: Varanais and parts of Kashmir, Orissa, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh
These slimy creatures are scientifically-proven medical wonders. Although the therapy’s origin dates back to circa 80 to 40 BC Greece and Rome, it has gained popularity in India over the past decade.
The Science Of ItLeeches secrete a chemical enzyme in their mouths that works as a catalyst, dissolving blood clots in the infected area, reducing pain and improving the blood circulation.
The Dosage
The ailment-treating leeches are kept in a bowl of turmeric water, an activating agent. They are then set upon the infected part of the patient’s body to draw out blood. A leech can suck as much as 10ml of blood in less than an hour, after which it detaches itself from the patient. The infected part of the patient is then dusted with a disinfectant and bandaged neatly. The leech too is dusted and cleaned with turmeric water so that it spews the diseased human blood it has taken in. After the treatment, the leeches are stored in bottles at temperatures anywhere between 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. Every bottle containing the leeches is assigned a unique identification code to ensure they are used only for one patient for the course of this treatment. Once the six-week treatment is over, the leeches are destroyed.
The Claim
· Can cure paralysis, osteoarthritis, hair fall and skin disorders.
Mureel Fish MedicineVery Popular In: Hyderabad
The Bathini Goud family and their centuries-old fish medicine have been in and out of controversy for years. Although many scientists and rationalists have protested against this ‘unscientific’ medicine, the family claims that it has cured thousands of asthma patients across the country. The medicine is administered for free to thousands of patients only once a year, on the first day of Mrugasira Karti, a date in the Hindu calendar that is said to be the first day of the monsoon (usually in the first week of June). Despite the ongoing debate over the authenticity of the claims, there continues to be a steady stream of people that flock to Hyderabad for this medicine.
The Science Of It
The only known ingredients of this unusual medicine are the tiny murrel fish and a yellow herbal paste. The family has refused to share what the paste actually is out of fear that the medicine will lose its effectiveness.
The Dosage
A yellow herbal paste is put in the mouth of a live three centimeter-long murrel fish. The fish is then slipped down the throat of the patient. The reason why it is administered on that date is because it is said that the fish taken from the soil that has been dampened by the rains on this particular day have properties that can cure asthma.
The Claim
· Cures asthma, if taken for three consecutive years.
The Bathini Goud family and their centuries-old fish medicine have been in and out of controversy for years. Although many scientists and rationalists have protested against this ‘unscientific’ medicine, the family claims that it has cured thousands of asthma patients across the country. The medicine is administered for free to thousands of patients only once a year, on the first day of Mrugasira Karti, a date in the Hindu calendar that is said to be the first day of the monsoon (usually in the first week of June). Despite the ongoing debate over the authenticity of the claims, there continues to be a steady stream of people that flock to Hyderabad for this medicine.
The Science Of ItThe only known ingredients of this unusual medicine are the tiny murrel fish and a yellow herbal paste. The family has refused to share what the paste actually is out of fear that the medicine will lose its effectiveness.
The Dosage
A yellow herbal paste is put in the mouth of a live three centimeter-long murrel fish. The fish is then slipped down the throat of the patient. The reason why it is administered on that date is because it is said that the fish taken from the soil that has been dampened by the rains on this particular day have properties that can cure asthma.
The Claim
· Cures asthma, if taken for three consecutive years.
Raw Onion
Very Popular In: Parts of North India
Cities in north India, especially Delhi, experience extreme heat. To avoid a potentially dangerous heat stroke, residents resort to an unusual yet simple remedy – eat an onion, raw!
The Science Of It
Onions are high in energy and water content. At the same time, they are low-calorie, and contain generous amounts of vitamins B6 and B1, and folic acid. They also contain chemicals that fight free radicals that cause diseases. If you eat at least half a raw onion a day, your HDL or good cholesterol goes up an average of 30 per cent.
The Dosage
Eat an onion either as is, or sliced and mixed with curd, just before getting out in the sun. You can also eat it mixed in salads and dry chutneys.
The Claim
· Has a cooling effect and can help prevent heat stroke
· Increases circulation, lowers blood pressure and prevents blood clotting
Very Popular In: Parts of North India
Cities in north India, especially Delhi, experience extreme heat. To avoid a potentially dangerous heat stroke, residents resort to an unusual yet simple remedy – eat an onion, raw!
The Science Of ItOnions are high in energy and water content. At the same time, they are low-calorie, and contain generous amounts of vitamins B6 and B1, and folic acid. They also contain chemicals that fight free radicals that cause diseases. If you eat at least half a raw onion a day, your HDL or good cholesterol goes up an average of 30 per cent.
The Dosage
Eat an onion either as is, or sliced and mixed with curd, just before getting out in the sun. You can also eat it mixed in salads and dry chutneys.
The Claim
· Has a cooling effect and can help prevent heat stroke
· Increases circulation, lowers blood pressure and prevents blood clotting
Heat Therapy
Very Popular In: Parts of the Himalayas
Tau-dam is a version of Ayurveda’s agnikarma (heat therapy), which is a tradition practiced by the rural Himalayan people and is compulsory for children aged six months to a year.
The Science Of It
Tau is a 45cm to 60cm long iron rod, sharply curved at one end, with one or two holes depending upon the diseases. The rod is placed over fire till it turns red hot and then placed on the affected area, which is then massaged with mustard or olive oil. Mustard oil is antibacterial in nature, whereas olive oil can keep the skin from scaling or drying. Heated harad or Terminalia chebula seeds are then placed on the area for some time. While heat helps the muscles and the joints relax and provides pain relief, harad has restorative, healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
The Dosage
The practitioner place hot tau on the affected skin for only a few seconds. This is followed by the mustard or olive oil massage. The heated harad seeds are also placed on the affected part only for a few seconds. The area is again massaged with the oils.
The Claim
· Prevents liver problems
· Cures stomach troubles
· Relieves backache
Very Popular In: Parts of the Himalayas
Tau-dam is a version of Ayurveda’s agnikarma (heat therapy), which is a tradition practiced by the rural Himalayan people and is compulsory for children aged six months to a year.
The Science Of ItTau is a 45cm to 60cm long iron rod, sharply curved at one end, with one or two holes depending upon the diseases. The rod is placed over fire till it turns red hot and then placed on the affected area, which is then massaged with mustard or olive oil. Mustard oil is antibacterial in nature, whereas olive oil can keep the skin from scaling or drying. Heated harad or Terminalia chebula seeds are then placed on the area for some time. While heat helps the muscles and the joints relax and provides pain relief, harad has restorative, healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
The Dosage
The practitioner place hot tau on the affected skin for only a few seconds. This is followed by the mustard or olive oil massage. The heated harad seeds are also placed on the affected part only for a few seconds. The area is again massaged with the oils.
The Claim
· Prevents liver problems
· Cures stomach troubles
· Relieves backache
Traditional Bone Setting
Very Popular In: Delhi, Mumbai and parts of Andhra Pradesh
Bone setting involves treating fractured or displaced bones using nothing but herbs. This tradition of curing broken bones has been around for centuries, and is still practiced in villages where people cannot afford modern treatments.
The Science Of It
Very few bone setters will reveal what is the concoction of herbs they apply, once they’ve put the bone in place. Some believe that the herbs help the pain go away quicker than usual, while others firmly believe that their herbal paste is like a ‘glue’ that ensures the bone doesn’t go out of place again! That said, we’re unsure how applying glue on the outside, works on the inside.
The Dosage
Each expert bone setter has their own way of treating patients; they use their own concoction of herbs to cure the affected area. The experts at the Natural Bone Setting Hospital in Puttur, Andhra Pradesh, for instance, first check the broken bone using no tools but just their hands. Then they apply a secret herbal paste and egg yolk on the affected area and wrap it firmly, using a cotton cloth, adding bamboo sticks for support. The patient is then advised to take rest for a few days and come back on the 45th day for a review. In most cases, the bone is healed, but in some, a second wrapping might be necessary. Some bone setters don’t even use herbal pastes! They examine the broken bone, move the limb around in a certain way and put it right back in place without causing the patient any pain.
Very Popular In: Delhi, Mumbai and parts of Andhra Pradesh
Bone setting involves treating fractured or displaced bones using nothing but herbs. This tradition of curing broken bones has been around for centuries, and is still practiced in villages where people cannot afford modern treatments.
The Science Of ItVery few bone setters will reveal what is the concoction of herbs they apply, once they’ve put the bone in place. Some believe that the herbs help the pain go away quicker than usual, while others firmly believe that their herbal paste is like a ‘glue’ that ensures the bone doesn’t go out of place again! That said, we’re unsure how applying glue on the outside, works on the inside.
The Dosage
Each expert bone setter has their own way of treating patients; they use their own concoction of herbs to cure the affected area. The experts at the Natural Bone Setting Hospital in Puttur, Andhra Pradesh, for instance, first check the broken bone using no tools but just their hands. Then they apply a secret herbal paste and egg yolk on the affected area and wrap it firmly, using a cotton cloth, adding bamboo sticks for support. The patient is then advised to take rest for a few days and come back on the 45th day for a review. In most cases, the bone is healed, but in some, a second wrapping might be necessary. Some bone setters don’t even use herbal pastes! They examine the broken bone, move the limb around in a certain way and put it right back in place without causing the patient any pain.
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