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| Rugmini Vaidyar, Purakkalam, Koothuparamba, Kannur |
If strangers or foreigners are seen on the streets of Purakkalam near Koothuparamba in Kannur, the villagers will surmise that someone has come to consult the ‘doctor’. Rugmini Vaidyar, the grand old ayurvedic practitioner of 90 years has been providing treatment for the last 69 years here - mainly for chronic asthma, eye troubles and infertility.
When the grateful patients from California prepares to start a website for her, when someone with 10 years of asthma declares that breathing is no more a struggle for him and when the Kottayam-born employees of an infertility treatment firm from Switzerland calls to confirm that they are proud parents, then one can judge that her effort is finding appreciation even beyond the national borders.
For 40 years she used to run the ‘Shankar Pharmacy’ in Koothuparamba town. Now the same is being run from her home. She depends on the same village for providing herbs for the medicines. And those engaged in the preparation of medicines have been doing so for atleast 25 years.
She was led into the ayurveda studies at the tender age of 6 by her father Velandi Kalathil Sankaran Vaidyan. She considers that the rigorous discipline of getting up at 4 oclock and learning the treatises like ‘Ashtanga Hrudayam’ has had a positive impact on her health.
She fondly remembers staying at Mettuppalayam to treat the eye ailment of an elephant. Another memorable event was treating Rama Devi, a spiritual person from Mangalore.
Courtesy:
Anil Mangalath (text), Manorama Aarogyam, November 2007
Contributed by: Administrator
