"Most remarkable feature of Ayurveda is its effective postnatal care"

Gopakumar AV

Now days, Madhavikutty, aged 74, a pious Ayurvedic physician is finding it hard to get Dasapushpam, needed for the ritualistic offering to the deity. Usually Hindus cannot neglect them in the month of Karkkadakam (12th month in the Malayalam calendar, which falls during (July-August).Dasapushpam are ten important medicinal flowers, which form an essential ingredient of Hindu rituals in Karkkadam. And with the advent of modern habits, their availability has become difficult. Being an Ayurveda doctor, she’s aware of its medicinal values and believes that these ethical practices were created to highlight the importance of these herbs in the society. Yes, one could see the sparkle on her face, while speaking about them.

Madhavikutty got her Ayurveda degree from Thiruvananthapuram Ayurveda College, that too from the prestigious first batch of 1948. That was when the native medicine got its due place as a modern educational discipline for the first time. She was one of the two women physicians who completed the course successfully. And her academic study only confirmed what the society was preaching for many years.

"At that time the social habits, living practices, rituals made Kerala the region of healthy people and natural health care practices," reminds Madhavikutty. In those days, one’s day started even before sunrise. And the habit of daily bath was a part of their life. Before taking bath, they used to apply coconut oil on the head. In place of modern toilet soaps, the rustics preferred powdered bark of Incha (Acacia caesia-Linn) and the like to ensure smooth germ-free skin.
According to her, the yesteryears men’s diet was devoid of beverages and contained "Swaraswam" (herbal Juice) of high nutritional value. Food items were chosen according to the climate and they also practiced periodic fasting to vitalize the physiological system. Chanting of mantras, keerthans (Devotional songs) boosted them psychologically which also took care of minor ailments.
"To shed over weight, they consumed honey diluted with warm water," says Madhavikutty, revealing the health consciousness of traditional folk. And she said obese person preferred only watery remains, formed after the boiling of green gram. This gave them vital proteins for the body.
"In those days the youth had confidence in ethnic beauty tips" opines Madhavikuutty, while talking about traditional beauty prescriptions. For instance the herbal essence of Neelayamari (Indigofera tinctoria) Kaiyonnni (Eclipta prostrata), Amla etc, mixed in the hair oil imparted luxuriant hair growth. The eyeliner prepared from the
a lit castor oil lamp, not only beautified the eyes, but also proved to be an excellent protection against bacteria. The face cream prepared from varattu manjal (Curcuma longa), ixora (ixora cocemea) and green gram, cleansed and nourished the skin unlike the chemical bleaching of the modern day. Antiseptics and many other homely remedies were prepared from the common herbs like Tulsi, and it’s said that Tulsi goes into more than 400 medical concoctions.

"But the most remarkable feature of the Ayurveda, is it’s effective post-natal care" asserts Madhavikutty. According to her, only herbal extracts were given to the patient for the first nine days after the delivery. These herbal extracts were mixed with Karippatti (Palm Jaggery) before consumption. In the preparation of extracts, herbs like murukku (Erythrina variegata), mukkuti (Biophytum sensitirum), which is an excellent uterine contractor, Thumba (Leuca aspera) etc were used. From the tenth day onwards, a semisolid "Kurukku" is prescribed. It’s repeated for 21 days. The ingredients are Malatangi (Issampelos pareira) palm Jaggery. In an interval of three days

the extracts of Karayila (Canthium dicoccum) Yeshanku (Azima tetracantha), Kariveppila (Curry leaves) Uluva (Trigonella foenum) and Manjal (Curcuma longa) are added in respective order, and only one at a time in the Kurukku. Along with this, the patient is also given regular massages with Dhanwanthram or Pinnayenna (Medicated oil). The patient is also given Arishtams (Syrup) like Dasamoolarishtam or Jeerakarishtam and a spoon full of Kurunji Kuzhambu(Herbal jam). This 30 day herbal panacea can bring back the vitality and attractiveness they had before the delivery.

To sum up, the oldies had everything to keep them dynamic and healthy. For them these practices were not mere rituals, but a conscious therapeutic programme.