Alternatives as a panacea

ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS of medicine are slowly gaining ground. No longer are there suspicious looks when you talk of Ayurveda or Homoeo- pathy, instead you are in with the trend. Instead of running around trying to find doctors, there is a place where you can find doctors from all systems of Indian medicine under one roof. Situated in a huge campus of 19.5 acres right in the heart of the city, the Arignar Anna Hospital for Indian Medicine is perhaps the only one which encompasses the Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy streams. Over the last year, a Yoga and Naturopathy wings have also been added. First housed within the premises of the Kilpauk Medical College, the hospital moved to its present location in 1978.

Since then, there has been a major spurt in the number of patients who come seeking relief from their ailments. "On an average, there are around 1200 patients a day," says Dr. S. Gopalakrishnan, Superintendent. In Tamil Nadu, the main system of treatment is Siddha, just as in neighbouring Kerala it is Ayurveda. Most people go to the Siddha unit for treatment, he says. Patients are free to decide which system of treatment they would like to undergo. If they feel they need guidance, there is a section which helps them choose.

The superintendent pointed out that, in 1999, the number of outpatients treated was 2,75,000 in the Siddha unit, 71,000 in the Ayurveda unit, 93,000 in the Unani section and 17,000 in the Homoeopathy section. This does not include those who have been admitted for further treatment in the 264 beds.

Most doctors in the hospital agree that the majority of the patients turn to them as a last resort. "They go through the whole gamut of doctors and hospitals and then come to us because they have no other option," says Dr. Athysayaraj, the head of the Ayurveda department. He has been practising since 1977 and feels that alternative medicine requires more publicity. "For instance, in the hospital, we give the Panchakarma treatment which is rarely done." He also says that it is mainly elderly people, who do not mind the slow process of healing.

However, Dr. Razeeuddin, Head of the Unani Department, begs to differ. While many look at these systems as a last resort, attitudes are changing. Many youngsters are turning to alternative medicine because there are no side effects. In the field for more than 15 years, Dr. Razeeuddin says "When I passed out of college, things were bleak. But in the last 10-12 years, there has been so much development and research that more people are coming to us for treatment."

Dr. Vijayalakshmi, head of the Homoeopathy Department, agrees with this view. "There was not so much awareness about these systems earlier; now there is a lot of publicity though more needs to be done," she says.

One issue that all of them agree upon is the need for more research facilities, preferably within the campus. The focus of Ayurveda is on neuro muscular disorders, jaundice and sinusitis while Unani specialises in treating arthritis and leucoderma. Problems like warts, migraine, tonsillitis and allergic conditions are the focus of attention in the Homoeopathy section. This is not to say that other problems cannot be treated in these systems, caution all the doctors.

The Yoga and Naturopathy centre, despite being the latest addition, attracts about 120 patients. The main focus here is on relieving stress, weight loss and the problems associated with obesity, say Drs. Manavalan and Venkateswaran. A range of sophisticated gadgetry - magneto-therapy, ultraviolet rays for skin infections, steam baths - catch the eye at the clinic.

A farm of five acres just opposite the hospital is the source for the herbs and plants required in the medicinal preparations. "Within the campus, all the bare spots are being cleaned and plants which are used daily, are being planted," said Dr. Narayanappa, the Chief Botanist. "We have a farm of 55 acres in Kolli hills in Salem where we grow more than 50 varieties of herbs."

The campus also houses the Tamil Nadu Medicinal Plant Farms and Herbal Medicine Corporation Ltd (TAMPCOL). The Director of the Corporation, P. Rama Mohana Rao spoke of his plans to modernise the hospital. He has already put TAMPCOL on the web and plans to sell the company's product through the website.

Says Vasantha, " I have been suffering from arthritis for so many years and had almost given up hope. I went to various doctors and many hospitals before coming here. I was in hospital for about five months and now for the last one year I have been back on my feet."

The crowd outside the Out Patient Department and the dispensary tells its own tale. Says Sushila, "My child had a skin infection and nothing helped her. After treatment here, she's alright. So now I come here." Another man standing nearby pitched in "The healing process is slow but it's definite. And we don't wind up with other problems caused by the medicines at the end."

R. KRITHIKA

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