Kerala - Kochi   

Showcasing traditional ayurveda at exhibition

KOCHI: Are you interested in medicinal herbs? Want to know how certain herbs help you combat different ailments? All this and more are on at display at the Ayur Expo 2007, which showcases the traditional ayurveda knowledge in a succinct way. Organised by the students of Government Ayurveda College, Thripunithura, the exhibition that began on Monday will be on till Friday.

A collection of about 350 medicinal plants by grouping them together according to their uses is perhaps an exhaustive job. For the public to understand the various uses, every plant has been labelled with its Sanskrit name, scientific name and Malayalam name. And a volunteer is there to explain any question that may arise.

There are a group of plants under the title anti-toxic, which include plants such as Lencas aspera (thumba), Aegue marmelos (koovalam), Piper betle (vettila), Aerva lenata (cherula). Under the title of paediatric medicines are Bacopa monnieri (brahmi), Ruta graveolens (arutha) and Acorus calamus (vayambu).

A combination of eight herbs, including Asparagus racemosus, Aloe barbadensis and Moringa oleifera makes the traditional murivanna or oil for wounds. There are a collection of herbs for respiratory tract treatment, such s Adhatoda benomei (chittatulodakam) or for fever – Hedyotis corymbosa (Parpatakapullu).

Thrikadu, a combination of dry ginger and pepper and, Piper longum (thippali) is for good throat and Alpini galanda is used in the making of rasanadichoornam deriving its name from the plant which is called rasana in Sanskrit.

Some of the ornamental plants have its uses in treatment of cancer, such as Ixora and Vinca rosea. Plants used in treatment of diabetes, skin diseases, ENT and many other ailments are also on display.

Also on display with many details are the chemicals uses in ayurveda, toxicology – where the use of poisonous plants in treatment is described. There are sections explaining the Salakyathantram (ENT and Ophthalmology), Salyathantram (surgery) and other sections like the description of human anatomy, which includes a display of most of human organs such as brain, heart, lungs and kidneys. All these organs in a dissected human body are also on display.

The traditional texts of ayurveda such as the Astangahridayam, Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita and others are also on display at the expo.

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