Healing Tradition of Kerala

Healing tradition of Kerala
Healing tradition of Kerala includes both Codified and non codified systems, which are strongly interrelated and based on principles of Ayurveda. It involves classical methods of diagnostics and treatment like Sushrutha Samhitha and Ashtanga Hridaya. Visha Vaidya is one component of the healing tradition of Kerala.
Visha Vaidya
Visha Vaidya is one branch of traditional healing, popular in Kerala, mostly in Palakad and Trichur, involving treatment of poisonous bites like that from snake, dog and stings of scorpion, spider etc. Visha Vaidya deals with management of poisonous bites, poisonous substances and their action, Antidotes and Understanding of poisonous creatures. Treatment include herbals, administered as nasal drops, eye drops and oral medicine, strict food regulations, Abstaining from alcohol and non vegetarian foods. Treatment also includes rituals and offerings to God.
Tribal Information from Kerala
The Kani tribe of the Western Ghats of Kerala apply ‘Vishakallu’, a medicated stone with anti - poisoning properties to the affected area (snake bite). The ingredients that go into the making of ‘Vishakallu’ are, Pebbles from the river, Tulsi or Holy Basil leaves (Ocimum sanctum - Lamiaceae), Leaves of Perumthumba (Anisomeles malabarica - Lamiaceae), Heartwood of Chandanam (Santalum album - Santalaceae).
Mode of preparation of ‘Vishakallu’
Pebbles are ground, mixed with the other ingredients and made into paste and wrapped with 7 leaves of Aristolochia tagala. It is baked on fire made by burning wood of Chuvannakil (Chukrasia tabularis – Meliaceae; native to India and Sri Lanka ) or Dysoxylum malabaricum (Vella Akil; Meliaceae), sandalwood, holy basil and camphor. This baked cake is covered with paste of termite mount soil and again baked on low fire. The soil coat is removed and the cake is soaked in water for an hour, covered with paste of Pittosporum neelgherrense - Analivegam ( Pittosporaceae) stem bark . The whole thing is baked again and covered with stem bark of Kunstelaria keralensis (Fabaceae). And sun dried. This ‘stone’ is stored in burnt cow dung ash and Nicotiana tabacum - Pukayila (Solanaceae) leaves (Tobacco).
Mode of administration of ‘Vishakallu’
It is administered only by experienced tribal healers. The stone is directly applied to the bitten part. It sticks there and absorbs the venom from the wound. During this operation, Lord Siva is propitiated by chanting mantras. When all the venom is absorbed the stone falls away automatically. The stone is immersed in cow’s milk for detoxification for 2 hours.It is again dried and stored in cow dung ash. It is believed from experience that it can be used 20 times.
Plants for snake bite
Plants and their extracts have been used for the treatment of snake bite in most areas where venomous species are endemic (Houghton and Osibogun, 1993). In spite of this wealth of ethnopharmacological information only a relatively few species have been tested scientifically for anti – venom activity and the species where an active compound has been isolated are very few in number.This report lists the plants used by the traditional healers against snakes and snake bite in India.
Plants used against snake bite in India .
Although many plants may not neutralize the venom itself, they may be used to treat snake bite because they alleviate some of the symptoms (fear and panic) by tranquilising compounds eg: Rauwolfia serpentina – ‘Sarpagandhi’ (Apocynaceae) since this plant containing the tranquilising alkaloid, Reserpine.
Some species are grown around houses or their extracts sprinkled on the floor to repel snakes. e.g., Garlic (Vellulli - Allium sativum ; Liliaceae) and Garlic vine (Pseudocalyma alliceaum, Bignoniaceae).
Some plants may stimulate the immune system thus having beneficial effects, helping in removal of the venom. In this context, Aristolochia species (Aristolochiaceae) is noteworthy. It contains Aristolochic acid which is an immune stimulant.
Plants with analgesic and anti - inflammatory effects may lessen the inflammation and pain caused by snake bites. e.g., Rhapidophora pertusa - ‘Anathipali’ (Araceae).
Aristolochia indica and A. tagala of Aristolochiaceae are two plants, used by the Kanis to treat snake bite (krait & cobra).They call them ‘Cheriya arayan’ and ‘Veliya arayan’ respectively. According to them, A. tagala is more potent than A. indica. A. indica was used as antidote to snake bite by ancient Ayurvedic physicians also. It is an excellent blood purifier, used as diuretic, heart stimulant and against skin diseases. Paste of fresh leaves or roots of A. indica or A. tagala is applied externally over the bitten part. 10 – 15 ml fresh juice from leaf/ root with a pinch of black pepper is administered orally 6 times a day.
The whole plant of A. indica or A. tagala (1 part), bark of Ficus religiosa – arayal (Moraceae), 1 part and powder of black pepper (1 part) are mixed together and used as nasal inhaler to recover from the coma caused by snake bite.
The leaves of Cipadessa baccifera (Kattuveppu; Meliaceae) are mixed with pepper and taken orally against snake bite by Malapandaram tribe of Wayanad, Kerala.
Other major plants for snake bites
Plant
Family
Local name
Part used
Tribe used

Strychnos nux vomica
Loganiaceae
Kanjiram
Seeds and Roots
in Orissa
Helecteres isora
Sterculiaceae
Edampiri valampiri
Root and Seeds
-
Calycopteris floribunda
Combretaceae
Pullani
Root.

-
Cyperus rotundus
Cyperaceae
Kuzhimuthanga
Stem
in Rajasthan
Pittosporum neelgherrense
Pittosporaceae
Analivegam

Stem bark
Kani and Malapandaram
Rhinacanthus nasuta
Acanthaceae
Nagamulla ;
Leaves and Roots
traditional healers of Kerala
Celastrus paniculatus

Celastraceae
Cherupunna
Crushed stem bark
in Rajasthan
Oxalis corniculata

Oxalidaceae
Puliyarila
Whole plant
in Orissa
Plumbago zeylanica

Plumbaginaceae
Vellakoduveli
Leaf
in Orissa
Tragia involucrata

Euphorbiaceae
Choriyanam
Root
in Orissa
Boerhavia diffusa

Nyctaginaceae
Thazhuthama
Root
-
Costus speciosus

Costaceae
Chanakuva
Root.
-
Hedyotis corymbosa

Rubiaceae
Parpadakapullu
Whole plant.
-