“We cannot afford to waste the medicine”: Herbal remedies for children provided by The Indian Herbal Therapy and Research Foundation – Kerala

The Indian Herbal Therapy and Research Foundation, founded by Mr. Mathews, has turned into a place of solace for many children with spastic and motor neuron diseases, including cerebral palsy. […]

“Although my consultation in Thiruvananthapuram started only a year ago, I have been providing herbal remedies for children affected by cerebral palsy, autism, and allied diseases for the past 20 years at Mannarkkad [in Palakkad], my native place,” Mr. Mathews said. […]

His treatment basically involves the application of medicines made from herbs collected from the Attappady forests of the Silent Valley. The herbs are made into medicines under the personal supervision of Mr. Mathews, who learnt this traditional system of medicine from his mother-in-law, Rangamma, a tribal healer.

The herbal remedy, coupled with a strict diet regimen, has provided relief for many children, Mr. Mathews said.

“We cannot afford to waste the medicine. So I am very particular about my patients following the diet and medicine regimen strictly. That, along with the mercy of God, can only cure these diseases,” he said. […]

In recognition of his work, the Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat is planning financial assistance to children from below-the-poverty-line families who seek treatment from Mr. Mathews. This was announced by district panchayat president Remani P. Nair at the felicitation.

“I have also been approached by the Department of Ayush of the Government of India, for associating in their research on herbal treatment. I am planning to construct a hospital at Mannarkkad where I would also like to give training in herbal remedies to neurologists, gynaecologists, and physiotherapists. Only through them can we bring the benefits of herbal remedies to the lakhs of suffering children,” Mr. Mathews said.

Source: “Holding out hope for ailing tiny tots”, The Hindu, Thiruvananthapuram, August 31, 2011
Address: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/holding-out-hope-for-ailing-tiny-tots/article2414953.ece
Date Visited: 25 December 2020

[Bold typeface added above for emphasis]

“It was assumed that tribal people have same health problems, similar needs and hence the uniform national pattern of rural health care would be applicable to them as well, albeit with some alteration in population: provider ratio. The different terrain and environment in which they live, different social systems, different culture and hence different health care needs were not addressed.”– Abhay Bang, Chairman, Expert Committee on Tribal health (2018 Report of the Expert Committee on Tribal Health)

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Learn from M S Swaminathan – a world renowned scientist – how biological diversity contributes to public health, people’s livelihood and environmental security in addition to food security: his call on fellow citizens to use and share resources in a more sustainable and equitable manner; outlining the long journey from the 1992 Earth Summit to a commitment to foster inherited knowledge through India’s Biodiversity Act and Genome Saviour Award; an award intended to reward those who are “primary conservers” – guardians of biological diversity!

More about the work of his foundation which “aims to accelerate use of modern science and technology for agricultural and rural development to improve lives and livelihoods of communities.” – www.mssrf.org | Regarding the issues of food security raised above, and the nutritional value of indigenous grains, seeds and millets, read an in-depth report that concludes that “the tribal food basket has always been diverse and nutritious” >>

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The tribal food basket has always been diverse and nutritious, including maize, minor millets like kodo and kutki, oil seeds like ramtila, along with fruits, leaves, rhizomes, mushrooms, meat and fish. […] We have pushed them out of their complementary relationship with ecology, way of life and time-tested nutrition >>