Tamil Nadu is famous for the traditional herbal plants which have rare medicinal values. A large number of sages and practitioners of Indian system of medicine have been using the herbs found in abundance in the forests in the State in the preparation of Siddha medicines from time immemorial.
However, there is not much awareness among the common people on the availability of valuable herbal plants in our midst and their medicinal properties. Many herbs used in the preparation of Siddha medicines are always available in the surroundings of the households, in the fields, shrubs and forests. ‘Nilavembu’ plant which is disease resistant and found everywhere is the best example. Unfortunately common people are not aware of its presence and its abundant utility value.
To create the much needed awareness among the common people on the traditional herbs and their medicinal values, the Siddha unit of the Government District Headquarters Hospital at Mettur Dam is maintaining a well laid out herbal garden for the past few decades. More than 60 different varieties of herbal plants available in this garden, spread over 2,000 square feet area, provides added attraction to the GH.
The Siddha unit was set up at the Government Hospital way back in 1977 and a separate building exclusively for Siddha unit with out-patient and in-patient facility was created in 1999. The Siddha unit has proved very popular with the people of Mettur town and the surrounding villages and it attracts on an average about 200 men and women as out-patients every day.
According to S. Jayakumar, Assistant Siddha Medical Officer of the Government Hospital, more than 60 varieties of herbs for curing the diseases such as diabetes (Sirukurinjan, Seenthil, insulin plant); jaundice (Keezhanelli, Vellaikarisalai, Manjalkarisalai); acid peptic diseases (Pirandai, Manathakkali); asthma and cough (Aada thodai, Thoothuvalai, Kandankathiri, arathai, Nanjaruppan, Thulasi, Karupooravalli, Thippili), renal disorders (Siru peelai, Nerunjil) etc have been raised in the garden.
The vitamin greens (Thavasi keerai); the Nilavembu herbs which have the curing power of dengue and other types of fever; Nochi and Thumbai which play a major role in curing head ache, Avuri and Aadu theenda palai, which is used in preparing medicines for treating skin diseases are also found in the garden.
Dr. Jayakumar said that a majority of the herbal plants were procured from the Central Herbal Farm functioning nearby. The common names of the herbs, their botanical names along with their medicinal values and properties have been displayed in the garden. The herbal garden proves a major attraction, Dr. Jayakumar claims.
The patients and other visitors to not only the Siddha unit, but also to the other departments of the hospital make it a point to visit the garden and in knowing the medicinal values of all the traditional herbs, he adds.
