KOCHI: Ammini’s eyes comes alive when someone asks about the various herbs exhibited at the Commerce Fest at Al-Ameen College, Edathala. Ammini or Kodhakutty is a 68-year-old belonging to the Ulladan tribe of Chengal village. A traditional healer, she can identify more than four hundred species of medicinal plants. Ulladans can be found in Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kollam, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram. The members of this tribe are well versed in the knowledge of the gifts of nature. Though their skills are not scientifically proven to cure maladies, they have been effective and safe.
Ammini says that it took more than three days to collect the 105 herbs which are on display at the exhibition. “It is a very tedious task, one has to have a keen knowledge about each plant and their medicinal properties. Only a few among us still have this knowledge.”
“Our forefathers could identify every herbs and they passed this knowledge to us. I have traversed hills and valleys of Malayattoor and many other places with my folks in pursuit of these herbs. Men usually don’t accompany us unless we have to go too far.”
Her childhood was spent trying to stave the ever present threat of hunger. “Getting a meal was laborious. Sometimes we had to satiate our hunger with rice broth. Well, those days are gone and things have changed in these past few decades,” says Ammini.
People like Ammini lived a marginalised life until a few years ago but today many organisations are in the forefront helping them by organising expos to display their skills in handicrafts and traditional healing systems.
“We set out early in the morning in search of these herbs. Unlike earlier, these herbs are not available in plenty now. We have to walk miles to get the right plant, but the money that we earn by selling them is very meager. Sometimes as low as Rs 30 to 40 per kg.”
Some herbs like ‘Neelakoduveli’ and ‘Manjakoduveli’ have now become rare, she said.
Ganapathi naranga cure stomach ulcers
Chathuramulla ideal remedies for bruises and fractures
Neelakoduveli an esteemed remedy for leucoderma, leprosy and other skin diseases