THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shahul Hamid is all set to become the first traditional healer with a patent, if everything goes as planned. He discovered a plant which can improve liver functions and cure liver afflictions like jaundice. He has applied for a patent jointly with the scientists at Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden Research Institute (TBGRI).
During earlier times, a person who discovers the medicinal properties of a plant was not accepted as the inventor, if he could not solve it scientifically.
He would not be anything more than an informer, who aided the invention.
However, over time, the scientific community has decided to include people like Shahul Hamid too as inventors.
Sahul Hamid concocted the medicine during an outbreak of Chikungunya, when patients would often come to him, complaining of high blood sugar. People think of him as a healer of diabetes, as years ago he had developed a tonic called ‘Gunajyothi’, which was very successful. However, he had ran out of the raw material, a herb which was endangered.
Left with no options, he had to find a new solution. He suspected that the high sugar could be due to a failure of liver functions. In order to counter it, he made a concoction which turned out to be effective. So that more people get the benefit of this cure, he approached TBGRI.
He says, “I was very selfish when I was younger and would not have shared my knowledge with anyone. However, after a heart attack, I realised the finality of death, and wanted more people to benefit.”
Shahul Hamid, in his numerous trials on patients, has found the medicine to be effective. But a laboratory study was needed in which the medicinal components would be identified and analysed.
The scientists at TBGRI have completed the pre-clinical study and have verified the herb’s efficacy in improving liver functions. Now they will do clinical trials.
Granting of the patent will take a couple of years.
The traditional medicine expert who hails from Karunagappalli was in the city to attend the ‘Nattarivu Sangamam’, a conference of traditional medicine experts organised by Kerala State Biodiversity Board as part of National Biodiversity Congress.
Shahul Hamid, who has always relied on the notes of his great grandfather Thekkedath Gurukkal, wishes that someone in his family continues the tradition. Since his children have made other choices, he is pinning his hopes on his grandson.