Sarjit Singh Sagoo, a 75-year-old from Streatham in southwest London, was shattered when a heart surgery cost him his vision. The doctors blamed it on his diabetes. Depressed and frustrated, Sagoo set out in search of light.
He practically knocked the door of every hospital in UK and India. He had lost all hopes. It was at this time, Sagoo came to know about Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital & Research Centre (SAEHRC).
The treatment at SAEHRC has not only helped in arresting the macular degeneration, but has also improved his visibility. There are several other such cases who benefitted from the hospital.
The hospital had a humble beginning in the year 1999 when Dr N P P Namboothiri after retirement started practicing in the ancestral ‘Nellliakkattu Mana’, mainly catering to patients having eye disorders.
‘Nellliakkattu Mana’ is a traditional household of Vaidyas and is renowned as a resource for authentic ayurvedic ophthalmology.
The success was instant and the ‘Mana’ became too small to accommodate the surge of patients. It was at this time that he and his brother Dr N Narayanan Namboothiri took the crucial decision to diversify their operations.
A board was formed with Naryanan donning the role of chairman and Namboothiri taking charge as managing director and chief physician. They built a multistoried building with over 300 beds including all modern facilities. Unlike a typical ayurvedic hospital, the hospital sports the look of a new generation healthcare centre with state-of-the-art equipments.
The Sreedhareeyam family believes that the temple of Devi and Siva are the hallmark of their success. They also feel that the land is blessed by their ancestors and famous physicians Vaidyan late Brahmasree Nelliakattu Parameswaran Namboothiri and Vaidyan Brahmasree Nelliakkatu Thrivikraman Namboothiri.
The hospital gets over 70 per cent of cases related to eyes, mainly pertaining to degenerative cases. The remaining cases are for arthritis and other diseases.
“The treatment is a blend of modern medicine and ayurveda,” says Dr Narayanan. He adds, “We don’t criticise any kind of system of medicine. All are big in their own ways. Our moto is to help the patients recover. The medium is not our concern.”
The patients need to be highly religious to get their diseases cured. The therapy is a religious based one and many patients are given medicine after the formulations are sanctified in the temples. The patients are also encouraged to pay visit to the temples in the premises to make their mind and body clean. People of any religion can visit the temple without any discrimination. The hospital has also provided praying facility to people of other religions.
The institution is planning to spread its wings abroad. The institution has 12 consulting centres in Kerala and outside including Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai. Next they intend to start a unit at Jamshedpur. Plans to float a post graduate institute is also in the pipeline.
The main treatment procedures are as prescribed in ‘Shalakya tantra’, a branch of ayurveda that deals with ailments related to head and neck.
Address: Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Medicines, 36/2415 B Sreedhareeyam Building, Near St. Francis Church
Kathrikadavu Road, Kaloor
Ernakulam, Kerala
Phone: 0484 4061200