More than just herbal medicine

Ayurveda treatment:

Text and Pictures Ganga ILLEPERUMA

Ayurveda is fast becoming a household name with all those interested in "alternative medicine". Yet Ayurveda is not an alternative medicine. It is one of the oldest forms of medical science known to man - originating 5,000 years ago.

Ayurveda is more than a system of herbal medicine. It is a way to a healthy and long life and can complement modern medicine. Ayurveda has two main aims: treating the symptoms of a disease and helping individuals to strengthen their immune system. Ayurveda treats the body, mind and spirit of a person as a whole entity, and works on the basis that the mind and body affect each other, and together can overcome disease.

Comparing with base hospitals, we have very less amount of Ayurveda hospitals in Sri Lanka. Among them majorities do not have enough facilities. But today we can see lot of people like to have Ayurveda treatments than English medicine.

Every year the government has to spend a large amount for the Ayurveda hospitals. Now we can see that many districts have Ayurveda hospitals. Among them, the Wadduwa Molligoda Ayurveda Hospital has a very good demand from both Sri Lankan and foreigners.

Molligoda Ayurveda Hospital is the biggest hospital in Kalutara district."This hospital was opened as the Central Dispensary on 30th of December in 1989. Then this place developed as a Ayurveda hospital on 15th of June in 2003. Now there are 40 patients who can be accommodated in our hospital. We have male and female wards. Additionally we maintain a OPD unit on weekdays. There are 300 people who come to this OPD per day," Chief Medical Officer D Senanayake said.

These Ayurveda hospitals are very important for poor people who can't afford money for medicine. Sometimes people who can afford money for medicine are fed up with English treatments because they don't get results from their treatment.

Observed under well experienced Ayurveda doctors, people can get good treatments. Now a days Sri Lanka has a very good demand for Ayurveda treatment from foreigners. They always come to our land to take treatments. So I think if our Government develops these Ayurveda hospitals it can be a good opportunity to enhance our foreign exchange.

"We are going to open a new four storey Panchakarma complex. There are many foreigners coming here to take treatments but we can't give accommodation for them because of our inadequate facilities. So after we open this complex we can treat them. Sri Lankans who are willing to spend money for treatments also can get admitted to this hospital and take treatment. There are many unauthorized places and hotels in this coastal area which do Ayurveda treatment for both foreigners and Sri Lankans. They don't even have qualified doctors. So our new project will be to have a real Sri Lankan Ayurveda treatment for them too," he added.

Through their OPD they do several clinics such as Rheumatology, Authopedic, Acupunture, Surgery, Dermotology and health sports. There are many outside resident patients who also come to these clinics everyday. Molligoda Ayurveda Hospital maintains other outside clinics in Gamagoda, Thantirimulla, Malamulla and Kalutara. In addition they organize different kinds of mobile clinics every month. It has a successful community medicine centre as well.

Through this centre they build a very good rapport with the society and this help people improve their knowledge on Ayurveda too.

With the dawning sun there are many people who come to this hospital and they have to stay few hours on the queue. Majority are poor. Some serious patients have to be admitted but because of the lack of facilities in the wards they have to go back home again. If the ward facilities are increased, most of them can get good treatment from this hospital.

When the Government give funds for base hospitals they should support to develop these Ayurveda hospitals too.

Wasa