Tangentia - 'The Himalayan Wonder'-Radha Thomas
Until about 500 years ago, it is believed that traditional Indian medicine blossomed and bloomed pretty much like the unpolluted leaves, roots and shrubs they sprang from. That is to say, joyously.
Called Ayurveda, a sub-section of the 4000 year-old Atharva Veda, it is an instruction manual for priests who wanted to conduct sacrifices. Also from the Atharva Veda came the knowledge of physiology and physiognomy... and the more sinister sciences of black magic. Ayurveda was practised from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (although people didn't flit from end to end of the country the way they do these days) and Indians are said to have lived long, healthy and happy lives.
Then about 500 years ago, a blood-thirsty chap by the name of Babar popped in to do a little conquering. He and his descendants, besides putting up a few glitzy high-rises along the country, introduced a different sort of medicine called Unani. And to ensure its success, they strictly forbade the use of Ayurveda.
Unani replaced Ayurveda taking care of everything from gastritis to gout; and things went swimmingly along until a few hundred years later, the English decided India would make a terrific tropical time-share resort. While laying down their laws, they decided that they would stop the business of 'mumbo-jumbo' medicine altogether.
No Unani, no Ayur-veda... only allopathy.
But that was then and this is now. .....<continued>
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