September 21, 2012

Remedies for Unique conditions

           As I was growing up in a small South Indian town of India, we followed natural

remedies for most of the common ailments. I cannot categorically say that they were all

successful at all times. There were times when these remedies did not work and we

needed intervention from the doctors.  However, most of the time these remedies worked

for common cold, fever, stomach pain, sinus, sprains and allergies. Besides ailments there

were even remedies for other things. One such condition is explained below.

Getting Rid of Fright in Children:

           Some children get very scared when they hear any loud noise. They literally jump

up in their seats or in their beds. I was one of those children who was very scared of the

slightest noise. I am sure there was a psychological reason for this, which of course no

was aware. You may be surprised to know that there was a remedy for it.  

There were times when all of us children and women sat around the grinding stone. This

grinding stone was made up of two circular polished heavy stones places one on the top

of the other. The top stone had a wooden handle inserted tightly on the top and a hole in

the centre. Grain especially roasted rice of about two tablespoons would be poured into

this hole at one time. One person would then turn the top stone slowly so that the rice

would be ground and the flour would then pour out from between the two stones. A clean

white cloth would be placed below the stones to collect the flour. This flour was then

used to make Christmas sweets. (In the coffee plantation where I spent my summer

holidays, there were no mills. This was the mill at every home.) This was a long process

and the older women took turns to turn the stone. The children were there to listen to the

stories being told.

          At that time an iron rod would be heated to crimson red and placed in a brass pot. It

would be then slowly brought behind where I was sitting and water would be poured on

the rod. This would create such a loud noise that people would jump up. The first time they

did it, I jumped up so high and gave such a blood curding scream, that my father came

running to see what had happened.  The second time my screams were less and by the

fourth time, I hardly noticed the noise. This also got rid of my fright for noises. Though

this sounds primitive, it had psychological benefits.