These days a lot of websites are coming up with many home remedies. But how far can a desi nuskha go…
Here is a true incidence from my life.
Here is a true incidence from my life.
It was in September 1983 when I was posted as a Medical Officer in Barsua Iron ore Mines. These mines are situated in the thick forests of Orissa, in India. There was a small health centre and I was in charge of this place. We used to run a morning and evening general OPD and rest of the times the health centre remained locked. In case of emergency, necessary staff was called and the patient was treated. If needed, the patient was transferred to higher centre in the ambulance. An accommodation was provided to me in the vicinity of the health centre. Invariably I was the first person to be contacted in emergency as patients found it most convenient to locate my residence.
There was a knock at my door that night at 3am. I found a tribal man with an eight-year-old girl at the door. “A snake has bitten her,” he said showing me a clear fang mark on her right ear lobule. “ When?” I asked.
“ Around 11pm.”
“ What delayed you so much to get a medical help?” I asked with a little uneasiness.
“ Well I had to walk through this forest for five miles to reach here. There is no road from village to this place”
A cold shiver ran down my spine, as there were wild elephants and tigers in that forest. After examining the child carefully in the health centre I found no signs of snake poisoning (neurological or vascular). The child was kept for observation. Next morning after examining the child again I told him “ It was not a poisonous snake. Your daughter is fine.”
“ No! It was a poisonous snake. I gave her an antidote for snake poison, that’s why she is fine.”, he said with a big grin.
I was mystified “ And what is this antidote of yours?"
“ I made her drink half a bottle of kerosene oil. One poison neutralizes the other!” , he declared triumphantly.
I was just aghast, and needless to say I had to treat her for kerosene poisoning even though the snake spared her from its venom. She almost died of kerosene poisoning. I have not been able to forget that timid girl (with two fang marks on her right ear lobule) and her brave father who made her drink kerosene and walked through the dense forest at midnight.
I believe everyone must have heard of "Neem Hakeem Khatarayae Jaan", which stands so true in this scenario. But a lots of sensible Home Remedies for non life thretening ailment like common cold, head aches, upset stomach etc... works great, at least for me.