The power of Ayurveda

Many in Kerala swear by Ayurveda. The diet restrictions are tough but it is worth the trouble. My mom, who developed severe itching after consuming dried prawn chutney in Tanzania, had to resort to Ayurveda for a complete cure.
On our third day in Kerala, we left for Thiruvananthapuram (formerly Trivandrum) to consult with a couple of Ayurveda doctors about the best way to cure Ash's skin condition. Father-in-law accompanied us; it was convenient having an extra hand to tackle the kids while V drove. We took NH 47 and the Kayamkulam-Kollam-Ochira route to Tvm. We passed many a swank bungalow, a "Swiss Academy" in a shed for students seeking parallel college education, Quilon town (the only place there was a traffic hitch; why are NHs made through the heart of bustling towns?) and the Neendakara bridge overlooking the sea and reached Tvm by 7 pm.
We headed straight away to Ramachandra vaidyan, who had retired from the Tvm Ayurveda College and whose father had been a vaidyan in the Trivandrum Palace. He gave Ash a quarter glass of some concoctions (probably arishtam) thrice before telling us some of Ash's habits and problems. He suggested many a diet restriction for him - no non-veg, no milk, no bakery stuff, no sambar or fatty stuff etc. and gave a thailam (oil) to apply on his body and arishtam to drink.

That made me want to consult him about my back pain. He gave me a pint of arishtam before checking my pulse and telling me some of my problems, then another before the next pulse checking and another before the last. He said my back pain had its source in a head injury that made me very forgetful (the kind who would put tea leaves in the rice vessel and vice versa), gave me headaches, increased my BP etc.etc. I dont remember each symptom he told me but at that point I was impressed because I thought all that he said was true. I was asked to restrict my tea/coffee intake to twice a day, my bath before 9.30 am applying a head oil he gave me or between 4.30 and 5.30 pm. (and no half baths of just head or just body, and no mixing of hot and cold water) and reduce spicy and sour stuff.
The next day, V and our host in Tvm took Ash to a karappan specialist called Dr. Anoop who dealt with bala chikilsa (children's treatment). The modest Agastya Pharmacy in Pazhavangadi near the East Fort is better known after his granpa Kuttan vaidyan. Dr. Anoop told me when I met him a week later, on a follow-up visit, that he did his BAMS in Chennai. He told me that atopic dermatitis is considered a form of karappan but said it could go on till Ash is 16 or so in a milder form.
He prescribed a kashayam, a diuretic and oils for the body and scalp. The kashayam has to be prepared at home every alternate day and given 4 times a day, starting at 9 am. Readymade kashyams contain preservatives and cant be given to kids. Hence we boil 6 tbsp of a powder in 1 litre of water till it became 240 ml and give him 30 ml giving a time gap 3 hours. A black tablet looking like a small bullet is to be grated and mixed with the first and last serving for the day.
Ash has no hang-ups about the kashayam, only about the poovarasaadi thailam (probably castor oil) he has to take at 7 am. It gives an enema effect and clears his system. It tastes yucky but what he hates is that he is woken up so early to take it. The poor fellow doesnt get much sleep at night, and gets a itch-free sleep only after dawn.
The diet involves shirking all non-veg except mutton, bakery stuff, brinjal, lady's finger etc.
We have hence left him in Kerala since his grandparents have more time and resources (like a firewood stove) to take care of him. With cooking gas costing Rs. 50 extra from today, it is going to be tough making kashayams and making his bath water boiled with nalpamaram (a tree's red bark), thriphalam, raamacham and sandalwood.
Ash has been given permission by the school principal to take some 15 days' leave. He will return to Chennai in end June, though his school open on 10th.