Daily Archives: August 11, 2014

Tenets of an ancient science

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature, Science & Technology
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Kaumarabhrithya (Paediatrics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: S. Mahinsha / The Hindu
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Kaumarabhrithya (Paediatrics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: S. Mahinsha / The Hindu

Explore the world of Ayurveda at an exhibition on the premises of Government Ayurveda College

It is a journey through facets of wellness and good health that is practised and advocated by an ancient system of treatment. ‘Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014’, a mega exhibition currently on at Government Ayurveda College to mark the 125th anniversary celebrations of the college, gives a wealth of information about this indigenous system of healing. From baby food and kits for the new born, the exhibition is a delightful discovery of methods and medicines that were once used by our ancestors to take care of their health and well-being.

“Each of the 14 departments of the college has set up separate stalls, explaining their area of study and work,” says Jayan Damodaran, associate professor and an office-bearer of the expo.

Through charts, models and posters, a stall put up by the Department of Prasoothitantra and Sthreeroga (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) has explained various aspects related to pregnancy and child birth, breast-feeding techniques and so on.

Exhibits at the stall of Department of Agadatantra Vyavaharaayurveda and Vidhivaidyaka (Forensic Science, Toxicology and Dermatology) at Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M.
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Agadatantra Vyavaharaayurveda and Vidhivaidyaka (Forensic Science, Toxicology and Dermatology) at Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M.

A highlight of the stall is a model of Soothikagaram or a separate house constructed for a pregnant woman for delivery and post-pregnancy care during the seventh century BC. “This house used to be constructed when the woman was in her ninth month of pregnancy. She would stay there till her delivery,” says Dr. Prajitha.

Department of Kaumarabhrithya (Paediatrics) has showcased different aspects related to child care, including baby food, home remedies, and toys for different stages of growth.

Exhibits at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu

An Ayurveda baby care kit has skin powder, massage oil, kaajal, and medicinal drops, all of which have been manufactured in the department. At a separate counter, visitors get to know and taste nutritious food for infants. No more tinned stuff for your little one. Check out Sriratna Modaka (made of dates, banana, ghee, honey and cardamom), mango syrup, sandal syrup, tulsi halwa, date syrup, cucumber halwa, healthy cutlets and soups. Recipes are happily shared with curious parents who want their little one to have organic food.

If you thought Ayurveda was all about herbs and plants with medicinal values, think again. The college has an open snake park under its Department of Agadatantra Vyavaharaayurveda and Vidhivaidyaka (Forensic Science, Toxicology and Dermatology) on its campus at Poojappura. The department has showcased specimens of poisonous and non-poisonous reptiles, besides giving exhaustive information about the kind of toxic substances found in households and toxic minerals and plants which also has medicinal properties. There is even a stall on forensic science.

Department of Salyatantra (Surgery and Orthopaedic) has arranged video documentation of successful stories of marma treatment, and exhibited ancient surgical instruments, bandage techniques and suturing methods.

While Department of Shalakya Tantra (ENT and Ophthalmology) has focussed on dealing with refractive errors, Department of Panchakarma tells about various treatment modalities along with pre and post operatory regiments for various diseases.

Department of Sanskritha Sidhantha and Samhitha, besides explaining the basic tenets of Ayurveda, has also stocked its various publications, some of which are rare books and palm leaf manuscripts.

Department of Swasthavritha (Social and Preventive Medicine) stresses on the Ayurveda nutrition and dietetics, with reference to various seasonal changes. A naturopathy food counter has also been put up by the students, where visitors get information on carrot tea, beetroot sweet and various other naturopathic food items.

Department of Kayachikitsa (General medicine) has set up the model of a ‘Rasayana griham’, that is a house where the patient would stay for months taking treatment, cut out from the outside world.

Ancient utensils used to make medicines exhibited at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu
Ancient utensils used to make medicines exhibited at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu

The stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) stands out from the rest in that the department has traced the evolution of the medicine with matching interiors. Ancient utensils in which the medicines were prepared, which include a century-old huge vessel handed over by the royal family of erstwhile Travancore when the hospital was opened, different steps of preparing medicines, fermentation process and other activities of the department have been showcased.

The expo ends on August 12. Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by  Athira M. / Thiruvananthapuram – August 07th, 2014

Kottayam Gets Complete Palliative-Care District Tag

Science & Technology
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy receiving a petition from a nurse who returned from Libya at a function held to announce Kottayam as complete palliative-care district, on Sunday | RAJEEV PRASAD
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy receiving a petition from a nurse who returned from Libya at a function held to announce Kottayam as complete palliative-care district, on Sunday | RAJEEV PRASAD

Kottayam  :

The land of letters is all set to receive yet another tagline with the district being recognised as the complete palliative- care district in the state.

The announcement   was made by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a function held here at the district panchayat Hall at 10 am on Sunday.The Chief Minister said that the government will raise the remunerations for palliative care nurses.

“The nurses are playing a crucial role in the palliative care sector. An order to raise their remuneration by Rs 2,000, increasing their basic salary to Rs 8,000, will be issued. Along with this, the government is also planning to further hike their salaries. Favourable decision will be taken to address each and every demand they have raised, including regularising of their jobs,” he said.

He offered all possible support from governmental agencies for the smooth functioning of the Palliative Care Project. He gave away the awards for palliative care activities to the respective local governing bodies and charitable organisations at the event. Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan presided over the function. The project aims at taking care of those who have been suffering from chronic illness, paraplegics, mentally challenged persons etc. Under the project, the volunteers conduct home visits and provide special care and attention to the patients. The project is coordinated by the district panchayat, Health Department, Arogya Keralam Palliative Care Project and various other charity organisations.

The Vaikom municipality, Kidangoor, Chembu, Kadanadu, Parathodu and Meenadam grama panchayats, the Caritas Hospital, Thellakom, and Mar Gregorian Palliative Care Society, Thoothootty, were selected for the awards. Along with that, awards were given for palliative care activists.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / August 11th, 2014

Afsal bounces back in 800m

Records, All, Sports

Kochi :

Young Palakkad athletes Mohammed Afsal and mourning Varsha MV hogged limelight on the concluding day of the MK Joseph Memorial 12th Kerala State Inter-club Athletics Championship here. The Sunday evening crowd were treated to some interesting and intriguing races.

In boys (under-18) 200m event, Joseph Joe M of Mercy Kuttan Athletics Academy, emerged winner in a hotly contested race in a record new time of 22.11 seconds. Joseph was challenged by Jyothi Prasad of Centralised Sports Hostel, Kasaragod who also bettered the meet record (22.49s). Ernakulam Sports Academy’s Vishnu KP (22.76s) took the bronze. The four-year-old record (22.53s) stood in the name of Binish K Shaji.

Parli HSS runner Afsal, who was dominating the middle distance for the past couple of seasons, bounced back after tasting defeat in 3000m on Saturday to Rahul PR of Mundur, with a flawless effort in boys (u-20) 800m race on Sunday. Afsal surged ahead of the bunch from the start and never looked back and he touched the tape first winning the two-lap event with a meet record (1.53.96).

His school mate Varsha, who established a meet record in 10000m in gilrs (u-20) on the opening day returned to starting point to run 5000m after attending the final rites of her grandfather who passed away on Friday.

But she saw threat from Vidhya KK of Mundur who closely followed her all through the 12 and half lap but the experienced Varsha breasted the tape first to complete rare a golden double in record time. Varsha clocked 17 minutes 32.47 seconds obliterating Thara MD’s record of 17:55.8 set last year.

“All my relatives including my parents wanted me to return to track as soon as possible after the final rites of my grandfather was over on Friday itself. I took rest on Saturday and decided to run today. I also thoght that if i win a gold it would bring happiness to my relatives and I’m glad that I won in record record ,” Varsha, who like Afsal is trained by PG Manoj, said.

Jisna Mathew, a trainee of PT Usha, showed her immense talent when she ran a blistering race to clinch the girls (under-16) 200m in record time. It looked Jisna was racing against herself as she finished the race with a yawning lead. Mercy Kuttan trainee Linet George took silver (27.04s) and Fathima PP of Navamukunda Sports Academy was third (27.13s).

The final day also saw seven more meet records mostly in throw events. Athira Muralidharan (U-20, hammer throw, 43.60m, MA College), Rajna J (u-18, javelin throw, 40.80m CFD, Mathur), Anju Kuriakose (u-18, hammer throw, 40.12m, SGHSS, Kothamangalam), Aleena Vincent (u-18, hepthalon, 4227 pts, CSH, Kollam), Anju Murukan (girls U-16, 3000m 10:42.07, Parli HSS), Aswathy Binu (girls u-14, SAI, Tvm 600m, 1:40.01) and Nibin M Binu (men 800m, 1:55..58 SNC, Punalur) who entered the record books.

Overall 1.SAI, Tvm (480 pints), 2 Parli HSS, Pkd (262.5), 3. Assumption College, Changanacherry (243), 4. SGHSS, Kothamangalam (237), 5 Alphonsa College, Pala (150.5), 6. MA College, Kothamangalam (138), 7 Mar Basil HSS, Kothamangalam (119.5), 8. Kalladi HSS, Pkd (114), 9. Mundur HSS (104.5), 10. Malabar Sports Academy, Pulloorampara, Kkd (104.5), 11, Sai Kollam (75), 12 SNVHSS Vannappuram, Idk (67), Usha School Of Athletics Kinalur (65), 14 SB, Changanacherry (62), 15 St. Thomas Pala (60), 16 Mathirappilly School Athletics Trust (67), 17 SAI Kkd (58), 18 Navamukunda SA, Thirunavaya (53), Vimala Tsr, (49), 20. Mercy Kuttan Athletics Academy, Ekm ((48).

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kochi / TNN / August 12th, 2014