A natural medicine (Ayurveda) workshop was held at the Profugo Center of Development on September 1, 2015, with grand success! 34 ladies from the community attended the workshop. The preparation for the workshop started on the previous day with the participants collecting various ingredients for the preparation of medicines.
Sisters Innocent MSMI and SCelin Rose, two catholic nuns, and Mrs. Mary Peedikamalayil, all local experts in traditional medicine making guided the participants. The following items were prepared in the workshop:
- Murivenna: An Ayurvedic massage oil that helps reduce pain, aches, cuts, swelling in joints, broken bones or fractures, and contains powerful healing properties. It is used both for external and internal administration. It is renowned oil for healing wounds, fractures and sprains. This oil is made with 10 natural ingredients, including Aloe Vera and Moringa Oliefera Leaves.
- Uragulika: An ayurvedic handmade tablet made out of various herbs as per classical recipe, with healing properties. The following ingredients are used for making a powder for the tablet:
- Ayamodakam : Bishop’s weed (Scientific name): Trachyspermum ammi
- Vayambu: Calamua or Sweet flag. Scientific name: Aeorus calamus
- Jathi(fruit): Nutmeg ( Scientific name): Myristica frgrans
- Kaduku: Indian (black) mustard( Scientific name): Brassica nigra
- Kadurohini: Hellebore plant (Scientific name): Pierorrhiza kurroa
- Ginger (Dried): Ginger ( Scientific name): Zingiber officinale
- Kurumulaku: Black pepper scientific name: Piper nigrum
- Thippali: Long Pepper (Scientific name): Piper longum
The process for making these medicines was incredibly time-consuming and involved much manual effort of peeling, boiling, mixing, and grinding. The women were however encouraged to work on a project with fellow ladies and enjoyed the communal time that they shared via this activity. With the many responsibilities of taking care of their homes, children, and livestock, this shared experience provided a needed break and morale boost.
The total expense for this project was 4338 Rs and the output equaled medicine worth 20,700 Rs! Though this was a basic exercise in productivity, the most valuable outcome was the taste the women got in social entrepreneurship. The creative juices of this group of women is already flowing and they are planning to experiment with various other products. Stay tuned!
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