A cure from native medicine

Here one can read a book, sip herbal tea, ponder upon life and soak in a relaxing ayurvedic massage. Chitrakoota ayurveda treatment centre situated amidst 17 acre of lush green land provides a cure for the ailing body and mind in nature’s lap.

Shielding the ground from the sun are the branches of the trees, allowing one to take a walk even on a hot day and enjoy the serenity of the place. And of course, there are the chirping birds, croaking frogs and the sounds of the fresh breeze around the vicinity of the centre.

A variety of medicinal plants, trees, shrubs and herbs, like nutmeg, red sandal, hogweed, and mace, are grown at a herbal garden that has come up in 17 acre land in Aloor village of Kundapur taluk. The fame of this treatment centre has crossed the boundaries of the country and reached far off places like Switzerland, France, Canada, Yugoslovakia and so on.

The man behind this ‘Chithrakoota’ is a young and enthusiastic doctor— Dr Rajesh Bayari. He is the son of Mahabala Bayari, a progressive farmer who had won Best Farmer Award in 2009.

After completing his course in Ayurveda from Aroor Laxminarayana Rao Ayurveda Medical College of Koppa, Dr Bayari came to his native and started Chitrakoota. He has not only grown medicinal plants but also prepares medicines on his own in his pharmacy. He prepares over 50 medicines from the extracts of the plants in his pharmacy with the help of two maids. His wife, Dr Anulekha, also assists him in his endeavour.

He also extends Pancha Karma method of treatment. Patients from France, Switzerland have visited Chithrakoota to get treatment for their ailments.

Two women from France who were getting treatment at the Chitrakoota said “it feels good to get treatment amidst nature. The atmosphere here is cool and green.”

Speaking to City Herald, he says: “I had dreamt of making a herbal garden during my student days. Medicinal plants are grown amidst arecanut, coconut and cashew trees as well.” A herbal garden with about 300 varieties of medicinal plants were planted last year by him. The garden has Navagraha plants like ‘Athi,’ ‘Arka or Ekka,’ ‘Kadira,’ ‘Sharni,’ ‘Palasha,’ ‘Ashwatha,’ ‘Darbe,’ ‘Garike’ and ‘Uttarane.’ Few other plants are ‘Nagashekara’   ‘Pinari,’ ‘Ranna,’ ‘Arjuna,’ ‘Punarnava,’ ‘Bruthika’, ‘Kiratha’, ‘Nellikai,’ ‘Panchapatre’ and ‘Madhiphala,’ Rudraksha’ and ‘chirabilva.’

He says he aims at creating a ‘Amla vana’ (Indian gooseberry plantation) and has already planted over 250 gooseberry plants.  

“About 95 per cent of toxins are found in our body as we eat contaminated food. Our food becomes poisonous as chemical fertilisers are used in crops. There is a need to detoxify the body from the patients. Once the body is detoxified, then majority of the illness goes away from the body. Taking cue from this, we have made a sincere effort to make use of such medicinal plants for improving the health of the people,” he said.

Dr Bayari says nature helps in keeping the mind and body in balance. The patients who visit here are not given tea or coffee. Instead, they are given herbal tea and a kind of ‘bournvita’ drink made of cocoa. The vegetables, fruits grown in the garden are given to the patients. The vegetables are grown using only organic manure. “Hence, there is no question of chemicals entering the body while they are on treatment,” he added.

“We do not use plastic covers in the vicinity. Even small plastic wrappers are being put into a pit and plans are on the anvil to give it to the contractor who use plastic for the asphaltation of the roads.”

Dr Bayari treats various ailments including skin diseases and joint pain. He generally puts the patients through a lifestyle by changing, involving walking, consumption of herbal tea and food at specified timing and such other changes as may be found necessary, depending on the health condition of the patients.