Vimala Sundram talks to three Malaysians who have discovered firsthand the health and healing potential of tropical forests. Yeap Teck Sin and Shellatay Rao have been friends for years. One a homeopath the other a librarian. When Shellatay left for Wales, (husband and sons in-tow) to further her studies some 20 years ago, she went armed with Calendula cream and Arnica. “Teck Sin introduced me to alternative remedies and my natural bent for research led me to read, review, evaluate and form my own judgments about herbal remedies” she says of her long ‘affair’ with natural cures.

However Shellatay says her real ‘conversion’ came when young Adam (her older son) then only two, fell and scraped his face badly while playing outside their home in Aberystwyth. “I was struck by the miracle that calendula worked on Adam. I was upset that my baby’s beautiful face was going to be now marred by an ugly scar. I applied calendula cream on his face and in a few hours the wound had shrunk to the size of a fifty cent coin. With further applications of calendula cream, the wound went down to the size of a 20 cent coin and by the third day only a ten cent size scab remained. This too quickly vanished. Today at 22, Adam has only a miniscule dent on his upper left cheek to show where he had this potentially disfiguring accident.

Dr S. Rajan has an equally dramatic tale to tell about his own ‘conversion’. “Modern medicine failed and homeopathy came to my aid… spectacularly; suddenly, I was a ‘born again’ pharmacist” he says. From hard-boiled ‘drug expert’ he is now one of Malaysia’s most prominent consultants and ‘missionaries’ on alternative remedies.

“I was somewhat proud and brash about my abilities as a pharmacist. While my four years of training did expose me to the side effects of drugs, I was completely sold on the therapeutic potential of these complex chemical structures that we refer to as medicines”. His first hand experience with a miraculous cure came when he developed a persistent and embarrassing rash on his back that hurt and bled.

Being an accomplished expert in pharmaceuticals he started to self medicate. “First, I tried the creams, ointments, shampoos and scrubs. When they did not work, I resorted to anti-histamines, antibiotics, anti-fungals and even steroids,’ he says. His condition quickly exacerbated. Two years later and desperate, he decided to consult a humble, rustic homeopath. “This was for me, an act of “blasphemy”, given my “faith” in my medical training and exposure. Alternative medicine was in my mind, spooky stuff. It was unscientific. I considered those practicing the “art” of herbal healing to be charlatans and con men”. But despite Rajan’s serious misgivings he experienced miraculous healing… changing his life forever.

Both Shellatay and S Rajan will tell you that what drew them to consider alternative and herbal remedies is the fact that it had the right philosophical and spiritual appeal. “One man’s food is another man’s poison makes a lot of sense to me,” says Shellatay. “We know from experience that one person can thrive on nuts which may cause of a serious allergic reaction in another,” she adds.

Despite claims to contrary, mainstream medicine treats the disease rather than the person. The growing popularity of herbalists and other traditional doctors is being ascribed to the fact that they treat each person as a unique individual. “Two people can go to the same Ayurvedic (a four thousand year old science of health and healing) specialist and come away with two completely different medications and advice on eating and health regimes,” Shellatay explains. 

For Dr. S Rajan his first homeopathic experience was ’scary’. The tablets prescribed befuddled him as they came in different sizes and looked like lizards eggs. When he tried to find what lay inside those ‘lizard eggs’ he says he was ’shell shocked’. The old homeopath used terms like ‘energy’, ‘vibration’ and ‘electromagnetic field’ to explain herbs and their biological properties.

“My four years of pharmacy education and previous studies in biology and chemistry did not prepare me for this,” he explains. “I am awed by the quiet power of herbs; in ayurveda, in traditional Chinese medicine and in our own Malaysian herbal cures,” he adds. “Interestingly, they have survived the powerful dictates and lobbies of modern medicine,” he affirms.

Would it be then right to assume that modern medicine and herbal therapies exist in a dichotomous relationship? The answer is ‘Not really’. Although doctors no longer condemn all herbalists as ‘quacks’, they do operate in separate worlds. But interestingly enough the Father of Modern Medicine - Hippocrates did not regard the two schools of thought as mutually exclusive. It is common knowledge that all doctors upon graduation take the Hippocratic Oath. However what is not common knowledge is that this great Greek healer was a notable herbalist, compiling a list of over four hundred herbs and their uses. Central to his belief was to “let food be thy medicine and let thy medicine be food”.

We know for a fact that over many centuries, experiments with plants have yielded a vast stock of natural medicines to help us heal many ailments, and almost always without harmful side effects. Many pharmaceuticals are still derived from the extracts of wild plants. However we are only at the beginning of our herbal journey. Less than one percent of the over two hundred and fifty thousand plant species on earth have not yet been studied for their medicinal properties! Many of the herbs, spices and foods that our grandmothers used as preventative and curative measures are now emerging as powerful cures against diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis and HIVAIDS. In fact, the United Nations Development Programme, Thailand (UNDP) has compiled a book, “Indigenous Southeast Asian Herbal Remedies (Symtomatic Relief for People with HIVAIDS)” which has scores of herbal remedies for HIVAIDS that can be found around the home. Who would have thought for instance that the Abelmoschus esculentus (what we know as Lady’s Finger) could bring relief to those stricken by HIVAIDS. The leaves simmered and made into pulp can be applied onto lesions. The young leaves ground and ingested gives temporary relief to high blood pressure, while the fruit when dried and ingested helps suppress a number of symptoms of HIVAIDS.

All over the world people are recording the ‘miracles’ that herbs have worked. American, Jean Carper in her book “Miracle Cures” presents scientific evidence on the effectiveness of natural remedies culled from the worlds leading doctors, scientists, research centers and major international scientific journals. Her reports are supported by first-person medically verified accounts of people who have successfully cured themselves.

Closer home, Malaysian healer, Master Leong Hong Tole of the Tole Institute of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs has published the testimonies of many people from around the region who have come to him for cures ranging from Autism to Sinusitis. There is a story of 55 year old Mrs Ng from Rawang who was diagnosed as 4th stage cancer by the doctors in the hospital. Her daughter says ‘it was a relief that my mother spoke no English and could not read the reports that said the cancer had spread to her liver and lymph nodes’. But 14 sessions of neuro-acupuncture with a combination of herbs appear to have cured Mrs Ng. There are many more stories on the Tole website. The causes of an ailment are many, Tole says. “Take a migraine for instance, it could be due to a liver wind attack, or a stagnation of Qi, a Yin deficiency stemming from hormonal complications, blood stagnation, phlegm accumulation and external wind,” he explains. The treatment therefore can only be started once the condition, and its cause, can be identified correctly. Master Tole says that his approach to healing with herbs and acupuncture is based on the principle of balance and harmony. “Impulsion, which is the growth and development of the body, warming, which is maintaining the appropriate body heat” are what this doctor monitors. He also looks at how he can employ acupuncture and herbs to defend the body against stress and pathogens by controlling the blood and bodily fluids. “Metabolising Qi, blood and bodily fluids,” he says are the underlying strategies he uses for restoring and maintaining good health.

The Tole medical centre was opened in 1993 by the then Minister of Health, Dato Lee Kim Sai. Doctors of holistic medicine say that it is heartening to note that the Government has chosen not to ignore the efficacy of herbal cures. In fact Dr S Rajan has been asked to sit on several advisory committees to the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister’s Office. Dr S Rajan was also asked to head the team that drew up the National Herbal Blueprint which was eventually presented to Cabinet.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) figures reveal that herbal medicine should not be regarded as alternative therapy. It is in fact used by 80 percent of the world population 80 percent of the time. It is the remedy of choice as it is cheap and easily available. Shellatay Rao, Dr S Rajan, LH Tole and Yeap Teck Sin and have one thing in common. All of them feel driven to spread their message of fresh hope offered by alternative therapy. Shellatay shares her experience and knowledge gleaned from reading about the work of herbalists with groups of women. “The idea is to help them fight illness naturally,” she says. “In homeopathy we learn that even arsenic in small doses can be curative but given in larger doses it is a potent poison. I am an amateur but I believe we can compliment the work of doctors by going back to our roots and doing what our ancestors did naturally,” she adds. Dr Rajan laments the fact that there is little research on tropical herbs. “So working with a prominent professor of botany and plant physiology, I set up a Journal of Tropical Medicinal Plants - the first journal of its kind in the world focusing on the tropical medicinal plant industry. The journal is now in its fifth issue,” he informs. His website alterni.com is also a rich repository of information.

Herbs and herbal cures have suffered from bad press. Today that image is slowly changing. We have to take a balanced view, choosing efficient, cost-effective and pragmatic solutions in our efforts to maintain our health and well-being. Perhaps the words of HRH Prince Charles, himself a believer in alternative therapies, will make a fitting conclusion. “We are confronted continually by opposites and it would seem that, by reading history, the wisest of our ancient forebears understood in a rather profound way that one of the secrets of a civilised existence was invariably the reconciliation of opposites, or the search for balance and harmony”. All the herbalists interviewed for this article seemed to be in the midst of a brave adventure: to use their modern education to unlock the secrets of an ancient science.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE
The wonderful thing about getting to know and studying about local herbs is that they grow in our gardens and backyards. You can actually see and feel them in their natural state and habitat. You can take them raw or process them as an infusion (tea) or paste. You may even combine them with other herbs for the necessary synergy. If you are adventurous, you could dry the leaves, powder them and make your own capsules using empty capsule shells that are easily purchased from pharmacies. You even have an option to pick the leaves or flowers at the most appropriate times - say in the morning when they are fresh or when they have grown old and mature. You have more options and thrills with local fish. There is freshness and more possibilities with the whole fresh fish. It is certainly more fun, especially if you are into cooking. While many of these local herbs are now available in pharmacies in modern pharmaceutical dosage forms, it is good to know how to process them - especially if they grow in your garden.

What is an infusion? 
This is basically a tea. Normally the herb is dried and soaked in hot water for varying periods. The resulting infusion is called herbal tea. Sometimes, some actual tea leaves are added to give it the flavour enhancement needed. Not a bad idea especially when researchers are finding that your cup of regular tea is packed with polyphenols - powerful natural anti-oxidants. You may also flavor the resulting infusion with some honey. For bitter infusions, you can suck on some sour kana or rock sugar to counteract the taste. Fresh herbs could be used for the infusion as well.

What is a paste? 
This is ’sambal’ (paste). You mash the fresh leaves. The resulting paste may sometimes be taken on its own or mixed with grated coconut for body. There are basically 2 means of extraction - using water and alcohol. Is the part of the plant important?  That depends on the herb. Different parts are used for various species. All parts can be used - leaves, flowers, shoots, roots, fruits and even the bark. The leaves are most often used.

Can I use Tongkat Ali? 
The real power stuff - the alkaloids - lie mostly in the root. You get some in the bark as well as in the stem and some elsewhere in the plant. This is why the root is particularly esteemed amongst the village folk.

How do I best consume pegaga? 
Pegaga (Centella asiatica) may be taken as a salad. In fact, the Malays often call it ‘ulam pegaga’ or pegaga salad. It can also be taken as a juice. Sometimes it is made into a paste along with grated coconut. This may be taken orally.
The fresh leaves or even the dried ones may be taken as an infusion. The formula is one handful of the herb to a glass. This slowly boiled until half a cup is left. The resulting ‘juice’ may be sweetened with honey or raw brown sugar. Both the Malays and Indians tend to make a pure paste of the fresh herb. This is applied to the skin and scalp for the promotion of healthy skin and hair. This might sound somewhat absurd but new research is showing an amazing array of compounds that have powerful rejuvenating effects on the skin. Some of the world’s most powerful cosmetic companies are lining to launch pegaga based creams!

How does one use the Misai Kuching (Arthosiphon species) plant? 
All parts of the plant above the ground may be used. The most commonly used parts are the leaves and flower. This too is best used as an infusion. This has a very mild taste and does not usually need sweetening. This is especially so if the herb is being used to help control the blood sugar of diabetes.

How do you use the Hempedu Bumi (Andrographis panicaulata)?
This really is bitter. The traditional way is to make a water extract. You can also make an infusion. A bitter herb like this presents possibilities of making crude capsules. You get the herb and sun or even oven dry it. This is then powdered and capsulated using dry gelatin capsule shells that you can easily buy from a pharmacy.

Why do the Malays and Indian take hempedu Bumi with goat’s milk for hepatitis?
The alkaloids of this herb are best absorbed as part of a fat based meal. Goat’s or coconut milk is often used. These milks are also supposed to be good for liver hepatitis.

How does one consume neem? 
The neem leaf may be chewed raw, although it is bitter. It may be taken as a juice. Sometimes the leaves may be made into a paste. This is rolled into little balls that can be quickly swallowed. I know one herbalist who actually sun dries these balls to make crude pills which he then prescribes. The old rule: ten mature leaves taken daily gives good health. This is particularly helpful for the liver. You may boil the leaves and make a crude infusion that you can bathe with. This is good for measles, chicken pox, eczema and rash prone skin. Washing the face with the neem infusion also helps in acne.

How does one consume Selasih (Ocimum santum)? 
The fresh leaves are chewed along with some pepper and rock sugar. This helps abort a flu. It even helps calm a flu that is already in progress. This remedy when taken regularly also helps strengthen the lungs and boost the immune system.

Why is turmeric used in combination with herbs? 
Turmeric is a very powerful anti-oxidant. There was even an American company that wanted to patent it! Turmeric is said to make other herbs work better.

How does ginger help herbs work better? 
Ginger seems to have a synergistic effect when combined with some herbs. That is why it finds its way into many traditional herbal formulations - both eastern and western. Ginger also aids digestion and prevents gas formation.

How do you use pepper in conjunction with our herbs? 
Pepper is a ‘hot’ spice and seems to activate the body’s healing mechanisms. This makes the herbs work well.

Contributed by Dr S Rajan. For more advice of herbs and healthy living visit his website at www.alterni.com
 

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