lS Hembrom ‘Sereng’ prefixes ‘Doctor’ before him and claims to have cures for diseases starting from marauding cancer to household diabetes in his kitty. Not a qualified doctor in professional terms and his way of treatment may not find a space in modern medical science’s dictionary; Hembrom takes inspiration from Hodopathy that sources medicines from vegetations grown up in jungles and wild bushes and believes in age-old ‘teacher-pupil’ learning practice.
Hembrom not only claims perfect treatment for diabetes, joint pain, blood pressure and several other common diseases but expresses confidence to cure persons suffering from deadly cancer and even AIDS. “I got a patient of AIDS but he did not continue with the medicines. He was on the right path and had returned to his home after the treatment given,” he reveled with great pride and satisfaction on his face.
Through Hodopathy Hembrom believes that, “cancer ka 25 per cent treatment hai,” provided the patient had not undergone operation and chemotherapy. “Chemotherapy spreads cancer throughout the body. We have treated a person with blood cancer from Bokaro,” said the “doctor”, adding that patients come visiting him from as far as Nepal with diabetes, blood pressure, malaria and kala-azar, jaundice and epilepsy for “guaranteed treatment.”
The way of treatment finds its soul in nature’s lap. Hembrom believes that every vegetation carry some kind of medicinal properties and can be used to treat ailments of any kind provided one possesses proper knowledge about it. “It is a traditional profession of tribals and we have learnt from our forefathers. About 50 tribal students are attaining training of identifying medicinal plants in jungles, their processing and converting those into medicine. We often choose tribal boys with less than 15 years of age,” he said and added that over 1,200 varieties of medicinal plants are found in Jharkhand.
Hodopathy’s nursery has ‘cancer ka ped (cancer plant), safed kher and extracts from Mahua chal, triphala, lok pahari etc are sourced for traditional medicine. Pupils collect these items from jungles and while their training given in jungles.
“Specific training is given to tribal youths based on ‘Aadivasi ausadhi’ book. Important is to identify the medicine in jungles. We stress more on practical classes and travel long distances on plateau in search of medicine and make students familiar with plants. Pahar kar hi class hoti hai,” said the ethno medicine specialist who has been associated with ‘Torang Trust’, founded in 2005 by iconic tribal figure Dr Ram Dayal Munda and has names like Dr PP Hemrom of Hodopathy Ethno Medicine Research and Development Centre who revived this traditional method of treatment.
Starting from 1994, Hembrom is counting with third register and dealing with over thousand patients with different ailments every year. His training centers are located at Ranchi, Pakur and the newly established in West Singhbum. “Our system is for the larger interest of the society. We treat poor people free of cost but charge as per the wish to rich,” ends he but not before expressing pain over the ignorance from the system.
“No support is coming from the Government. We tried here after the Government of India gave recognition. The Hemant Soren Cabinet had passed a proposal to recognize Hodopathy under ‘AYUSH’ but it went into cold storage thereafter. Recently we have given representation to the State’s Chief Secretary in this regard,” says Hembrom who has also put up a stall at ‘Advantage Jharkhand’ summit organised by the Government to promote investment in the areas connected with Jharkhand’s soil.
The ‘Doctor’ and believers of Hodopathy across the State are optimistic about Government’s assistance that would provide new lease of life to one of the oldest traditional medical practice of the country based entirely on nature.
