Gurkha Medicine

When I was trecking in Nepal in the late 70's, every time I stopped in the hills people would crowd around with various ghastly infections, wounds, etc., seeking treatment from the westerner. I often did what I could with my meager med kit, but there were many times when treatment was beyond my resources and competence.

I also attended a lecture by a lama on a unique form of treatment similar to acupuncture. A metal template would be laid over an acupuncture point. The point would then be cauterised with a red-hot iron. The metalic template acted as a heat sink and prevented extensive damage to the surrounding tissue. This treatment was said to be quite painful, but I didn't verify that personally. I did see the equipment though.

I picked up body lice staying at a Tibetian buddist monastery. I slept for a number of days on the wooden floor with only a borrowed blanket for cover. When I got back to a pharmacy various aruvedic remedies were suggested to get rid of the lice. I however, asked for the most toxic poison available to kill the little buggers. So much for my wholistic, natural outlook.
 
Interesting stuff. Been there, done that. Locals seem to think that all Westerners are doctors. Maybe it's because of the small first aid kits most of us carry. I had a book called "Where There is no Doctor" issued by the US Peace Corps which I relied on for diagnosis and treatment. Besides basic first aid kit I carried a goodly supply of basic meds like codeine, ampicillin and a few others which I'd issue with instructions that I knew nobody would ever follow.

The flip side is both Yangdu and I often used local meds for treatment of ourselves and others and they seemed to work about as well as pharmacy issued meds.

When I was living in Nepal pharmas issed most all meds without prescription and at a cost of perhaps 5% of what you'd pay in the US.
 
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