MARCOS GONSALVES
marcos@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Back in the days when doctors were few and medical clinics were hard to come by, there was one remedy that the ailing Goan could always rely on: ‘Ganvtti vokdam’ (traditional medicines).
Made from select herbs that were once found in abundance in Goa’s forested areas, these natural interventions could cure anything from an upset stomach and jaundice to kidney stones and the common cold.
Cut to the present day, however, and most of the forests where wizened Goan folk would forage for the herbs needed for their concoctions are no longer there. Felled to accommodate a rapidly growing population and the infrastructure it requires, the loss of green cover has greatly affected traditional ‘naturalists’ across the State who still have a strong clientele for their herbal remedies.
Francisca Colaco would know. The 65-year-old Nessai resident is among the few senior Goans in the Salcete taluka who helps people, particularly the needy, recover from their ailments with her traditional medicines. Originally hailing from Barebhatt in Raia, which was once a treasury of medicinal herbs and plants, Colaso has now resorted to sourcing the ingredients she needs from forests in Sanguem and other such remote areas.
“Many people, including a large number of foreigners, search for me in the bazaar,” says Colaco, huddled in a small shed in a corner of the new market at Margao. “Goans working in the Gulf make a beeline here whenever they come on vacation, just to stock up on their ‘ganvtti vokdam’.”
Comprising medical aspects of traditional knowledge handed down from generation to generation, Goa’s ‘ganvtti vokdam’, like that in almost all parts of the world, are largely based on beliefs and experiences that are indigenous to different cultures. Colaco herself was a student once, and says that she learnt from her elders how to correctly identify and collect medicinal herbs and plants. That was 25 years ago.
“I have not just earned my livelihood through traditional medicine over the years, but also cater to the needs of the people. In today’s world, many habitually run to doctors and pharmacies, but forget to try ‘ganvtti vokod’, which can treat sicknesses without any side-effects,” she says.
At her makeshift store, one can find natural remedies for colds, kidney problems, cholesterol, acidity, and even irregular menstruation. Then there are some concoctions recommended as purgatives and others for deworming children.
“Porpoto (Oldenlandia corymbosa) served as a remedy for a few ills including fevers and jaundice, while a paste of leaves of jino (Leea macrophylla) can be used as an antiseptic for wounds,” Colaco explains.
