The Welsh Connection

The Welsh people, originally Celtic, had a long standing tradition of medicine, practiced by the family of Physicians of Myddfai, similar to the Astha Vaidya Ayurveda families in Kerala. They were the trustees of great knowledge of herbal medicine since at least 1000 BC. Even Romans before the period of Hippocrates (c. 460-377 B.C.) quoted the Welsh medical tradition as unique and superior. Can we trace some relation between Indian and Welsh traditions which are separated by vast areas of land. Did the Spice Routes and Silk Road paved way to intellectual exchanges apart from the mere purpose of trade and commerce?

While promoting the tourism destination called Brecon Beacon National Park in the middle of Wales, the tourism authority stumbled upon a small village called Myddfai and the mythological story of Lady-of-the-Lake (Llyn Y Fan Fach). Many people celebrate the myth by visiting the lake on the first Sunday of August. It is a nice place for a small trekking and long walk around the lake. There used to be a Black Mountain in the mythological stories. The name must have derived by the rich bio diversity and availability of plenty of herbs from it. But today, it is a barren grass land completely taken over by the farmers of the locality and their herds of sheep. The mythological story tells that the Lady-of-the-lake gave a “bagful of medical prescriptions and instructions” to her children and showed them around the Black Mountain on the ways of collecting the herbs and their preparations.

By the 12th century, the Physicians of Myddfai family wrote a hand book in Welsh language which is called “The Red Book” and is still preserved safely in the British Library Museum, London in which more than 175 herbs are mentioned with its various uses. The book got translated into English by the name “Physicians of Myddfai.” It is amazing to note the way daily regimens and seasonal food habits are mentioned in the book, which is strikingly similar to the Ayurvedic principles of healthcare.
This knowledge of medicine was presented in the descendants of the family and they continued to practice as Physicians of Myddfai without intermission until the period of John Jones, the surgeon (AD 1739). Today, the Welsh Government is trying to revive this ancient medical system as a part of their nationalistic interests, to boost the morale of the Welsh people and also to increase the tourism potential to the area. Works related with the identification of herbal values of the plants and medicines described in “the Red Book” already commenced in University of Wales, Bangor.

Kerala-Wales Joint Project

What are the possible joint projects that can be carried out by Ayurveda experts from Kerala or India for the revival of the traditional medical system in Wales?

Kerala is known for a rich tradition of Ayurveda. The traditional healing and health management system along with detailed descriptions for a lifestyle that will enable healthy body, mind and spirit. The Ayurveda tradition is still alive in its original form in Kerala with timely adaptations to developments in modern science and technology. We could lend a helping hand to the Welsh people for the revival of the traditional medical system by training the existing herbalists in Wales and rest of EU.

Cultivation, harvesting, storing, processing and preparations of herbal medicines using the available list from the Red Book can be supported by the various Traditional ayurveda organisations in Kerala.

Clinical tests could be conducted in a more organized way for the various preparations that are made and used by the people. Lab based tests, such as active ingredients, toxicity, dosages and animal testing are not required for any traditional medical compositions as per the guidelines from World Health Organisation (WHO).

More than the uses of the herbs mentioned in the text, it is also required to dwell deep into the daily regimens and seasonal food habits (lifestyle) that are mentioned in the Red Book.

The Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health may be an ideal organisation to get the support for the project to revive the traditional Welsh Medical system.

Apart from the similarities in these traditional medical systems of Wales and India, one could also relate the Celtic culture with similarities to ancient Dravidian culture. Both revered women, had maternal passing of ancestral wealth, had a strong background in agriculture, worshiped Sun, etc. It is believed that women had equality of rights and could inherit, own property and elected to office (even to the position of leaders in times of war) in their society. The Celtic religion is of importance in the understanding of Celtic attitudes. It is true that the Gods and Goddesses were numerous, often appearing in triune (three-in-one) although a ‘father of the Gods’ is also mentioned. The Celts preferred to settle warfare by means of single-handled combat between the chieftains to champions of the opposing armies rather than a pitch battle between opposing armies. Yet, Celtic society did produce a warrior class as well as bands of professional soldiers who sold their expertise to whomsoever would hire their services.

One could read many similarities between the ancient cultures across the continents. Deeper researches may prove that apart from merchants and soldiers, philosophers, religious missionaries, traditional healers and even manuscripts might have travelled the mighty Silk Road and Spice Routes, connecting the West to the treasures of the East.