THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ayurveda is the livelihood of Simon, an Italian. It is effective in treating arthritis and producing ointments and herbal formulations. Simon operates an Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing laboratory and clinic in Italy. He came to Kazhakkuttam six months ago to deepen his knowledge of Ayurveda and will be returning to Italy this Saturday.

Basil, sage, garlic and pepper used here are all sourced from Italy. They may not share the same names and structures as their Indian counterparts but their medicinal properties are equivalent. This is a perspective strongly endorsed by Simon Del Torchio. Simon has committed the Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridayam which are often challenging for the average person to comprehend to memory. A decade ago, this 41-year-old Italian delved into Ayurvedic treatments. He developed ointments for knee pain and skin ailments using herbs from Italy and established a clinic after obtaining a therapy license. Together with his friend Nadia, he also founded the 'Almitac' laboratory in Milan, Italy which specializes in herbal medicine production.

Nadia came to Jaipur for an Ayurvedic conference and introduced Simon to Dr Met Sumesh Mani, the Director of Kazhakuttam SVN Ayurvedic Clinic. Upon hearing about Dr Sumesh through Nadia, Simon came to Kazhakuttam to further his Ayurvedic knowledge. Kappa and black tea have become his favourite foods here. He is also making an effort to learn Malayalam. His parents are Maurizio and Ombretta.

Simon's initial inspiration for exploring Ayurveda came from his grandmother who used to share stories about traditional medicines from different countries. Social media served as Simon's second teacher fostering his interest in cultivating herbs from a young age. His pivotal moment occurred when he watched a video about oil bath treatments on social media. Subsequently, he joined 'Aima Ayurveda,' an Indian Association in Italy to study Ayurvedic treatments. He also dedicated himself to meditation and yoga.

For Simon, Ayurveda has become a way of life. He marvels at the fact that such medicines were developed at a time when modern science had not yet matured.