et with a painful fracture? Here's some good news for you: you need not go through painful surgery anymore.

Ayurveda seems to be the new answer.

Orthopaedic patients at Puttur Bone Centre, a bone healing centre, are now vouching for the power of traditional therapy.

Hameed, a patient, is very satisfied with the therapy: "I met with an accident two years ago and fractured my
thigh. I was treated here for six weeks. Now, I am cured and alright."

At 100 kilometres off Chennai, Puttur Bone Centre is a family-run clinic for over 125 years.

Gopala Raju, who discovered a medicinal plant by chance, set up the clinic in 1881. He first tried the medicine on a rabbit that had broken its back. He then started treating patients from nearby villages, which include mostly labourers from construction sites and poor children.

This treatment has made the family a household name in Tamil Nadu. It attracts patients from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala [Images] regularly.

Subramaniyaraj, a doctor at the clinic, said, "We have been running the clinic for 125 years. I belong to the fifth  generation. Our treatment lasts for 45 days and we apply herbs and eggs as medicines. After three bandages, the patient is cured."

Information you could use:

Puttur Bone Centre
Rachapalem
Puttur
District Chittoor
Andra Pradesh -- 517 583

Phones: (08577) 223225; 250056; (0) 93937 12435

e-mail: sgr@kgr-putturthailam.com