Maharashtra Board Class 4 EVS Chapter 12 Home Remedies for Simple Illnesses PDF Download

Home Remedies For Simple Illnesses

Can You Tell?

Observe the pictures given below, and answer the following questions.

Why is this boy's arm in plaster?

Could we have put his arm in plaster at home?

Why has this girl been brought to a doctor?

Illness

When we are well, we feel hungry at the right times. We sleep well at night. We have no complaints about digestion. And most importantly, we feel refreshed on getting up in the morning. We do not feel tired even if we have been at work.

But sometimes, for some reason, we fall ill.

Sakhu had a slightly sore throat. Still, she had some ice-cream. The next day, her throat hurt and she found it difficult to swallow. Mother made her gargle with warm salt water before and after school for two days. On the third day, Sakhu's throat had stopped hurting. This was a simple illness and she soon felt better again.

A fortnight later, Sakhu's Tai fell ill. She was running a temperature. Her eyes had become yellow. She did not feel like eating anything. Mother took her to the doctor. The doctor said that Tai had jaundice.

Teacher's Note

When children get sore throat, ask them to gargle with warm salt water at home. This is a home remedy that works like magic in Indian families.

Exam Trick

Remember: Simple illness like sore throat goes away in 1-2 days with home remedies. But serious illness like jaundice needs a doctor. If it does not get better, always go to a doctor.

Points to Remember

When we are well, we feel hungry and sleep well.
Sometimes we fall ill and need help to get better.
A sore throat can be cured with warm salt water at home.
Some illnesses like jaundice are serious and need a doctor.

The doctor advised her to take complete rest for three weeks. She also told her to eat as little as possible of things which contain oil, ghee or butter. This was not an illness that could be cured easily.

Right Or Wrong?

Shripati and his younger sister Tara were working in the field. A snake bit Shripati. After biting Shripati, the snake wriggled away. Neither of them got a proper look at the snake. But, knowing that it was a snake that had bitten him, Shripati was very frightened. He shouted loudly for help. People came running.

Tara was saying that Shripati should be taken to the taluka place at once. The government hospital there would have the anti-snakebite injection to give Shripati. But no one paid any attention to her.

People quickly got the bullock-cart ready, and putting Shripati in it, took him to the village temple. They called the village mantrik. He laid Shripati on a bed of neem leaves and began to chant mantras against the action of the snake's poison.

What do you think? Do the mantras act against the snake's poison?

Was it right or wrong to bring Shripati to the village mantrik?

Would you have taken Shripati to the mantrik or to the Government Hospital?

Soon, Shripati felt better. But, was that because the mantras acted against the snake poison? Or, was the snake non-poisonous and the mantrik got the credit even when he did not deserve it?

Home Remedies

If an illness is one that gets cured readily, one can try a home remedy. Do you remember, Sakhu's mother made her gargle her throat with warm water. And Sakhu felt better in a day or two.

Elderly, experienced people in the family sometimes suggest such cures. If we have a cold we can inhale steam at bed-time or take hot fomentations on the chest.

Teacher's Note

In India, many families use home remedies first. For example, drinking warm milk with turmeric helps when you have a cold. But if the illness does not get better in 1-2 days, always visit a doctor.

Exam Trick

Remember: Home remedies work only for simple illnesses that get better quickly. If someone does not get better in 1-2 days, they must see a doctor. Never take medicine without a doctor's advice.

Points to Remember

Home remedies can cure simple illnesses like sore throat and cold.
Gargling with warm salt water helps a sore throat.
Inhaling steam helps when you have a cold.
If you do not get better in 1-2 days, you must see a doctor.

If someone is vomiting as a result of a fever or indigestion, it is better not to insist on him or her having a meal. At most, they should be given a cool lemon sherbet and something light, like dahibhat, to eat the next day.

If someone has a cut, bruise or a small wound, it should be washed with clean water and dabbed dry. A tincture of iodine may be applied to it. Then it should be covered with clean cotton and bandaged.

Even if an illness appears to be minor, it should never be neglected. Remember, home remedies have limits. If a person does not recover in a day or two or if the illness worsens, one must go to a doctor.

Without a doctor's advice, one should never take any medicine that must be swallowed.

Health Services And Medical Care

A service that takes care of the health of the people and provides treatment for those who are ill is called a health service or medical service.

Big towns and cities have doctors' clinics and hospitals. But, in most cities and in rural areas there are Government Hospitals and Primary Health Centres too. Patients can get treatment at concessional rates there.

The municipal corporations of big cities also run hospitals that provide medical treatment.

Teacher's Note

In India, Government Hospitals and Primary Health Centres help poor families get treatment at low cost. This is very important for families that cannot afford expensive private doctors.

Exam Trick

Remember: Big cities have private clinics and hospitals. But Government Hospitals and Primary Health Centres are in cities and villages and are cheaper for poor families.

Points to Remember

Health services take care of people's health and treat sick people.
Big towns have private clinics and hospitals.
Government Hospitals and Primary Health Centres are in most cities and villages.
Government hospitals give treatment at low cost.
Municipal corporations also run hospitals in big cities.

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