A CURIOUS CASE OF AN ALLERGY AND ITS TREE-TMENT

ITH just a couple of days left before the school reopening, Thejas Joseph Paul, a 27-year-old teacher in Thiruvananthapuram, decided to make the most of his remaining vacation. He sought the calm of nature, a quiet walk along the city's outskirts.

- MAHIMA ANNA JACOB

As he wandered, a tree caught his eye. Its branches bore what looked like 'kaala jamun'. He climbed up, plucked a few and held them in his hand. As he did, a sticky white sap oozed out of the tree, covering his skin in a thin, milky film. He didn't think much of it. He looked at the fruits. They didn't seem edible. He decided not to risk it.

However, the white layer on his skin refused to fade, no matter how many times he washed or scrubbed it. Over the next few days, it turned black. Then came the blisters, small at first, itchy, and irritating. Soon, his fingers swelled and his body started itching.

By the next morning, his eyes and ears were swollen, and his face had turned red. He rushed to a nearby clinic and was given an injection. No use. The swelling worsened within hours.

Panicked, he made his way to a hospital. While explaining what had happened, one of the staff members overheard him.

"Did you touch cheru maram (semecarpus anacardium)," asked the staffer.

Puzzled, Thejas pulled out his phone and showed the staff a photo of the fruit. The latter nodded.

The doctor prescribed medications. But then came a baffling piece of advice.

"You'll have to find a 'Thaani maram' (Terminalia bellirica), and circle around it three times, naked. Then hug the tree."

Thejas was stunned. A nearby staff chimed in, "While walking around, chant, 'Thanniyappa Cherachan Chathichu."

"I laughed it off. It sounded like utter nonsense," says Thejas.