V Krithiga |Tirunelveli, It has 50 varieties of herbs that can cure headache, asthma, jaundice and even chickenpox AN herbal garden in a village in Tirunelveli provides herbs free of cost to villagers to cure a wide range of diseases including headache and jaundice. M Ramathal, president of Keela Vellakkal Panchayat along with her husband, Muthiahsamy hailing from a small hamlet at Thuvarangadu, situated 40 kms from Tirunelveli, has created the herbal garden in their village. The garden has over 50 varieties of herbs. Since there was nothing special in the village other that regular farming activity, the couple decided to establish something special that no other village in Tamil Nadu has. Last year when the couple visited the Rose Garden in Ooty, they decided to establish a similar garden for herbs in their village. With the support from district administration they raised a protective wall costing Rs 51,000 for the garden. However, they spent money from their pocket to purchase herbs from various parts of the State including Periyakulam, Ooty and Courtrallam. The herbs in the garden can cure, headache, cold, fever, asthma, chickenpox, kidney stones, jaundice among others. Some of the herb varieties include Kuppai Meni (to cure stomach ailments), Periya Nangai (for snake bite), Kulir Thambarai (to reduce body heat), Vallarai (to improve memory). At the garden, boards displaying the names of the herb and the disease it can cure have been placed. The herbs are watered regularly either by the couple or the panchayat employees. The herb is provided free of cost not only to the villagers of Thuvarangadu but also to residents of nearby villages. Speaking to Express, the couple said: