Extending a helping hand to cancer patients

Students of Chaldean Syrian Higher Secondary School in Thrissur packing the leaves of Lakshmi Taru for cancer patients.

Students of Chaldean Syrian Higher Secondary School, Thrissur, are on a noble mission.

They distribute dried leaves of Lakshmi Taru to 100 cancer patients every week.

The leaves and stem of Lakshmi Taru are known for their properties to cure cancer and improve immunity in cancer patients.

Under the project, A helping hand, the students will supply kits with 140 leaves (for 20 leaves a day) every week to the patients who register with the school.

The members of the Eco Club in the school are leading the project.

Lakshmi Taru, also known as the Paradise tree is originally from South and Central America. It supposedly has anti-tumour and anti-leukemic properties.

The belief, though yet to be fully scientifically endorsed, is that the decoction made out of its leaves may also bring down side effects of chemotherapy.

The school also organises classes for the family members of the patients on the way to make concoction of Lakshmi Taru leaves and stems and about its medicinal properties to cure cancer.

Former associate director of the research wing of the Kerala Agriculture University Augustine Antony will lead the classes.