US traveller recovering in India calls country’s medical care 'far superior': 'Indian medicine is god-tier'

Charlie Evans said the experience changed his perception of healthcare systems, particularly because of the variety of treatment approaches available in India

An American traveller exploring India has gone viral on social media after sharing his experience of receiving medical treatment during an illness, describing the country’s healthcare system as unexpectedly accessible and effective.

The traveller, Charlie Evans, said he had been living in India for several months when he fell ill during his journey. In a video posted on Instagram, Evans recounted his experience of seeking treatment and said the combination of traditional remedies and modern medical care in India helped him recover quickly.

“I am an American and I have been living in India for the past 148 days. In the past week, I have been to the hospital twice. I am going to tell you what happened and why Indian medicine is far superior to medicine in the West,” he said in the video.

Evans explained that he first began feeling unwell while travelling in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. At the time, he suspected that he might be suffering from strep throat. However, he chose not to visit a hospital immediately and instead waited until he returned to Rishikesh.

Looking back, he said postponing treatment was a mistake because accessing healthcare in India proved far simpler than he had expected.

In the video, Evans described the remedies he used while recovering. He said his first step was visiting a pharmacy, where he purchased Ayurvedic products.

“I went to the pharmacy and I got these Yogi Kanthika pills. We don’t have these in the USA, but these are amazing. I use them for my strep throat. Exhibit two are these cough drops. Absolutely incredible. We have them in the USA, but I just feel like the ingredients used in these are way better,” he said.

Evans also spoke about the role of traditional remedies shared by local friends during his stay in India. According to him, such home-based treatments often complement formal healthcare.

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A post shared by Charlie Evans| American in Asia🇺🇸 (@charlietravelusa)

“When you live in India, you have Indian friends who give you an herbal remedy like this. I have used this on my collar. My friend gave this to me. It is just a natural Vicks. That’s what’s amazing about coming to India. You don’t even need the pharmacy or the emergency room sometimes, because your Indian buddies are gonna have something like this,” he said, while demonstrating a small bottle of herbal remedy in the clip.

He also added while describing the remedy’s effect: “It clogs up all the mucus and it just brings it out.”

Evans said the experience changed his perception of healthcare systems, particularly because of the variety of treatment approaches available in India, including Ayurveda as well as modern pharmaceuticals.

While sharing the video, he also wrote in the caption: “Indian medicine is truly god-tier. First time getting sick in India and wow, what an eye-opener. From comforting home remedies and Ayurveda to modern medicines, everything worked together to get me back on my feet fast.”

The video quickly gained traction online and attracted hundreds of comments from social media users.

Several viewers responded by sharing their own opinions about healthcare in India and comparing it with systems in Western countries.

One user wrote: “These are really good. It's ayurvedic and plant-based without any nasty chemicals. Long live Ayurveda. Thanks for respecting Indian medicine.”

Another commenter added: “Glad you've recovered! It's also the land where plastic surgery originated.”

A different user focused on the issue of medical accessibility and insurance costs, writing: “Here, you can just walk to the hospital and do walk-in treatment for anything. In the USA, you gotta get a doctor, and all he recommends is so weird, and the insurance there is so expensive. In India, you can be covered for 200 dollars for a year, but in the US, 1000 a month lol.”

Another response highlighted the range of treatment systems available in the country: “India healthcare is much better than the West, you don't get to wait for days, you get treated economically, you get Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Allopathy, all treatments.”