Ever since I was a kid, my parents always had these alternative treatments for things. “Lwil maskriti”, or castor oil in English, was (and still is fr) the number 1 cure, which I heard also is in other Caribbean countries. I love how even though they migrated from Haiti decades ago, they still carry their home and traditions with them.
These little (— let me backtrack and say, these IMPORTANT) holistic treatments that I used to despise as kid, I enjoy and savour now. Like the bitter tea that would make me lie and say I was healed, when in fact I was just scheming to avoid it. My parents could see through my act tho. And they still signed me up for theatre classes, cuz I wanted to “be an actress”. Go figure.
Anyways. So ya, these alternative healing practices, it was passed down to them as well, and there’s always a reason why they exist and work. I just wonder…who was the first ancestor to, for instance, use some cerasse leaves to feel better?? I often wonder (yes I wrote wonder twice…cuz I do be wonderinnn!!). Maybe it’s just about survival. Survival instinct that guides us to find the things we need. Perhaps then it’s even bigger than my ancestors. Perhaps it has to do with the connection with the Universe, the divine, to divine entities that watch over us, carry us, and guide us…