The African continent is packed with rich history and a long train of tradition, and this extends itself even to the way we take care of our bodies.
With the medical industry being blamed for a number of issues such as creating new illnesses and medication that makes you dependent, many people are resorting to home-made remedies and treatments.
In Mauritius for instance, those age-old grandmother recipes have been passed down from mother to child for so long that we cannot account for the origin of every treatment, or its authenticity.
Let’s examine the most common Mauritian home-made treatments and disclaim the hoax from the healthy. Some of these may be familiar to other nationalities:
1. Hot water and thyme: This common remedy is said to settle upset stomachs and help soothe the pain during that awful time of the month for women. A few leaves infused in hot water does the trick.
Hoax or Healthy? This has stood the test of time, and is still being used today to ease female periods. As for the upset stomachs, we’ll stick to mint tea and other forms of treatment.
2. The Rs. 5 coin: Children will remember being told to press a Rs. 5 coin against a bump or bruise to prevent it from swelling.
Hoax or Healthy? This one holds a lot of skeptics, and while some young people still swear by this practice, it can be unsanitary to put money on an open wound or bruise. Some antibacterial wipes and a band-aid should suffice.
3. Salt and sugar water: This is a fairly common practice for upset stomachs. When you feel that food coming up but need some help either to settle your stomach or get it all out, people all over drink this strange mixture.
Hoax or Healthy? This is actually a grandmother’s recipe that is used in other countries as well. Apparently it works every time, and even if it is quite an unpleasant taste and feeling, it is efficient.
4. Saffron and milk: This is an odd home-made remedy for coughs, but it is said to soothe a sore and itchy throat and help calm even the most violent of coughs.
Hoax or Healthy? If you can bear dairy products being mixed with a spice like saffron you are welcome to use this home-made treatment. However it does in no way act as a substitute for regular medication. It may help soothe the pain, but it will not cure.
5. Scissors under the pillow: This is not strictly health related, but some of the older generations will remember being told that putting a pair of open scissors under their pillow will prevent bad dreams and give you a good night’s rest.
Hoax or Healthy? This is obviously a very dangerous practice, especially if you move a lot in your sleep. It is also not efficient in the way sleeping pills are, but it acts on the mind as a placebo would- believing it will work is enough to make it function.
Still, please refrain!
