I use to live in a place where, though medical services were easily accessible, people tend to self medicated or use herbs to threat themselves. They only remember where a hospital is situated when the sickness begins to threaten their existence.
There was this book titled "where there is no doctor." Everybody in my neighborhood wants their hands on the book probably because of the high cost of medical services in my area. We didn't have a government owned hospital and private hospitals in the area always prioritize money over a dying patient.
A couple of years ago I went to visit mom to spend some time with her. I woke up one morning to a boil on my leg, about 3 inches away from my big toe.
I saw it as a minor thing, so, I left it for my body's defense mechanism to deal with it. After a few days, I noticed that the boil was increasing and becoming painful, so, I told mom and she advised that I burst it open and press out the pus which I did.
I thought my problem was over only for the pus to gather again and make me feel more pain. I could not walk properly as the area became red and swollen.
At this point, our neighbor saw it and she said that it was acha-ere. Acha-ere means ripe and rot. It's a term we use to describe a swollen leg. The swollen leg is not ordinary as it is believed that somebody causes the sickness for another person out of jealousy or rage, or a fight that happened between the two people. It's actually something that has to do with spirituality. You know, consulting spirits to cause the sickness and make another person's leg swell.
After listening to her, I couldn't help it but laugh because I'm the last person that will believe in spiritual things. Yes, I believe that there is a God above, but I don't believe in other gods. I prefer to be very logical when it comes to health and other things, than to blame it on a spirit.
My neighbor gave me an advice that I should buy some materials. She said she will burn it on my leg and the thing will go back to be person that sent it to me. I was just looking at her when she was talking these things and I could not hold back my laughter. So you will burn something on my leg? I asked with a mocking tone. Confidently, she replied yes while nodding her head and explaining further.
After she finished giving me the advice, I went inside, for my phone and called my doctor. He prescribed some antibiotics and pain relief. He also advice me to do some things which I did.
After about 5 days of taking the medication the wound healed to a good extent. I could walk again.
My neighbor asked how I did it, and I explained everything to her. The wound probably got infected when I opened it in a non-sterile environment.
I actually found that advice funny because she said she will burn something on my leg. I was like - you don't say. So my leg will now be a furnace for preparing the medicine right? She didn't actually get the joke, so, she continued with the explanation.
Honestly, being a person that prefers logic over spiritual beliefs or superstition, I don't see any grain of truth in what she said. Maybe it works for them, but for me? I prefer to attack my problems with logically proven facts.
Thank you for reading.
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