Christmas Brings me Medicine from The Jungle

As my friends & family are celebrating Christmas around the globe, I looked at the temperatures from my home town. Zero degrees Fahrenheit (-15 Celsius). I shiver at the thought. Even though we survived 2 typhoons in 7 days, the temperatures here are comfortable ~ 77 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius). The unfortunate affects of the typhoon are:

• 2 holes in our roof (that cannot be repaired for a few weeks)
• ​power interruptions (because limited sunshine for our solar power)
  
• I developed a cough and sore throat... Ugh!​

Fortunately we have Christmas helpers in the form of good neighbors and family visiting from the jungles of Leyte ~ Rose's parents. My mother-in-law is assisting with efforts around the inside of the house, and my father-in-law is doing the heavy labor outside ~ fallen trees, recovering our livestock, and retrieving water. It is obvious that they have an unbelievably strong work ethic and stamina. I'm envious! (especially because my father-in-law has the lean body of a teenager). Rose tells me it's motivation for me to get back into the gym. But before I can return to the gym, I have to fight off the tropical malady from the typhoon ~ my sore throat and cough.
​
​As luck would have it, my wife's parents are decendants from doctors. Well... sort of doctors. Here in the remote regions of the Philippines, they are better known as: witch doctors, medicine men, herbal doctors, homeopathic medical experts. 

As I complain about my sore throat, I call in sick for work, and this causes Rose to expresses genuine concern. 'How serious is this?'

'Well, it hurts to talk, it hurts to swallow, and I'm coughing'.

She leaves the room and comes back in with her parents. They look at me, and then they make a guttural sound to Rose. Rose nods her head. 'We'll be back,' and she leads them out of the house and into the farm. 

While they are away, I can hear the unique sound of a machete hacking away at something. Oh, I really hope they are not bringing me a butchered animal.

Ten minutes later they return with arms full of leaves and sticks. 

'What's this?' I ask. 

'It's going to be your medicine'.

'Whew, I was imagining you were going to do a Voodoo ceremony with a chicken'.

'Your funny. I think you've been watching to many movies'.

They point to a chair and tell me to wait inside the house while they go outside to build a fire and begin brewing their 'potion'. By the way, they are not using a witch's cauldron. Instead they are using a pot from our kitchen. Although, I think the witch's cauldron would be a very cool affect.

Awhile later my wife and her parents present me with their potions: an herbal tea and salve for my throat. 

'Mmm, this is surprisingly delicious... and i can feel the soreness going away. Is this all I have to do - drink tea and rub this salve on my throat?'

'No. Mom says I need to give you an herbal massage for the next week as well. The massage will rub away any hiding ailments in your muscles. Will this be OK with you?'

I smile and nod my head. 'If this is what the doctors order, then who am I to complain'. 

I mean, why should I complain? I am going to get a massage every night from my beautiful wife. 

I don't know what you think, but this is the best prescription I have every been prescribed. Island Life is Awesome with Jungle Medicine from my family.

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This article is written by Greg Pasden, Best Selling author and world traveler. All rights reserved. James G Pasden.