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The health of the Forest

At a very young age, my mother initiated me into the world of holistic health through plants and herbs which are vital to health and mental well-being and educated me on the different varieties that were widely available in the environment in which I grew up. So I was exposed to these plants, their uses and how they are applied as remedies.

In fact, my mother’s deep knowledge on this subject is based on the fact that she used these herbs and plants to cure herself as a young girl. She always dreams of them and is intuitively guided to them by her grandmother, who she grew up with in her formative years.

Honouring my health is what my mother planned and cultivated in me. She taught me the importance of nutritional value in food, always emphasising that my health is my wealth and that health is something that you can never buy. Ii is something I cherish and enjoy talking about with my family and friends, and in the company of my peers and colleagues. I consider it an important part of who I am, rather than an accessory that can be bought in the market or store.

And in school, I was taught how to make natural soap and cosmetics using natural elements by one of my favourite Social Studies tutor.

My dream as a young girl was to become a doctor, because I like to heal people. As I grow older, I found that my ambition changed but there was a void somewhere. Deep down my curiosity to know and explore the subject of health and well-being persisted.

I find myself asking the questions; how do we decide what food to eat, do we make a conscious effort to find why we choose certain groups of food and not others and do we make informed choices when buying food? What is the psychology behind it, do we ever ask ourselves about the kind of food our Ancestors used to eat before the infiltration of junk food in our diet, and do we know the real nutritional value of food and why we are what we are?.

I grew up in an environment where natural healing is practised. All around me were fruit trees, herbs and plants and we had a garden where we grew food items like potatoes, okra, cocoyam, bananas, spinach lettuce, tomatoes, pawpaw and all the garden vegetables.

I enjoy these so much that I find myself tending to the garden most of the time together with my siblings.

Being surrounded by these plants and growing them at the same time, always heightened my sense of joy. I remember when my Mother was pregnant with her last child; we used to spend late night hours devouring and enjoying the variety of juicy mangoes that abound in that space within the compound.

My mother and I will discuss different topics from my school to family and anything that happened that day. We are never short of topics while at the same time enjoying the fruits of nature.

I know from history that traditional African medicine had been relegated during the colonial era, but now there is a resurgence of this knowledge and people are coming to know the relevance of African medicine, but I think more should be done to promote and teach it in schools and universities in Africa and elsewhere. I also think the government should co-ordinate and compile research works on traditional medicine.

Creating a unit or a group where all kinds of medical practitioners, traditional and modern can work together and promote the benefits of traditional medicine.

I have used herbs to cure simple cuts, stomach aches, headaches, nausea, rashes and the usual ailments like the common colds. And now I see these natural remedies are on the increase here in the UK.

I was surprised when I found out over a year ago now, that a vegetable that we used to enjoy as a delicacy is now sold worldwide as a remedy. I grew up consuming Moringa as salad and now it is used even in cosmetics. So is the baobab and many of these herbs that I have used or known as I was growing up. Some have now been commercialised. They are packaged and sold as alternative or complimentary medicines. Sadly, not all do what they have been claimed to do, because they are contaminated with additives or watered down and are not as effective as the original.

Over the years, I have seen competent traditional practitioners, who not only have the knowledge and skills to cure both people and animals alike, of dreadful diseases and build healthy bodies, but have demonstrated psychic abilities too.

You are more productive when you are healthy and more physically and mentally strong. I can testify to that. No doubt a healthy person is a valuable asset to any organisation or company for ultimate economic results. Not only that, even your whole personality will be favourably affected.

My Mother always says that, health is a treasure necessary to you and should be taken care of intelligently with a high sense of responsibility towards yourself and society.

Your health and well-being should be complemented by regular physical exercise.

‘A healthy mind in a healthy body’ is my mantra.

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