Know your roots

Medicinal roots have been around for a long time. In Nigeria, we had specialists whose job it was to treat different illnesses with roots and herbs. It was a trade, a skill they had acquired over the years sometimes from their grandparents. However, with the advent of colonialism and the consequent "civilization" orthodox medicine is now the preferred method of treating diseases.I find it rather amusing when people are bothered that educated people take medicinal roots to cure or treat infections. Why are they bothered? Does traditional medicine equate poverty or illiteracy? Of course, I understand the fears around potency, dosage and medicinal roots. But what if there's reason to believe that roots and herbs are equally as useful as chemical medicine?

Recently, I saw an advert for a drink, Your Roots, and wondered what roots it was talking about. The drink claim to contain herbs and about 6% alcohol. I now drink alcohol. Praise the Lord. I'm not quite the social drinker, something below that; occasional drinker, perhaps. And I don't drink too much, please. In fact, I've only been converted to Orijin. I like it but I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's supposed to be medicinal or what, I don't know. This Your Roots drink should be like Orijin, perhaps a close competitor. The drink contains herbs and no roots so, why call it Your Roots? Or are the advertisers asking me to know and trust medicinal roots and traditional medicine? Maybe. Or my genealogy, people and all? My roots.

There are many roots that have been found to be useful to mankind. Ginger is one of them. I find that whenever I have an upset stomach and eat some raw ginger it often helps my case. It's also used in seasoning meat and to flavour drinks. Ginger is good just like garlic.

Many people take pawpaw (papaya) as a fruit. I have learned that its roots can also be medicinal. It's included in the concoction prepared in treating a few infections in both men and women. It's also believed to aid in the treatment of malaria. What other roots do you know? Have you taken any trado-medicine in recent times? How did you resolve/reconcile any reservations you had as an "educated" person turning to your roots for health?