Bush Medicine

Hello, Better Lifers!  It has been a series of beautiful days in the Bahamas.  For example, yesterday looked like this all day  . . .

It just doesn’t get any prettier than this!

Today is overcast and squally, but it is still beautiful to me!  I’m also enthusiastic about the day because I am feeling much better.  Thank you for all of your well wishes.  After my last post, I really forced myself to slow down and take it easy.

Sarah, my good friend and neighbor, heard I was back down with a little flu relapse, and she called the other day to see how I was doing.  Sarah was just coming off of Round 2 of her own flu battle and offered up some almighty Bush Medicine. “YES!” I said to her kind offer.

Cerasee Tea

Soon after, Sarah showed up on my doorstep with a care package.  First out of the bag, Cerasee Tea.  Cerasee (a.k.a. Bitter Melon, Balsam Apple or Bitter Gourd) is a curative plant found here locally.  Sarah had brewed a big pot of Cerasee with Gale of Wind (another local herb; basically, a weed), limes, bird peppers (spicy!), sea salt and honey to make her potent tea.  (For pictures and details of Sarah’s process, see her artist blog.)

Also in my care package were several packets of green tea and Sarah’s delicious and spicy turkey broth.  All the makings for good healing!

Care Package and Setup

The extreme bitter taste of Cerasee is well-known around here, and Sarah advised me it’s best to drink it hot – and even to throw it down quickly out of a shot glass!  She recommended just 1/2 cup per day, since she brewed it strong.  Sarah also cautioned me that it would give me lots of energy and make me hungry.  I already had another batch of comfort food on the stove, so that was perfect timing.

Another healthy meal?

What IS it with me and fake-cheese pasta?!  For decades, it’s been my go-to when I’m feeling bad for any number of reasons.  Beau was away (just a same-day business trip to Nassau), so I was on my own for lunch and going straight for the bad stuff. Anyway . . . lunch was cooking, and I got ready to take my bush medicine.

Gulping It Down

The tea and broth both traveled to me in hot, glass containers. I poured the darker one into a glass so that I could drink my tea right away.  Hmmmm, something’s not right, that smells like poultry! Oops!  Sure enough, I made the wrong assumption as to which liquid was which, and I hadn’t paused to conduct the sniff test in my congested state.  Glad I figured it out before I started doing shots of turkey broth!

After returning the turkey broth to its jar for later enjoyment, I started over.  I dipped my finger in the tea for a taste test.  YEP! BITTER!  Actually, my tiny taste wasn’t bad as I expected after hearing Cerasee’s flavor so maligned.  And the tea had a pleasant, citrusy smell.  Nonetheless, I thought I’d heed Sarah’s advice and slug it down quickly out of a shot glass.

Bottoms up!

Grimacing in anticipation of my shot of Cerasee Tea

AAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH.  I really can’t identify phonetic spelling to convey the guttural sounds that emerged from me after each shot. My 1/2 cup dosage took me 4 shots to complete, and I hollered after each one.  The stuff was so NASTY that I couldn’t help it!  (No offense to Sarah!  I’m certain that her tea concoction tastes waaaaay better than plain Cerasee!)  And I don’t really know why yelling helps, but it does!

Angel – unperturbed by the hootin’ and hollerin’ in the kitchen.

I was pleased with myself for downing the bitter stuff, and I happily anticipated a Bush cure.  I began to feel a very slight burn in my belly.  It wasn’t uncomfortable, just enough to let me know something was going on. The Cerasee was working its magic!

Meanwhile, I proceeded to devour my super-processed pasta. Whether I was hungry per the tea or just per usual, I don’t really know, but I enjoyed it!  Not too long after my lunch, I went back to bed for another long nap.  So much for extra energy!

Up to Date

Fast forward . . . I’ve continued to rest and give myself time to completely rid the flu from my body.  I’ve repeated the tea-shot process each day. (Since Beau is back, this has been accompanied by turkey broth and healthy meals.  However, it remains accompanied by guttural yells.) I’ve also kept up with Theraflu in the evenings for a slow-sipping, savory tea (sans yelling) that knocks me right out for a good night’s rest.

I’m feeling good and ready to leave this flu season in the dust!  Let’s get on with some island adventures!  Hopefully you are keeping your wellness up, too, so what are your next adventures?