HERBAL MEDICINES ARE NOT TO BE TOYED WITH

Ardent users of public transport would attest to the fact that there are lots of things that one gets to see and hear when one takes public transport. You join a bus and there’s someone standing to share God’s word with you, someone else telling you about a recent business or a new development in the system. Or, the most common one, when you join a bus and having someone peddle one herbal medicine or the other.

I always wonder at the proliferation of “mobile doctors” in the system. No matter where you find yourself, there always seems to someone or the other selling you the latest herbal wonder cure. It’s either you’re being told about cinnamon, medicine for body pains, sexual weakness, issues with menstruation, and so many more.

Aside knowing that there exists an association for people who practise herbal medicine, I recently got to know that there are actual herbal medical doctors who are trained for six (6) years and deployed to herbal clinics. After having an encounter with one, she told me there are only two clinics of the sort attached to public hospitals. I was a bit taken aback because there are lots and lots of clinics using herbs as medicine.

In my quest to suppress the different perspectives I was having on herbal medicine, I took to asking some questions to get things clear once and for all and we took to talking at length.

According to the herbal doctor, there exist two different types of medicine. The Orthodox or Allopathic, popularly known as the “white man’s medicine” and then the herbal medicine. The former has been used extensively and when we visit the hospitals, that is what we are mostly given. These medicines come about as a result of taking the herbs through various procedures to extract the exact content needed to cure a particular ailment. As such, these medicines only have cure to mostly a particular discomfort one may be feeling. This is however not so with the herbal medicines. It is in its totality, a substance that does more than just giving relief. Whereas the “white man’s medicine” might be to suppress or control a malfunction in one’s system, herbal medicine does more than that. It goes a long way to eliminate whatever discomfort one is feeling.

It is true that humans have been exposed to the white man’s medicine extensively and as such, know very little or almost nothing about herbal medicine. However, herbal medicine has assumed some prominence in Ghana quiet recently. When asked why this is so, she said that research has shown that even though it has been in existence for long, the use of it is prevalent in some parts of the world and they are doing just fine. Since the world is now a global village, the use of herbal medicine extensively is now being incorporated into our public health centers.

I  also took to asking her how we can differentiate the quacks from the original herbal practitioners. She claims that one should not always be on the lookout and not buy medicines that are just sold anywhere. Our health must be taken seriously and as such, we must give priority to that. Should you be experiencing anything which is not normal, get to the nearest hospital and you will be treated right. If the white man’s medicine is being prescribed to you and it is not working for you, you can ask your doctor to put you on herbal medication. It is done interchangeably with little or no problems recorded. Doctors with white man’s prescriptions can refer patients to herbal trained doctors and vice versa.

There has been a lot of successful stories on the use of herbal medicine and it can go a long way to even eradicate health cases that have come up if it is done holistically. A lot of misconceptions have come up . If you wish to get things right once and for all, just walk into any health facility to get the right thing done at the right time, and place.

We only get to live once and we cannot live what we have left with regrets.

HUMAN RELATIONSHIP​S

HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

"No human can ever live as an island, there definitely will be a time where you will need to speak to someone" . These were words that kept running through my mind as I walked out of a leadership seminar some time ago. Then I thought, what happens to introverts, the people who are very reserved or love to be by themselves?  Is it a matter of inferiority complex or what?

Humans are such that we are responsible for our every actions and even inactions be it being alone or in an organization working with other people. Different people work together to achieve a common goal. That's to say we are to communicate, brainstorm, criticize and so on in order to attain a particular objective.

When one says interactions, there exists healthy and unhealthy interactions. But even before that, interactions is all about some form of relationship that exists to allow people work together to achieve a common goal. Even though there exists intrapersonal activities, what we have mostly is interpersonal interactions. Sometimes people act in such a way that you get confused as their true intentions but in order to get rid of this confusion, there​ are ways one can enhance good relationships with others.

To begin with,there should be an open communication. More often than not, we come into contact with different people and they all do not have the same attitude. It could be that people for the fear of others taking advantage of their "niceness" tend to always keep a straight face. Open communication is to avail yourself so that people can approach you when the need arises.
Then comes listening. As a human being, we are advised to talk less and listen more. If you are to be in charge of anything, it does not warrant you to always be shouting orders at people that your utterances go unquestioned. It can't be like that always. Should you live a life like that people will not be willing to go the extra mile for you and in order to get things done and done properly, some people have to take it upon themselves to sacrifice for the well being of whatever is at hand.
Then comes tolerance and respect. As said early on, humans​ vary  when it comes to attitude but in order to ensure a healthy interaction, there must be tolerance and respect. Should someone even offend you, there should be a nice way to go about it. Everyone has a rainy day but how we handle it a long way to affect our interactions with others
Getting personal with people is yet another way to enhance healthy interactions. Getting personal in this sense does not mean to get too intimate with each other. There should be free will or oneness. People happen to be in places where for a long time, they barely speak any words to each other let alone get together for some good time or even to know how each other is faring. Work to be done does not always mean that one should have a stern look or always be in a business mood. Studies in psychology have shown that being all strict or stern creates intimidation and work cannot go on smoothly. There is the need to lighten the mood once in a while, shake off some stress so people can feel at ease to do what is expected of them.

Should one find oneself in any organization, it might be that you won't be there forever. Even if things happen to be bad, speak no evil of it because you never know when things will change. Inasmuch as it might be "bad", work out what you have to do, carve a niche for yourself then of any opportunity comes up to better yourself move ahead with it. It is far better than always speaking evil and then come some time, you are discovered and sacked! That will be too much of embarrassment for yourself. Everywhere one finds oneself will at a later time be a reference point come sometime. Egos are boosted or deflated based on how we interact with others. Everybody loves attention hence interaction with people will definitely go a long way to affect you.
Someone might ask, so what is the way forward then? Well we all have got roles to play and amidst it all, we should try to be conscious about working in teams, try getting to know each other better, hangout with others, celebrate people openly but rebuke in private and then be free or open but mindful of boundaries.

Every human being has a personal dignity and it has to be taken seriously. You don't have to compromise all in the name of getting a favour but then also you need to know just how to interact with people so you get thinks done at the right time and the right place. Just as a local adage puts it, " Famine does not warrant you eating just anything or everything".

THE DANGERS OF SHORTCUTS

THE DANGERS OF SHORTCUTS

"Driver, stop the car"!, she ordered. "You, pointing to one passenger at the other end of the seat step out of the car!". The look on the guy's face was priceless as he was wondering what wrong he had done.

Being four (4) in the cab, there had been an odd smell in the car throughout the journey. I was soon to alight, however, so I wasn't going to comment about it. Unknown to us, there was a police woman on board who was fortunately or unfortunately was not in uniform, that's to say was in mufti. Having reached her destination, she pointed at one passenger to step out of the car with her. I was curious as to what was happening because the young man being asked to step out of the car had a confused look.

After the two stepped out, the driver as if reading my thoughts, started telling us what was amiss. According to the driver, the guy who was asked to step out with the woman was carrying "weed" in his bag and since the smell couldn't be suppressed in the bag he was carrying, the police woman caught the smell and had to arrest him. Interestingly, that explained the odd smell in the car.

As I tried a quick flashback to recall the young man's actions throughout the journey,I remembered noticing that his eyes were really red. While in the car, he was singing something so off tune as compared to what was being played on the radio in the car. That even though not  much information, made me realize the guy was high on something. The car sped away and I couldn't help but ask myself why on earth that should happen. Why would a young man decide to endanger his life by carrying "weed" around. Inasmuch as it pays financially ,as I hear, is it worth the risk of a life? I doubt it.

What on earth could have made this guy muster courage to carry weed around? Could it be that he is having a really tough time in life? Well, one could never know. But then again, come what may, is carrying of weed around for quick money the best you could ever settle for? Again, I doubt not.

Often than not, people resort to different things to make ends meet. When I say different things, it ranges from everything and anything one may ever know. Selling all kinds of things which means encountering different levels of risk don't go unnoticed.

Life has it that some are born into wealthy families whereas others need to struggle and worm their way through life. There are also others who exploit others to keep on accumulating wealth at the expense of others.

When things take a different turn,some people reluctantly take on highly-risked opportunities in order to keep their head " above water". Amidst these, there is the tendency of trading in illegal drugs like Indian hemp, cocaine, caffeine or even tobacco. All these are not to be traded but due to some difficulties in life,  some people would prefer a short cut to wealth and hence trade in them.

Research has it  shown that these drugs when taken into the human body tends to be harmful to. They are so bad that they can end you in a mental institution when you become addicted to them because  some will destroy some cells in your body. Then when you think you've done enough harm to yourself and wish to stop, it is usually difficult to refrain from it and this could result one being locked away somewhere for rehabilitation.

Inasmuch as times have proven hard and you need to struck the metal harder than usual to make ends meet, drugs are definitely not something one should resort to. As the famous saying goes, you only live once. Lauren Oliver once said," maybe you can afford to wait, maybe for you, there's tomorrow. Maybe for you, there's one thousand tomorrows or even three thousand, maybe ten thousand. So much time you can bath in it, roll around it, let it slide like coins through your fingers. So much time you can waste it. But some of us, there's only today and the truth is, you never really know". Stay safe and make sure to make all the right choices and am certain you won't regret it.

BEADS, A NATURAL BEAUTY

BEADS, A NATURAL BEAUTY

A lover of beads is one of the few things I could be described as. Whereas some would say bracelets or necklaces made with metals (with some being personalized) is the "ish", I also say beads make me feel like a rockstar. Should our paths cross, you would realize this truth. Meet me on my way to church and you'd see different beads (hardly one in number)in it's beautiful colours on my wrist and around my neck.
Sometimes, I wonder how I came to love beads and hardly wanting to step out without at least one being on my wrist. Get for me a gift of anything bead-like or a purely African made bead and I will be indebted to you as compared to the metal stuff.
Once when I found myself in a town where beads were like an everyday routine some people made as a handiwork, I just couldn't help but just stare. I lost track of time due to how beautiful I found the art with the blend of the bed colours till someone tapped me on the shoulder. "Young lady, I've been watching you from a distance and you've not moved from where you've been standing. Is everything alright?" That came from an old woman and I just couldn't help but feel a mixture of shyness and joy. Grandma, it's nothing really but I just love beads and having chanced on how it's being done has made me glued to my spot. Come with me, she said and we started walking with her doing much of the talking.
Beads have been in existence thousands of years and they are locally produced by indigenous people of the African continent and trade beads that have travelled from other parts of the world. Some beads are arts which is a family tradition where tools and techniques are passed on from one generation to the other. Being a handmade art, it is labour intensive but it is rewarding as it comes in different varieties of beauty.

Beads are made from different things which includes stones, clay, plant materials like palm nuts and bamboo stems, animal materials such as bones and marine shells and amazingly currently with glass.

Beads in our part of the world are worn at ceremonies such as coming of age, circumcision, marriage, burial and local festivities. But on any normal day, you will find for yourself people who have some on their wrists or necks.

Beads I interestingly found out had meanings and they ranged from pride, beauty, culture and power.
As if by coincidence, we chanced on a ceremony in the town. As observing as I am, I noticed beads almost everywhere. But I realized some were very different from others. Some came in big forms and was worn by a man I thought for myself as being really important. I asked the woman how come my beads are smaller as compared to his. She then told me there are beads means for both sexes; the males have theirs bigger and females a bit smaller.
She continued to say beads worn have different meanings. Should an ignorant person wear just any bead, someone who has knowledge about it will find it out of place. Before we could part ways, she realized aside the beads I had on, there was a particular one I wore alone on my wrist. She asked why and I said that was a gift from my mum. Interesting, she said and then tasked me to take very good care of it because unlike the others, this particular one is an ancient but really good bead which is very scarce to find currently. I couldn't feel anymore happy because I was just basking in my mum's praise.

Come what the meaning may be, I would always prefer a blend of it all because what I would love to always portray is the beauty of beads.

A MOTHER'S LOVE, IRREPLACEABLE

A MOTHER'S LOVE, IRREPLACEABLE.

"My dear, my child, please, don't go, come back, he's your father and just wants what's best for you, don't walk out on me". These are words I unknowingly eavesdropped when I happened to pass behind someone's window one evening. These words, I thought to myself are filled with a mixture of pain and love. Words which doesn't come out of just anyone's mouth. Words spoken by a female and I thought, if not a mother, who else would speak such words.

Growing up, I was and I still am a witness to several homes where parents exist and each has a way of bringing up their children. Should there be the absence of one parent, the other takes it upon him or herself to see to it that the children hardly lack anything.

In the course of bringing up a child, since one is never perfect, mistakes are sure to be made but in it all, it is just for the good of the children.
Everyone on earth has a woman in his or her life. Not just any woman but one woman who inspite of everything, will just want to see her children smile. Should there be instances where one feels ill-treated , the mere fact of having carried you for nine solid months and seen to it that you come on earth in one piece is enough proof that someone has more than just "mouth-love" for you.

There are instances where in a family, a particular child brings much headache but even amidst all these, a mother decides to show much love. Not to spoil the child more as some might say,but to try correcting the child with love.

Being privy to a happening of a couple, I choose to share their story.
Married at a young age, both man and woman found it difficult to make ends meet but with hope that everything will be fine, they stuck together. Then came instances where their first two children were taken ill. Sickness hardly known to anyone and they had to resort to going to different hospitals and prayer camps. Much resources were lost, fights came as a result of frustration but the mother stood firm saying " it will all end good" . Life still goes on and things begin to turn well, the children became well and they were even added on with two other siblings. Amidst all these, the mother will just do anything to see that her children are comfortable and this she did inspite of all hardships that were encountered and she still is encountering them. Prayer is what she resorts to and bit by bit she still holds in to "it will all end good".

I chanced on a video which talks of several things mothers will do just to see that their children don't suffer same fate as theirs. Things people will normally not do is what they find themselves doing all to see their children feel comfortable.  Should there be instances where an issue comes up, some fathers out of frustration might give up on the children but it is never so with mothers. The hustle and tussle of pregnancy alone is enough to always give a standing novation to mothers but that alone, is even an  infinitesimal display as to what they go through afterwards.

One could go on and on about what a mother will do but it just is unending. Words are never enough to express a mother's love. Some might have lost their mothers but memories alone are good enough to hold on to. Never for once think a mother is comfortable to see her children suffer. Some may act strong-willed in the presence of their children but accidentally budge into their rooms or sneak in on them and you'd realize they are always lost in thoughts just on how to provide much more for their children. A mother's love is and will always be irreplaceable, never for once think vile about a mother. Should there be instances where out of anger or frustration something painful has been uttered, words spoken are hardly retrieved but an apology and a genuine changeover is good enough to get back into a mother's good braces.
To all mothers, a grenade can't be caught for you, planes cannot just be jumped off for you but in subtle ways, you will be forever cherished.

CHILDREN, SOME MYSTERY ON THEIR OWN

CHILDREN, SOME MYSTERY ON THEIR OWN

Walking back from work exhausted one day, I spotted some children walking towards me. I noticed they had been staring at me from a distance and I wondered if there was something on me which shouldn't be there. Getting nearer, I was contemplating if I should say a word to them or not. Then I was "pulled" out of my thought by a simple question. "Aunty, please did you slip or something"? I was taken aback but decided to ignore him politely with a simple smile. But the question came again, louder this time, and the children together with the one who asked the question stood Infront of me waiting for an answer. Honestly, I was lost and suddenly became tight-lipped but they were waiting for an answer so I just nodded and left them.

I get stares everytime and everyday when I step out and it will be very silly to admit that I don't get shaken most of the time. But most often, I just brace myself with the simple words "it is well" or "I am the motivation some seek". Getting these stares, makes one very uncomfortable but to the curious and bold ones who muster the courage to ask, I give an abridged version of the story. The pain with which is it said lessens most often.

Not to say there is something wrong with me or something but I noticed as human as we are, people naturally stare just that some do it more than others. Back to the children, I was still deep in thoughts about them when I reached home and I didn't know what made the child so bold to approach me to ask his question. Then it dawned on me that maybe, or for a fact, the environment people find themselves in, either makes one bold or timid.

Being at a totally new environment for some months, I daresay this is very true and it is a habit people find comfortable putting on as an attitude. During my early times as a "stranger", as soon as I pass by, people start whispering and sometimes it is very loud for me to hear that what is being said is all about me. And honestly speaking, they don't care if you happen to hear them or not.Things asked mostly centers on "who is she" and "what's her motive of coming here".

Inasmuch as it irks me when these are being asked either right Infront of me or behind me with the simple notion that their being rude and nosy, I came to a conclusion that they (the people) are worried about their security. I say this because once they get answers to their questions and make you out, they automatically relax around you and become very welcoming.

In other places, due to the hustle people go through, people are barely noticed. It takes something as much as a mishap before would be "paused" out of their busy schedule to ask, "what happened" and "how come?" This makes no room for personal security. People are sure to say security gadgets are all in place to check strangers or anything strange within the vicinity, their houses and their rooms. Things which do not happen within one's house are almost always ignored because a popular saying "di wu lane mu" (which literally means,mind your own business) will be said to you. But with all these, where tends to be the role of neighbours acting like "actual" watchdogs, if I may say, for you?

Still about the children, I again came up with another realization that their upbringing is also a factor to the bold attitude they possess. Mind you, being bold is very different from being rude. With some, their parents who serve as their first role models in life, confront issues in a bold manner and hence, they pick up this trait. When there is a problem at hand, people are made to cool off and then afterwards it is addressed to the hearing of all. This makes it such that views are expressed and "unfamiliar feelings" are done away with.

But for some others, timidity is what they are exposed to. Things go wrong but they are never addressed properly and "mixed feelings" is what they move about with. Instead of trashing things out, the mere sound of the elderly ones, if harsh tend to make the little ones scurry off. Then an impression is created. An impression that, things whether good or bad are to be left as they are for peace to prevail. Whether is yields pain or not, it is meant to be endured till some "breakthrough" comes.

This results in children shielding so much that it causes some psychological issues for them. Depression, inferiority complex or low self esteem are but the few I will mention. These might start without them knowing but when it gets out of hand, it might just be a miracle that will be needed

Children are a gift from God and as admonished, we are to train them in a way so that they may not depart from it. Be it the right or wrong teaching, it will always come back to hit you. As guardians, help them open up to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.

AFTER MARRIAGE, WHAT ELSE?

AFTER MARRIAGE, WHAT ELSE?

A lover of cool music is what I could be described as when I sometimes find myself idle . Coupled with the gentle notes from a keyboard, or whatever instrument is being used which makes goosebumps appear on the skin is more than enough to switch my mind to another level. Here I was, in a church, not where I am not  rooted to worship though, and the leader of the church amidst soothing strings which got the atmosphere "charged" started speaking with much vim. Then he asked this question, not to one particular person but everyone. " What do you need"? Amidst the several mumblings, I unknowingly held on to a particular response; " I NEED MARRIAGE". Don't blame me, but instantly, there was a mental note to check the person out later and when I did, I was awed.

Behind me, where the response came from was a pretty girl,maybe not that matured in my sight and probably some elderly people will agree with me but that was exactly what I heard loud and clear from her. Curiosity took the better part of me and I did a bit of background check. Again, I sat by myself with mixed feelings. Revelations from my little digging brought to light that my "interesting" friend was, if I could say, not ready for marriage. But then again, who am I to judge? That's her topmost priority and should someone be bold enough to read my thoughts and come upfront to me, am certain to be told it's none of my business.

Having been a witness to quite a number of weddings, I'd say the rate at which people get married currently is very alarming. There's no single weekend without a marriage ceremony not being held in a vast number of Churches. Even though it is a sight to behold taking into consideration the decorations as well as how so much in "love" the couples look, what happens at the aftermath of it all?

Being on some platforms, I get to read varied posts from people. Ranging from all manner of happenings be it amusing or serious. Once while idly scrolling through posts by people on a platform, I got sight- locked on one particular post and I just kept going to and fro trying to get the reason for it being shared. As captioned, "AFTER MARRIAGE, WHAT NEXT?" To him, it has been something he has been pondering over for sometime and he sought to find answers and that was why he shared it on that platform.

Being by himself with this thought, he identified the legal right to have sexual intercourse with your partner and then should children come out of the deed, fair enough. But what actually can be the one sole reason for marriage. Sometime back in school when this topic was taught, we were made to understand that marriage centers around companionship and procreation. But then again, is that all there is to it?

Looking back to marriages by our elders, theirs have been one that stands for long. Even if it was instituted through arranged means, one can say for a fact that it stands for long come what may. A look around might make known some "poor" reasons as to why the "marriage calendar" needs to have a review. For some, it might be out of pregnancy and due the the shame that might come to the woman and the family, hasty preparations have to be made for a quick ceremony. Even if it was in the mind's eye of the couple to marry sometime, things have to be rushed. For others, it might be pressure from people around that you're aging, you've accumulated some wealth or maybe the supposed need for a grand child. But really, will the marriage be about you who is doing the pressurizing or the one who will be in the marriage?

As quickly as some wish to get married, the same way they wish to be out of it maybe because they are uncomfortable or that it wasn't done right. I am not an expert to speak on authority but as usual, it is just my thoughts at work once again. Divorce cases abound after a few months of being in a marriage and it is really heart breaking. Of what use is it after all the cost incurred and after vows have been said out loud in the sight of God and other witnesses? Since the marriage was held publicly, the divorce I suggest should be done publicly as well. After all, what could be the worst of it?

The "for better for worse" aspect of the vows during a marriage ceremony needs to be resounded to all. It is not a child's play when one can just jump in and when you are fed up, you shake the dust of your feet to go back to your old state. For the pains taking part, I know it to be a lifetime decision and journey so long as you draw the conclusion of wanting to get married.

I daresay something is just wrong somewhere but should pain be endured with a proper planning, it never promises to be all rosy but for it's worth, one can enjoy it while it lasts. It is not about how good one looks on the day of marriage, never about the number of bridesmaids or groomsmen, never about how the wedding becomes the talk of the town but rather how you can hold it all together and say I am never swallowing my vows or to retract them.