There are three potted aloe vera plants sitting on my mum’s balcony. They look quite healthy despite being neglected. I can’t remember to water them. Still, they continue to survive rather well. I also don’t remember to use the slimy aloe vera gel to soothe a burn or a cut. It does work but it’s not top-of-mind. I actually use toothpaste. The minty variety is nice and cooling, and it does the job.

It was my forgetfulness that triggered long lost memories of when my mum used plants, leaves and herbs to treat tummy aches, colds and coughs, and serious diseases like diabetes and jaundice. Much younger and resourceful, she leveraged on what she knew and used what was available to her to help her family feel ‘better.’

Mental images of my mum hunched over the ‘ammikalu ‘or grinding stone pulverising ‘vepillai’ or neem leaves emerged almost automatically. I was ‘back’ in my hometown in Alor Setar. Mixed with water, she crushed the ‘vepillai’ leaves as she trundled the heavy stone back and forth to form a smooth paste. She ground the leaves for my dad, who had type 2 diabetes. She then rolled the paste into 10 small balls. My dad swallowed 5 in the morning on an empty stomach before he went to work. And, another five more in the evening. My mum prepared this ‘medicine’ for many months to cure or at least regulate my dad’s blood glucose levels. For sure, it was hard work as my mum had no electric grinder or blender at the time. It was also hard work ingesting the awfully bitter neem paste. Did it work for my dad? I’m not sure.

“Neem leaves are loaded with glycosides, triterpenoids, antioxidants and flavonoids, which possess anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-diabetic properties. Several studies have revealed that the anti-diabetic properties of Neem leaves aid insulin to increase the uptake of glucose into fat and muscle cells and, hence, help in maintaining glucose levels in the body[1].” 

Less bitter choices like ginger, fenugreek, cinnamon and curry leaves are also used to control diabetes. For instance, “Consuming curry leaves will reduce insulin sensitivity in your body and reduce the blood glucose levels. Chew on the curry leaves or you can add it to your favourite dishes and salads[2].

I also recalled how my mum and her older cousin sister, set out every evening to gather ‘keelanelli’ or Gale of the wind as it’s known in English, to cure my brother of jaundice. ‘Keelanelli’ grows in fields and along drains, and most anywhere that has moist soil.  At home during one of my semester breaks, I tagged along to help reach the more inaccessible ‘keelanelli’ that grew in my neighbourhood. Like the neem leaves, they were ground into a paste and shaped into balls to be swallowed. After a month, the jaundice was gone. It worked.

“Jaundice is a condition in which the skin, whites of the eyes and mucous membranes turn yellow because of a high level of bilirubin , a yellow-orange bile pigment. Jaundice has many causes, including hepatitis, gallstones and tumors[3].” “Traditionally, ‘keelanelli’ has been used for treating jaundice, hepatitis, kidney stones, hair problems, asthma and fever[4].”

For tummy upsets, my mum swears by ‘omum’ or Bishop’s weed. Boil ‘omum’ seeds. Leave overnight, and drink it in the morning. The easier option is to drink store bought bottled ‘omum’ water. It takes like kerosene but it helps release wind and bloating. It works, and quickly too.

Also for the tummy was my mum’s version of an enema or colonic irrigation, castor oil. She used to administer this disagreeable oily concoction during the school breaks. Half a cup of castor oil downed first thing in the morning. Followed by a spoonful of sugar to mask its awful taste. Didn’t work. And, run several times around the house to keep our minds off the smell every time it repeated. Didn’t work. Whatever was in it was supposed to restore gut health by eliminating the bad stuff in the stomach by inducing diarrhea. Yes, really. Two weeks ago, my mum narrated this ‘treatment’ to her palliative doctor who was left speechless. I chimed in that the word she was looking for was child abuse. Did it work? I doubt it.

My mum’s other remedy for colds and coughs are ‘tulasi’ or basil and’ karpuravalli’ or oregano.  When sister number 3 was caring for our mum, she blended ‘tulasi’ and ‘karpuravalli’ with water and made it into a drink. Did it stave off the cough? I’m not sure. It might have if my mum continued to drink the mixture, which thankfully didn’t taste vile. 

I reckon like all special diets, supplement programs, exercise regimes, home remedies require time to work. And, remembering to eat, ingest, drink or apply them.