Even though this article is satyrical, the folk medicines mentioned were and are practised in Trinidad and Tobago. I have followed with great interest the spate of articles on herbs, traditional medicine, natural medicine, etc in the local Press. I note that AIDS and tuberculosis can be cured by Chinese herbal medicine and night blindness by sweet potato. Here are a few simple remedies.
Preventative medicine is the best in some instances.
To avoid strokes or facial palsy, both of which twist the face - don't sleep in the moonlight. To avoid flu, colds, pneumonia, bronchitis - cover your head from dew, don't put your hand in water after ironing or stand near an open fridge. A string of jets around a baby's hand protects against gastro enteritis. If the baby does get it, a good licking with a branch of sweetbroom dipped in holy water does the trick. For pneumonia, colds, bronchitis, tuberculosis- Boil and drink Bors canoe.