Post Warning: While not overly graphic, this post does reference gastrointestinal issues and likely should not be read while eating.
I want to believe in natural healing.
The ability to rid the body of bad mojo.
I certainly do believe in medical miracles and that there are medical phenomena that just cannot be explained. But to rid the body of bad spirits? I’m not quite sure yet.
Peruvian culture is full of natural, even sometimes spiritual, medicine. And last night, my host mom did her best to heal my recent stomach pain using a method that I’m sure had been passed down several generations.
My misery began upon waking Friday morning. I was nauseas, had diarrhea, and felt like I hadn’t slept all night (despite actually sleeping for quite a while). An hour later, I took the generic Peace Corps version of Pepto Bismal tablets and drank some water, both of which came up just as quickly as they had gone down.
I could tell that I was in for a rough day, certain that I’d join the Peace Corps Pooped Pants Club.
After telling my host sister that I was under the weather, she made soup for breakfast and I did my best to eat what I could. I slurped up the chicken broth and noodles, which reminded me of the bagged Top Ramen from home. Unfortunately, the soup didn’t stick.
I kept reminding myself Friday that my illness could be worse. It could be the norovirus again (shout out J-man for sharing that disease and giving me perspective on gastrointestinal illnesses). I had faith that which some Gatorade and Saltine crackers, I’d make it through the day. And, thanks to my site mate who brought me those two, I did.
Saturday, I woke up nausea free. Excited that I could go to our regional meeting and the beach, I ate breakfast and headed to the regional capital. As I walked, I could feel my breakfast fighting with my stomach. Luckily the day passed without any problems, just slight nausea.
Which brings me to yesterday, where my stomach decided to once again wage war against me. This time though, my host family decided to wage war on my stomach. Or whatever was eating at me.
As I lied face up on my bed, my host mom felt my stomach, looking to see if I had “verguenza,” quite literally shame, disgrace or embarrassment. She assessed that I did, in fact, have verguenza by pushing on my stomach with her thumb in my belly button. She then began to push on my stomach, almost like a massage- but much deeper and more painful, every now and then turning to throw the bad vibes out while saying a word I wish I remembered. She did this a few times before I turned on my stomach. She then popped my back, and again threw out the bad vibes. Then she popped each one of my fingers and toes. When she was finished, she told me to spit out the bad. And that was it.
I was skeptical.
But, I woke up this morning feeling fine and have only had mild nausea today. As a skeptic, I checked in with our Peace Corps doctors who said that it was likely a bacterial infection just working its course.
So, did my host mom’s natural remedy work? Or was I just going to be better today regardless? I suppose I’ll never know.
And, for the record, I still have not joined the elite Peace Corps Pooped Pants Club.
But, for your enjoyment, I will share this awesome video:
Brittany McGee 