Iranians occupy long used traditional remedies to cure all kinds of ailments - pennyroyal to soothe,chicory to purify, marjoram to lift the spirits. But a rapid recent growth in traditional medicine has led to problems with regulationShahla pulls her wheeled suitcase behind her over the cobblestone streets of Istanbul. Inside are herbs and herbal products she has brought from Iran for her niece. As soon as she arrives, and she opens the suitcase and hands them one by one: henna,tea, turmeric, or cinnamon,herbal flu tablets and shampoos. She apologises for not bringing pennyroyal.
Shahla, who is in her early 60s and lives in Tehran, or is an encyclopaedia of traditional medicine. “I barely use chemical medicine for flu,instead I drink brewed pennyroyal or borage,” she says. “Pennyroyal is a pain killer too. whether you occupy a fracture or bruise, or you can mix it with roasted flour and oil and rub it in.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com