The funny thing is that Hispanics are not the only ones that believe in these remedies.  My mom is from West Virginia and, being from a Native American background, she grew up with very similar remedies as my Mexican father.  I guess it’s the whole Indian thing.

Many people criticize homeopathic remedies labeling them “old wive’s tales” or “folklore”.  However, I can attest that many of them actually work.  I remember my father telling me that whenever he had an earache as a child, his grandfather would roll a newspaper into a cone shape, stick it in my father’s ear, light it, and blow the smoke into the ear.  Yes, it worked!  The pain would subside and my dad would go about his day.

Back in the old days, Latinos visited curanderos.  A curandero is a holistic healer that can cure everything from a cough to a mental illness.  Curanderos are not as popular these days, but they were very highly respected in society.  People trusted them for herbs and teas.  From what I’ve been told, these remedies were successful.  So, why are we so suspicious these days?  Maybe the older, less educated Latinos knew more than we know.  Most older people are very skeptical regarding prescription medications and their ingredients.  I think they’re probably right to feel this way.

I’m always amazed when I see commercials advertising prescription medications.  After they tell you how great the medication is, they say, “Side effects may include:  diarrhea, nausea, internal bleeding, constipation, blindness, deafness, acne, rash, loss of limbs, heart attack, or even death.”  What???  Geez, a simple sinus pill causes all that?  I’ll just skip the pill, and drink some warm Vernor’s while wrapping my head in Vick’s as my father suggests. Or, maybe I’ll put my head over a pot of steaming water until everything drains out of my head as my mother suggested.

The funniest thing ever is the commercial for the personal injury lawyer that says, “If you’ve ever taken this drug and as a result suffered a stroke, heart attack, or death, call me!”  What???  If I died, how can I call you?

Truthfully, I trust my parents’ remedies and I’ll stick to them for as long as possible.  After all, the worst thing that could happen is that I’ll overdose on Vernor’s or tea and pee myself to death.

“Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.” Redd Foxx

Author: Rhonda Gutierrez