I’ve posted on here before about growing up without
medical care. I’ve never had immunization shots. I was born in my parents’
bedroom with lay midwives. I never visited a doctor or had any medicine until I
left the group at the age of twenty-one.
When I was young, I had a small glass of wine and
said the words, In Jesus’ name whenever I felt sick or couldn't sleep. If I
had an injury – from a sprained wrist to the time a boy shot a staple into my
eye using an industrial stapler – my parents (or sometimes an old guy from
church) rubbed extra virgin olive oil onto the affected area while saying, In Jesus’ name.
When folks from church asked for prayer, we prayed
for them (silently). If someone was dangerously sick, we sometimes fasted while
praying for them.
I still practice faith healing. When my children are sick or injured, prayer
is my go to. I use bandages and children’s Tylenol as needed. And, if the
situation calls for it, I take them to doctors’ offices and the occasional
hospital. I also pray for friends, family, and anyone else who requests it.
I still rely on God for my health and well-being.
Well, full disclosure, I also use home remedies. I would occasionally check in
with a medical professional if I could afford health insurance – but adjuncts
do not get benefits.
Nine days ago, I came home from my MFA graduation in
New Hampshire with a gift from the East coast = a terrible flu. Last week, the
first week of the term, I pretty much sleep-walked through all my lectures. I
had a huge stack of essays that needed grading, but kept hoping all week that I’d
wake up the next day feeling better. By Sunday night – day seven – I was still
feeling like death. I had seen the recipe below being passed around Facebook
and hadn’t tried it out because I didn’t feel well enough to make it to a
grocery store.
But it was Sunday and I had a lot of stuff to catch
up on before Monday morning, so I called my parents (who live a mile away) and
talked my dad into picking up the ingredients and delivering them to me. In my
desperation, I never considered how that stuff would taste – horrible! But, I started feeling better within an
hour. I continued drinking doses until my original batch was gone, and it made
a huge difference.
So, here’s my question: is that faith or medicine?
What about drinking wine? When I was a teenager, a girl from church instructed
me to eat pineapple for cramps. I also ate soup when I was sick. And honey for
a sore throat – and I gargled with salt water.
What’s the difference between “natural remedies” and
medicine?
