Generic medicine

The use of generic medicines has become common practice in these times when many commodities have become unaffordable. Of late, I have been troubled by rheumatism in my ankle when I walk. The doctor told me it was an old man's disease and that there was nothing he could do about it. When troubled by bouts of this affliction, I usually get a painkilling injection and swallow a few tablets to tide me over. However, this time I was surprised at the high price of the tablets. Many other patients in the hospital drugstore were also grumbling about the high cost of medicines.

Coincidentally, a voracious consumer of herbal medicines advised me to drink ginger tea. I diligently drank the tea and after a week or so I could once again take my daily morning walk, which usually lasts for an hour. The ginger tea makes me pee more frequently at night, which is of course beneficial for my kidney, which is prone to producing stones.

Another wonderful generic medicine is minyak tawon (bee oil). A certain old lady told me that one day her son inadvertently slammed the car door on his 7-year-old child. The boy's hand was squashed in between the door and the car's body and he naturally screamed in agony. His grandmother immediately applied minyak tawon to the afflicted hand and when the boy was later taken to see a doctor, the physician said his hand was fine and no medical treatment was required.

My grandson (13 years of age) has to take five papaya fruit seeds three times a day in order to stave off a worsening in his eyesight.

A. DJUANA

Jakarta