Every human have a unique body structure with all kinds of underlining health issues. While some might seem very healthy, it is not because they don't fall sick or immune to illness. It is just that some people understand how their body works, knowing what to eat, what kind of work to engage in and understanding the importance of rest when necessary. A human being is an embodiment of body and soul/mind, while most people only think of enriching their minds by studying has hard as possible and there are some who intentionally abandon the development of their mind and body, it is very important for every human to understand the need to maintain balance.
Will a human be fully functional without an healthy body? The answer is no. It doesn't really matter how much a human spend building up their minds but when the body that is meant to carry out the ideas of the mind isn't functional, there is nothing a human can do. Likewise, it is important to build our minds because in a funny way, there are some psychological illness that might seem like a mind illness but it always affects the body, issues such as depression. Out of the abundance of the mind, the body flourishes, which means when a human mind is filled with knowledge about how to properly manage the body, the body benefits from such knowledge.
Individuals who finds it difficult to maintain this balance eventually have to rely on medication to keep themselves running. Health wise, medications works wonders but there is a limit to everything. Sadly there is a level a human will take a specific medication to the extent the body will grow tolerant of the drug. Which means the drug won't have as much effect as it used to. To the person it might feel like the medication is not working, that is why doctors don't encourage consistent consumption of a specific drug for a long period of time or else the situation warrants it.
One thing I'm, is a case study of my own research, both body and mind. Every time I evaluate myself to seek areas that needs improvement. I don't consider anything in my life to be permanent, I see myself as a work in progress. So anytime something seems off for me, it is always easier for me to detect because I'm already on the look out for it. It is not as if I was born with this instinct, over the years of observing and understanding how my body and my mind works, I have discovered all kind of patterns about myself.
I am not the type that falls sick easily, I'm as healthy as a horse. Apart from that, I also detest hospitals, this is something my body and mind is aware of. While growing up, being aware of the nature of my health, I took advantage of it a lot. My favourite drug was vitamin C and paracetamol. These are the two drugs I consider as medication, it is only once in awhile when I am stuck with malaria, I make use of a drug called Amala, I'm still making use of it till today.
Whenever I'm involved in any form of physical activities I always work myself till I can barely feel my feet. As a result of this, whenever my body eventually reacts to the way I make use of it, I fall ill and it is always severe. Which is one of the reason I am terrified of falling sick because it is not the type that comes and goes with 2 or 3 days. There are times I might not fall sick at all in a year but when the sickness eventually comes for me, it won't be funny at all.
There was a time I was ill when I was in boarding school, I fell from my bed bunk and one thing led to another I became severely ill. My hostel masters had to call my parents to come pick me after they tried all kind of medications within the school. I had already became very slim, to the extent that whenever I look at myself all I see is bones. My mum hurriedly came to my school to pick me up, she looks worried but not terrified. Looking at me, it was as if she already knew what to do. Immediately we left my school, we branched at our family hospital.
Despite being sick, I remember nearly crying my eyes out, my hatred for hospitals is something my entire family knew. She kept reassuring me that I wasn't going there to take any injections or anything, just check up and to pick up some prescriptions. We got to the hospital, just like she said, I was tested, the doctor prescribed some drugs and we left. After we left the hospital, mum branched the market on our way back and bought all kinds of fresh fish, I wasn't really paying attention to what she was buying because all I wanted was just to get home.
Immediately I got home, I was offered food but I couldn't eat, along the line, I had custard. It was easier for me to swallow and I used some of the prescribed drugs, then I slept off. By the time I woke up around evening, the house was filled with a familiar aroma, It was as if all my senses recognise the smell. I was about to walk to the kitchen, when I met my mum half way there. She asked if I was hungry, I wasn't sure but I said yes anyway, i just wanted to have a taste of what ever she had cooked.
I sat down on the dinning table and I was served. After consuming it, I was already sweating on my nose, from there I walked to my bed and that was how I slept till the next day. When I woke up the next morning, I felt a lot better, in fact it was as if I was fully healed. The only issue was that I was still lacking stamina and kept wondering what happened over night. Though I still had to pretend that I was ill just to prevent my dad from rushing me back to school but my mum could see through the act.
This is what I have noticed everytime I was ill while growing up and that was when I realised food works wonders in my body. It is as if whenever I'm ill, my body starts craving a specific meal and if I can have that meal, I will immediately feel a lot better, this is something by mum understood. This practice has stuck with me till now, even if I'm feeling depressed or stressed all I need is food, the right combination of what I crave and rest.
This combination works like magic, knowing this about myself, has made me less dependent on drugs. Though I try as much as possible to treat malaria every three months but sometimes I skip few months. Malaria seems to be the only illness that comes after my peace of mind after a long period of me staying healthy but even malaria isn't immune to a good homemade food combo 😅.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled No more medication in hive learners community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺
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