It seems like every week some scientific study touts newly-discovered benefits of little-known herbs. The truth is that people have been treating their aches and pains with “herbal medicine” for centuries.
In Penang, many in the Chinese-Malaysian community still practice these old ways, going to shops like the Siew Seng Loong Medical Hall for traditional medicines. Walk inside and you’ll meet Vivian.
“My business is Chinese medicine herbs. This is own family business and together with my sister – my younger sister – my turn to take over until now.”
When a customer comes to the Siew Seng Loong Medical Hall, the ladies will put the healing herbs together in a basket and then crush them into a power.
“We put the medicine into the basket because its easier for us to find it. We mix together the medicine. After that we make it as a powder using like this. Small, small, small. It become like this.”
Not only do Vivian and her sister sell traditional medicines. They also work according to old-school business practices.
“We need to use the true medicine. We cannot do the fake one to sell for the people. The prices – we need to – don’t overtake the prices. We can do by heart. Somebody they don’t have enough money, is very poor people, or maybe happen in the family problem – so they will ask for the medicine – its all FOC – Free of Charge. Its all free for them. This is our dad’s business way.”
So the next time you hear, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away,” don’t laugh it off! There might be a great deal of truth in these old ways, just waiting to be “discovered” by modern science.
Why live life on an empty stomach? Better to visit George Town, Malaysia during the annual Hertitage Celebrations. 2015 was all about “festive foods” or foods related to Penang’s different cultural rituals, traditions or religious ceremonies. What better way to experience another religion than to eat and learn to cook their festive foods?
In July 2015, all around the old town during the Heritage Celebrations , residents from all different cultures and religions opened up their kitchens to strangers. Some taught at home, some at workshops and many right out on the street.
What is very unique about this food festival is that all the foods cooked are ritual foods. That means they are typically used or eaten during a special religious time or ceremony – similarly to Christmas cookies in the United States.
The Muslim community in Penang, for example, prepares Mombu Kanji during Ramadan. It’s basically a porridge, eaten to break the daily fast. It takes around 30 ingredients and three hours to simmer before done.
George Town and Malaysia’s hidden strength is its unique mix of communities, cultures, foods, and languages. Sometimes it takes the tongue to be able to taste the truth!
OXLAEY