www.twainhartefamilydental.com

www.twainhartefamilydental.com
Visit our website by clicking the image above

Friday, August 18, 2017

Yesterday’s medicine man is today’s naturalist.

For a break last week, we went to the Siena Camp, where we take meals, to walk around a bit and we met Gideon.  He is the ‘naturalist’ for the Camp.  In introduction, we learned that ‘naturalist’ is the modern name for ‘medicine man’!  Excellent English. He gave us a walking tour of the grounds to show us the different medicinal plants the Maasai have depended on for 100’s of years. 

Aloe Vera is used both internally and externally for a variety of uses.  ‘Sandpaper Plant’ to smooth rough leather, (the leaves were around 00 sandpaper), the ‘sausage tree’ pods to make beer, another tree when you strip the bark it is used to tie sticks together for house building, bamboo and its many uses, and last but not least, the ‘toothbrush tree’.


We were told prior to our departure to NOT bring toothbrushes for the local people.  WHAT?  That is a staple for service trips!  Not in Kenya.  The Maasai use the ‘toothbrush tree’ to brush their teeth.  They break off a branch, whittle it down a bit with the ever-present machete and clean their teeth as they walk around.  Indeed, Grace, one of our Dental Assistants is always ‘brushing’ her teeth with the stick as she prepares the clinic for the day.


Right outside our clinic, mom keeping Junior tidied up, removing and eating insects in his fur.



No comments:

Post a Comment