I have discovered a herbalist… a medical herbalist right here in Windhoek, Namibia.

  I am actually pretty excited about it, and I have been telling everyone about her and its drawn different responses from a number of people. The one reaction that seems to have been expressed by at least 90% of the folks I have spoken to about her, is ‘A herbalist…do u mean a witch doctor?’

And no I haven’t discovered or procured the services of a witch doctor. I am just part of a generation that’s had enough of taking pills or modern medicines in fact I feel they make you sicker. But I am also part of a continent that is rich in traditional healing methods. It is to my understanding that there have always been people who were skilled in the art of using plants and organic material (without chemical additives) to heal ailments.

I also understand how what has always been done has somewhat been discredited, and undervalued and preference been given to modern chemical medicine as if it’s somehow better. And let’s face it you would believe modern medicine is much better if you believed all those adverts wealthy Pharmaceutical peddle through the media. But I am not here to discredit them, I am here to pay credit, where it’s due!

This woman (the herbalist as I fondly call her) came recommended to me by my friends’ boss, and I admit before I went for a scheduled appointment I had no clue what to expect.

And so when I entered her office, and found a warm, inviting and comfortable space I was immediately put at ease. Her bookshelf is full of books on ancient practices in the east on herbal healing, and books on natural herbs indigenous to Africa. She also grows her own ‘herbs’ and organic plants which she uses in her treatments. The herbalist herself has to be the most eccentric person I have ever met, like a character out of a harry potter movie.

As we go through the appointment, she spends time getting to know me and understanding what kind of healing I am after. I tell her about the menstrual pain I have been subjected to for over a year and immediately she identifies that I am missing key vitamins in my diet but also she recommends a herb that I should drink on a daily basis for at least 8months just to ease and stabilise the pain.

It’s been over a month now and I kid you not the herb she prescribed (yes prescribed, she is a medical herbalist licensed and everything) for me, has so far done the following: substantially reduced the pain and left me feeling more energised and happier!

Now maybe it is all in my head, but thanks to her I am appreciating a science that has been forgotten but that still persists and still has much value.