feature by Mahira Majid. Philtres, natural cure or disaster

Feature by: Mahira Majid Ali

Roll no. 2k14/MC/155

Philtres, Perhaps a natural cure or a disaster.

Some people may find the word ‘Philtre’ mysterious and may be unaware of its meaning. Basically, philtre is a magic potion, a tonic supposed to arouse love, affection and desire for a particular person. But, here philtre is not used in that sense, it is not merely meant to be a love arousal drink. Philtres, at this juncture, actually means Desi Tips, you can say Homemade Tips or simply Totkay, which are being used by many of literate, as well as, illiterate populaces in some or other ways.

Formerly, experienced old women of villages, used to share number of philtres (totkas) regarding health issues with their daughters, daughters-in-laws and other friends and felt happy. They gave number of natural philtres (totkas) like using neem leaves for long and strong hairs, a droplet of desi ghee in ear for reducing headache, using fennel or fennel water for indigestion, turmeric was supposed as a natural antibiotic. It was used heavily as a medicinal paste to clean and heal serious wounds. Ginger was considered great for inflammation, so ginger tea during colds, flu, sore throat, even body aches was used and it worked great. In ancient time, rural community relied on these philtres because there were no doctors or other experts to treat them. So, they experimented these philtres. Many of them found these experimentations beneficial in past, many folks are getting advantage from these philtres till now.

However, at the present time, everyone is becoming health advisor and is offering different philtres (totkas) without any practical evidence. Even, when there is no need of these philtres some people are providing them for their publicity and are feeling pleasure. You might have listened about Dadi Amma kay Totkay, Zubaida Aapa kay Totkay, Bilquees Aapa kay Gharelu Desi Totkay, Naheed Aapa kay Gharelu Totkay and so on. Furthermore, loads of books, internet websites and mobile apps are also introduced on this subject.

Today, philtres (totkay) are widely being used in our daily life. Totkay are very popular not only in old ladies of Pakistan but at the present time, fashionable women also try to find out "Gharelu Nuskhe" to enhance their beauty or solve their health problems. They use philtres for their treatments and mostly do not consult a doctor for their health issues. In addition, men also try to find out Homemade Totkay for beauty. Sometimes, people even do not bother to think about their negative effects and are trusting and using them blindly.

Philtres (totkas) are used all over the world to ease life and make things easier to do. People say, Totkay are simple tips that cost us nothing but solve our daily problems easily and effectively. In today’s time and age, philtres have become so common, that medicines have totally taken a back seat.

People do not weigh up the proficiency of the person giving these philtres and after hearing they set off to make the recipe given by some unskilled people and apply them on their face, hair, body and drink or eat these formulations as well. People think that these homemade remedies are cheaper and are providing them the finest and hand-picked results. One should not set on for the cheapest, when it comes to health. As, Jim Rohn says, Take care of your body it is the only place you have to live.

No doubt, these philtres are ready to lend a hand to some extent, congruently, they may prove to be terrible or maltreated. . By applying these mixtures and liquids, suggested by inexpert, we may get good result for a short span of time, but sometimes these potions and mixtures give ridiculous results. One of my kin, is a great victim in maltreatment of these totkas. She likes long hairs and when she heard that by applying onion juice on scalp we can get long hairs, she started to apply it and made her routine to use onion juice without even verifying its outcomes. At last, she faced patchy hair loss. It was proved to be a recipe of disaster for her.

Since Diabetes runs in the family, some people often juice up bitter guard and would have quarter cup juice of it twice a week. They say that, “bitter guard juice is really good and helpful for diabetic patients”.  Another diabetic patient shared her views and said, “I am a diabetic patient and I am always told to try desi Totkay like drinking bitter guard juice etc. I simply hate it and I do not rely on this type of foolish activities and remedies. When we have doctors and clinics we should not do our self-medication”.

Contrary to this some people say, what’s wrong with totkas? Our ancestors survived on these totkas, only that their food was healthy and they practically did their work themselves and led an active life. They had no motorised vehicles and many had to walk distances. In the West, people are now realising that what their ancestors did was better and good, who ate simple non GMO food and did their own work. They are realising that the chemical and manufacturing industries along with doctors are cause of many ailments.

A Plant Pathologist said, “I used all kinds of remedies, but when I grew up I really and honestly hate this kind of treatment, that I would rather die than do these elaborate preparations”.

Self-diagnosis and self-medication has become somewhat of our national habit. Even in cities, where there are a number of private clinics, hospitals and labs, it is not doctors we pay our first visit to when sickness strikes. Occasionally, we push doctors to keep their stethoscopes in their pockets. Sometimes, grandma’s totkay, are enough to fix small problems like the common cold but for other health problems we must consult to specialist. Because when a plants leaves are turning brown you don’t paint the leaves green. You look at the cause of the problem. It is duty of the punter, to mull over the wear and tear of everything they use, to live a better life.

Nature has gifted us many beneficial and applicable stuffs to take pleasure of living. There is no question that Earth has been a giving planet. Everything humans have needed to survive, and thrive, was provided by the natural world around us: food, water, materials for shelter, and even natural cycles such as climate and nutrients. In all the things of nature there is something of the marvellous, but get to grips with all these things depend on us.

As a universal paradox says,You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice.

Your body is a temple, not a trash can. If you will not take care of it, who will?

This practical work was carried under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi, Department of Media and Communication Studies, University of Sindh 

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