By Crissy Guerrero, NTFP-EP
Phong looked at his baby, Kim Ngoc, smiled and shared with us his story. Over a year ago, his wife, Tien, was complaining of pains in the lower abdomen. Phong decided to bring her to the doctor trained in Western medicine. To his dismay, the doctor pronounced that his wife had a grave illness in her kidney and she had to be operated on immediately or she would never be able to deliver another baby. Phong did not believe the doctor and instead bet with him that he would be able to heal his wife with medicines from forest plants. Kim Ngoc was proof enough that he had won that wager.
Phong had used the plant, Thui Dich of the family Fabaceae, to treat his wife over a year ago. Phong is a traditional healer from the ethnic Cham people of Southern Vietnam. The Kingdom of Champa flourished up to the 15th century in Central and Southern Vietnam. They are known not only for the temples that reflect the legacy of an ancient civilization but also for their healing tradition.
“We have at least 400 recipes of traditional medicines,” Phong said, as he leafed through the delicate pages of what he called the “Bible” of Cham traditional medicine written in an ancient script only a few can decipher. Because of his knowledge and his eagerness to keep the Cham healing tradition alive (Phong photocopied dozens of the “medicine-recipe-Bible” and distributed it free of charge to other Cham colleagues), Phong was made the Chairman of the 32 man-strong traditional healers association of his commune in the Village of Binh Nghia in Ninh Thuan province. Interest in conserving the healing tradition is so great that the provincial government offered to support a publication on traditional Cham medicines and medicinal plants.
Such interest was unheard of about three years ago. At this time, the Center for Biodiversity and Development (CBD), a group of young community-development minded, Saigon-based researchers, met Phong. Realizing his zeal and depth and breadth of knowledge, they supported his work with meager funds to start a traditional medicine garden. Lo and behold, after several months, the resourceful Phong, with hardly any space behind his small home (doubling up as his wife’s tailoring shop) had established a flourishing 100 square meter garden with over 100 different plant species. Phong shared that the plants could provide relief to common colds, cure fever, and some plants could be used to treat liver disease and other ailments. Phong treats not only the locals; people come from far and wide seek him out for treatment.
Phong is still experimenting with the cultivation of medicinal plants. He has had some success with some plants while for others he is still testing soil, light and water conditions. He tells us that “The forest is still the best medicine bank.” Unfortunately it is that same “bank” that is being “robbed” through illegal logging and poaching activities. It is the hope of Phong and CBD that through awareness raising, medicinal garden development and further training of healers, more will understand the importance of forest-based medicine. His message is simple: The forest can cure, only if and when we also care for the forest. May the legacy of Cham medicine extend beyond the generation of Kim Ngoc.
As of presstime, we received the sad news that Phong’s medicinal garden and surrounding areas were destroyed by floods due to unusually heavy rains. We all are seeking the necessary support to rebuild this garden.
Contact the author: Crissy Guerrero, crissyg33@yahoo.com
Contact CBD: Luu Hong Truong, Center for Biodiversity and Development (CBD)
85 Tran Quoc Toan Street, District Three
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +74.8.9320355
Email: hongtruongluu@yahoo.com
