Bibi had always been an active little girl, full of energy and always running around her family’s small farm. But one morning, after playing too hard the day before, she woke up with a dull, aching pain in her right leg. She limped to the kitchen, her face tight with discomfort.
“Mama, my leg hurts,” she said, pointing to the back of her calf.
Her mother frowned with concern. “You must have twisted it yesterday, Bibi. Let’s let it rest for a day or two.”
But even after two days, the pain didn’t go away. Bibi could barely walk without limping, and she was starting to feel frustrated. That’s when her mother decided to call Uncle Phong.
Uncle Phong wasn’t a real uncle, but everyone in the village called him that. He was known for his knowledge of traditional herbs and healing remedies passed down through generations. Whenever someone had a sprain, fever, or stomach ache, Uncle Phong would show up with a bag of leaves, roots, and small jars of mysterious oils.
When he arrived at their home, he gave Bibi a gentle smile. “Let me have a look at that leg, little one.”
He carefully examined her leg, feeling along the muscle and asking questions. Bibi winced, but she trusted him. After a few moments, he nodded thoughtfully.
“It’s not broken, but there’s some inflammation. You strained the muscle. I have just the thing.”
From his worn leather bag, he took out a cloth pouch filled with dried herbs. He also brought out a small bottle of oil made from lemongrass, ginger, and a rare root that only grew deep in the forest. He mixed the herbs into a warm paste, then gently massaged it into Bibi’s leg, wrapping it with a clean cloth.
“This will ease the pain,” he said. “But you’ll need a few days of treatment.”
True to his word, after just one night, Bibi felt a difference. The throbbing pain had lessened. Uncle Phong returned every day, bringing new herbs, some fresh from the forest that morning. He applied compresses, adjusted her bandages, and even made her drink a bitter tea that he claimed would help reduce swelling from the inside.
By the fourth day, Bibi could walk without limping. She even tried to run a little before her mother stopped her.
“Not so fast, Bibi!” she scolded gently.
Uncle Phong chuckled. “She’s healing well. But let’s keep up the herbs for a few more days.”
Each visit, he taught Bibi and her mother about the herbs he used. He showed them the leaves of the tiger balm plant, the roots of turmeric, and the bark from a tree known to reduce inflammation. Bibi was fascinated.
When her leg was finally better, Bibi hugged Uncle Phong tightly. “Thank you, Uncle!”
He smiled warmly. “Take care of your legs, young one. And always respect the power of nature.”
From that day on, Bibi never looked at plants the same way again. She had learned that sometimes, healing didn’t come in a bottle—but in the careful hands of someone who understood the wisdom of herbs.
