One sunny morning in a small village nestled between green hills and rice fields, a cheerful girl named BiBi woke up with a frown on her face. She had spent the previous day playing hide-and-seek with her friends, running through fields, climbing trees, and jumping in streams. It had been great fun, but now her leg ached badly, especially when she tried to walk.
BiBi limped to the porch where her grandmother was sipping tea. “Grandma,” she said with a pout, “my leg really hurts. I can’t even run today.”
Grandma looked at her gently. “Oh dear, you must have overused it yesterday. Let’s call Uncle Phong. He knows how to treat leg pain with special herbs.”
Uncle Phong was not a doctor, but everyone in the village respected his knowledge of traditional healing. He had learned herbal medicine from his grandfather, who had treated people long before there was a clinic in town. Whenever someone had a sprain, bruise, or stubborn ache, they would visit Uncle Phong.
Soon, Uncle Phong arrived carrying a small cloth bag filled with green herbs and a bamboo steamer. His face was calm and kind, and his eyes sparkled with wisdom.
“Let me take a look, BiBi,” he said warmly, kneeling beside her. He gently touched her leg and nodded. “This is nothing serious. It’s just sore from too much running. We’ll treat it the natural way.”
From his bag, Uncle Phong took out several types of fresh leaves: lemongrass, ginger root, eucalyptus, and a special herb known only in their village. He placed them in the bamboo steamer and heated them over a clay pot filled with boiling water.
Soon, the air was filled with a soothing, earthy aroma. The steam carried the healing oils from the herbs, and BiBi watched curiously as Uncle Phong wrapped the warm leaves in a clean cloth.
“This will draw out the soreness,” he explained. “The heat will relax the muscles, and the herbs will reduce the pain.”
He gently placed the warm herbal bundle on her leg and pressed it with his hands. BiBi felt a rush of warmth spread through her leg. It tingled at first, but then felt deeply comforting. Uncle Phong repeated the treatment a few times, heating the herbs again and pressing them into her skin.
After a while, BiBi’s frown faded. “It doesn’t hurt as much now,” she said in surprise.
“Good,” said Uncle Phong with a smile. “Rest today, and let the herbs do their work. Tomorrow, you’ll feel much better.”
The next morning, BiBi woke up feeling refreshed. Her leg was no longer sore. She ran outside happily, waving to Uncle Phong, who was watering his garden nearby.
“Thank you, Uncle Phong!” she shouted joyfully.
He waved back with a smile. “Remember, BiBi—play hard, but rest well.”
And from that day on, whenever someone in the village had a little ache or pain, they knew Uncle Phong—and his warm herbal magic—was always there to help.
