UNTOLD PEERS INTO THE MAASAI MEDICINE CABINET
Posted by Stephen
Reading time: 6 minutes
We honestly can't get enough of the spectacular beauty of Tanzania. We are stupefied by the wildlife here time after time. But we'll leave the animal kingdom alone, for now. Letting it roar and rage in all its magnificent fury for a bit. Because today we zero in on some very fascinating humans wandering the Tanzanian plains. The Maasai.
Libraries can be filled with the ancient-old traditions of these pastoralists who were entrusted to take care of all living animals by their god Engai. This proud and fierce tribe where the men have to pass numerous rituals before they reach the level of Maasai warrior. And where women, amongst other duties, build the homes. Which gives an entirely different meaning to the term 'homemaker.'
There is indeed plenty of riveting and intriguing stuff to share about the Maasai. And in our book, 'A Taste of Tanzania,' we do. The Maasai play an essential and recurring role in it.
For this journal entry, however, we will zoom in on something very particular and uncanny: Maasai medicine. A mysterious world of roots, shrubs, tree bark, and leaves with healing properties. A medicine cabinet provided by Mother Nature. Based on the Maasai's total reverence for nature. And their deep understanding of it.
Over the ages, the Maasai have discovered many remedies for all kinds of diseases and ailments. The immense bush pharmacy they roam in provides potions, powders, and all sorts of concoctions. To treat severe illness, to alleviate discomfort and even for the daily personal grooming. Or to give that extra little pick me up or oomph.
To fight malaria, the Maasai have plants that either keep the dreaded mosquitos at bay or natural remedies to alleviate the illness itself. They have treatments for backache, respiratory problems, digestive discomfort, you name it. In the dental department, they have their pickings too. From the Esititi, aptly named toothbrush tree, they can make a tool that is a toothbrush on one side and a toothpick on the other. And from yet other plants, they produce a mouth wash.
It will not surprise you that there are actually as many potions and powders as there are trees, plants, roots, and flowers. Listing them all up would be madness. But there is one we absolutely want to share. The infamous and mysterious Engiloreti. A sour and fatty concoction made from the Flame Tree, which is also called Christmas Tree by the local population. But in ancient days, the Maasai brewed something from it that fired things up all right. And was to-ho-ho-ho-tally not in the Christmas spirit... You see, the Engiloreti mixture was a potent hallucinogenic and made them literally lose their minds. Going totally berserk. A long time ago, in the tribal wars, when Maasai warriors ran towards their opponents, foaming at the mouth and totally entranced, the result was always the same. The other tribe ran away from sheer fear. Scared senseless at so much fierceness and madness in the Maasai warriors' eyes. And guess what happened when hallucinating Maasai feeling all-powerful and invincible told another tribe, "These cows here are ours now. Okay?". Similarly, when Maasai warriors still had to kill a lion to reach the ultimate status, they also took some Engiloreti. High as kites, feeling insanely mighty and laughing hysterically at the pain, they ambushed fierce felines. Just equipped with a shield and a spear. Scary stuff. Strong stuff. And luckily, safely stuffed away in the past.
Before rounding up this fascinating chapter about Maasai traditional medicine, we'd like to thank Chris Pilley of Isoitok Camp Manyara and his treasure trove of information. Living closely with his Maasai neighbors of the Esilalei community, he has become pretty knowledgeable about the secrets of the Maasai bush pharmacy. And he was generous and gracious enough to share all this gained wisdom with us. Thank you, Chris!
In conclusion, we'd like to make a little side-note next to all this magical and obscure stuff. It might seem primitive and almost amusing. And us Westerners used to gulp industrial quantities of mass-produced synthetic pills might raise our eyebrows at these natural remedies and funny concoctions. But, may we remind you that it was not that long ago that we covered ourselves in blood-sucking leeches or had big holes drilled in our heads? Just decades ago, heroin was prescribed by doctors. And people suffering from mental illness were electrocuted to shock them back into normalcy. So, let's call it a learning curve. Besides, many of our medicines have their roots in nature too. Think of aspirin, for instance, which was also made from twigs of trees originally. And don't get us started about those who believe that water has memory and other 'homeopatethic' mumbo jumbo.
Besides, the Maasai and especially the younger generations, see this form of medicine as more of a tradition too. They are sometimes very matter of fact about these natural remedies. And keep their wits about them as this anecdote shows. One day, a Maasai guide was showing some of Chris Pilley's guests around in the bush. Pointing out all the plants and roots that are used in Maasai medicine. One of them asked what his toothbrush made of tree tasted like. 'It tastes like a tree,' was his deadpan answer.
The Maasai are always looking for a balance between the old ways and the new. Doing an impressive split between age-old traditions and modern life. So, for a slight headache or minor tummy pain, they might use some Maasai medicine miracle stuff. But when it comes to more severe illnesses or injuries, they will rely on Western medicine.
This makes us wonder how long these two wise old men will sit patiently in their little corner in Arusha's Central Market. Will they keep selling their magical roots, twigs, and powders? Or will they slowly disappear? Like all ancient traditions seem to do.