Ras Richie, Bush Doctor
on George Hamilton (Jamaica), 23/Sep/2010 17:00, 34 days ago
Walking to the orthopaedic surgeon's office this morning with my X-rays in hand, I was stopped by a rasta elder with a very nice leather bag over his shoulder. He said he was sorry to see my hurt arm and asked me what happened. He told me he could help me but first he asked me where I was from. He said he'd lived in Vancouver back in the 70s for awhile with his uncle who was a doctor. He also visited Montreal and said he found Montrealers genuinely friendly and interested in him. His name is Ras Richie, but he said his "slave name" is Richard Wight; he's a bush doctor.Ras Richie got down to business and started pulling out recycled Appleton Rum bottles all filled with identical looking brown liquid. He explained that the first solution was to be taken at bedtime, about a wine glass full, to flush out your system. Then in the morning you drink as much as you can of the noni, an herbal bitter which is made from aloe vera, leaf of life and a multitude of other herbs, to replenish your system. Danny at Treasure Beach went to great lengths explaining this remedy so I'd heard it all before. I was now getting to see the actual product. Ras Richie also showed me a substance which was made from carrot and busy. I'm pretty sure he said busy is used in making Coca Cola. He made some reference to busy and Coke anyway. This third herbal remedy will relax your eye muscles and prevent squinting.As it turns out, Ras Richie sold me all three bottles which I tucked into my purse and went rattling down the street to the doctor's office. I made sure the bottles were well hidden and not clanking too much as I manoeuvred in and out of the cramped waiting room in the doctor's office. Whether I get up enough nerve to sample some of these remedies remains to be seen. Apparently my money will be used to buy his son a birthday cake today - he was on his way to the bakery.But Ras Richie didn't stop there. Not only is he a bush doctor but he also teaches yoga just down the street. He invited me to join his sessions at Blue Star Jamaica this and every Sunday at 4:00. I am seriously considering finding a yoga class once my shoulder heals so I might just very well go along out of curiosity. Anyone interested in joining me?Ras Richie ended our chat on the sidewalk on Old Hope Road with a prayer from the Navaho people. It was lovely.