Monday 28 March 2016

LIPSTICK PLANT (BIXA ORELLANA L.): A PLANT FROM MY CHILDHOOD



As a child, this was definitely the first tree I ever saw. It was grown by my late grandfather in our Cowan Street house. It was the only tree in the compound. The rest were pots of orchids that he cultivated, My family called it Tit Ta Shu or Bone Setting Plant. If I am not mistaken, my Ah Yeh (paternal grandfather) got the plant from the jungle. Grandpa Cheah used different parts of the plant and soaked them in wine. The mixture is then kept for months before being used for medicine to treat sprains and aches.
In memory of my grandpa, I am trying to source this plant to grow in my garden. Then I will use the parts of the plant to make the Tit Ta Medicine.

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