Surviving January: Herbal wonders or street tricks?

Chamomile tea. (Courtesy)

Word on the grapevine is that another outbreak is hurtling out of China at Usain Bolt speed. That is on top of the usual woes of Jaa-nuary - the official month of misfortune. Why does all hell have to break loose just as we're shaking off the holiday hangover?

My uncle, a self-declared herbalist is already prepping for the oncoming apocalypse by stockpiling ancient herbal remedies. At the top of this is a curative herb called 'kiruma'. Bitter than bile with an equally revolting smell, uncle swears that the herb can cure most maladies known to man. Back in the day, I noted that he gives the same herb to his cows when they show signs of sickness. I then asked him how a herb can treat cows and humans at the same time. "Blarry fool!" He spat angrily. "Diseases are all the same, the host doesn't matter."