<p>My long departed ‘Ajji’ (Grandma) was never tired of suggesting remedies for common ailments. Growing up, we were fed on a staple diet of her health-related do’s and don’ts, most of them unsolicited. Little did we realize back then, that her medical assertions were not empty banter but pearls of wisdom.</p>.<p>During a recent visit to the ophthalmologist, in response to my question whether there was something I could do to better my condition, the doctor replied that I could do very well to not rub my eyes vigorously. I recalled that Ajji always discouraged us from rubbing our eyes. She simply said, "It’s not good for your eyes." Young and hot-headed that we were, her advice had received instant dismissal, and we continued to do what we liked.</p>.<p>I recently read an article titled, "Deep breathing might have benefits we're only beginning to understand." It was based on an interview with a respected cell biologist. This thought sounded very familiar. Ajji’s words instantly echoed in my ears. She used to exhort us to take deep breaths mindfully, especially after a long and tiring day. Did we follow her advice? No!</p>.<p>My third anecdote relates to my acid reflux problem, which was not showing any signs of abatement, in spite of me popping an endless number of antacid tablets of every conceivable<br />brand in the market. I turned to my family physician for help. Pat came the remedy, although he delivered it in the form a question, "have you tried consuming raw cucumber?." Yet again there was a familiar ring to this. I could almost hear my Ajji say it, for, she had lauded the benefits of raw cucumber decades ago!</p>.<p>Thanks to the internet, the results of medical research are more readily available to the common man today. I see many of these as vindications of what my Ajji encouraged us or forbade us to do, keeping our wellbeing in mind.</p>.<p>It amazes me to no end that somebody who was borderline illiterate, for she could barely sign her name, was the storehouse of such hard-nosed advice. The therapist in my Ajji clearly went unnoticed during her lifetime. Sitting back and reminiscing those days, I can picture her mockingly exclaiming, "I told you so!" No prizes for guessing who has had the last laugh.</p>
<p>My long departed ‘Ajji’ (Grandma) was never tired of suggesting remedies for common ailments. Growing up, we were fed on a staple diet of her health-related do’s and don’ts, most of them unsolicited. Little did we realize back then, that her medical assertions were not empty banter but pearls of wisdom.</p>.<p>During a recent visit to the ophthalmologist, in response to my question whether there was something I could do to better my condition, the doctor replied that I could do very well to not rub my eyes vigorously. I recalled that Ajji always discouraged us from rubbing our eyes. She simply said, "It’s not good for your eyes." Young and hot-headed that we were, her advice had received instant dismissal, and we continued to do what we liked.</p>.<p>I recently read an article titled, "Deep breathing might have benefits we're only beginning to understand." It was based on an interview with a respected cell biologist. This thought sounded very familiar. Ajji’s words instantly echoed in my ears. She used to exhort us to take deep breaths mindfully, especially after a long and tiring day. Did we follow her advice? No!</p>.<p>My third anecdote relates to my acid reflux problem, which was not showing any signs of abatement, in spite of me popping an endless number of antacid tablets of every conceivable<br />brand in the market. I turned to my family physician for help. Pat came the remedy, although he delivered it in the form a question, "have you tried consuming raw cucumber?." Yet again there was a familiar ring to this. I could almost hear my Ajji say it, for, she had lauded the benefits of raw cucumber decades ago!</p>.<p>Thanks to the internet, the results of medical research are more readily available to the common man today. I see many of these as vindications of what my Ajji encouraged us or forbade us to do, keeping our wellbeing in mind.</p>.<p>It amazes me to no end that somebody who was borderline illiterate, for she could barely sign her name, was the storehouse of such hard-nosed advice. The therapist in my Ajji clearly went unnoticed during her lifetime. Sitting back and reminiscing those days, I can picture her mockingly exclaiming, "I told you so!" No prizes for guessing who has had the last laugh.</p>