In the past, herbal steam baths were not just "medicine" but also a symbol of care and support, a way for Vietnamese people to look after each other during illness. "I hear you have a headache and it's not getting better / I'll go through the forest to pick some leaves for you to steam yourself" (folk song). Mothers cared for their children, wives cared for their husbands, and vice versa. Even neighbors would ask for leaves if they lacked them, and willingly give them to those who had them. Neighborly bonds were thus strengthened.
The herbal steam bath was made with a variety of leaves from around the garden, such as lemongrass, basil, perilla, mint, cinnamon, bamboo leaves, jackfruit leaves, and even sweet potato leaves if unavailable. Basil and mint were the main ingredients because of their significant effectiveness in relieving colds. Later, I understood that our ancestors chose leaves containing essential oils, which, when boiled, would enhance their medicinal properties. I remember that while we were steaming, my mother kept calling out from outside: "Open your mouth, tilt your ear, open your eyes…" I did it half-heartedly to avoid being scolded, because no child enjoys such things. Surprisingly, after about three days of steaming, most of us recovered. My mother made us stay home to avoid drafts for another two days, and then we could happily play with our friends.
These days, the weather has become more unpredictable. Instead of the usual hot sunshine, there's cold air and high humidity, creating ideal conditions for the rapid spread of colds and flu.
This morning, I left work early because I was sick. My mother and sisters live hundreds of kilometers away. My children are all at school. For some reason, my heart ached. I longed for, desperately needed, a word of comfort, someone to buy me a glass of orange juice or put a warm compress on my forehead to lower my fever. Suddenly, I missed my mother, my sisters, the thatched house by the stream with the purple crape myrtle tree, and the steaming pot of herbal steam.
Lying listlessly in my hospital bed, a friend suddenly called and handed me a bundle of herbs for a steam bath, then hurried off to prepare it. Lemongrass, cinnamon, basil, lime leaves... In an instant, the loneliness vanished in the changing weather, and my headache lessened. That's when I realized that kindness and compassion are effective remedies for pain. Soon, the warm, comforting aroma of the herbal steam bath will fill my heart, just like when I was younger, before I turned 18.
Perhaps people will eventually become accustomed to modern medicine and new treatment methods, but the herbal steam bath will remain, not only in the kitchens of old homes but also in memories, in a warm, distinctly Vietnamese feeling. Because what we need is not just the heat on our skin, but the warmth spreading to our hearts. And who knows, these days, somewhere in the city, someone is still lighting a pot of herbal steam, for a loved one, or for themselves, as a way of preserving a little bit of affection amidst a life full of changes.
Red Swan
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202601/noi-la-xong-nghia-tinh-d530daf/
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