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| The beach at Xpu-Há in the Yucatan |
I’m posting this from the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, now known to most visitors as the Riviera Maya. Yes, this is one of those carefully coined tourism catchphrases, but at least in this case it’s not too far-fetched.
One glance at the photo to the right and you’ll see that the sun, sand and turquoise water are indeed Riviera-like. And truly, Mayan history and traditions permeate every aspect of the Yucatan’s colorful personality.
Take, for example, Gabriel Bolio Argaez, the ecological guide at Xpu-Há eco-park, a protected reserve of low-lying jungle that includes the Xpu-Há Palace hotel where we’re staying.
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| Gabriel and one of the rescued birds he cares for |
Gabriel is Mayan by ancestry, a botanist by training, and a healer as well as a protector of wildlife by calling. He cares for all the rescued critters at Xpu-Há, which include flamingos, turtles, crocodiles, white-tailed deer, spider monkeys, and an aviary full of brilliantly plumed birds like military macaws, great curacao — even a toucan rescued from exporters who could have charged $7000 on the black market.
Gabriel describes himself as the animals’ “master chef,” preparing different fresh dishes for each species, including special diets for injured animals he’s nursing back to health.
Within ten minutes of meeting our group, Gabriel was offering us traditional Mayan medicinal cures for one common ailment after another. Gabriel’s carefully annotated recipes — he’s already prepared the index for a book he plans to publish – feature herbs and native plants he’s cultivated himself and leaves and bark from the native trees in the park.
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| A rescued “black market” toucan |
A few of Gabriel’s Mayan healing recipes:
• Alfalfa tea: lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, cures diabetes and gout
• Oyster plant, or Boatilly: a tea made from the leaves has hypoglycemic properties and prevents diabetes; an ointment in a coconut oil base cures skin cancer
• Combination of oyster plant and broccoli: Prevents and cures prostate inflammation
• Eggplant: prevents insomnia
• A tea of avocado, lemon, and native Mexican oregano: antiviral, antibacterial and anti-hypertensive
• “Chicle”: a gum made from the bark of sapodilla trees (yes, this is where William Wrigley got Chiclets chewing gum) cures dental infections and inflamation
Curious about the science behind Mayan healing methods, I did some quick research when I got back to my room and quickly came up with a wealth of interesting research backing up pretty much everything Gabriel had to say. For example, I found a botanical monograph by Ralph L. Roys (not available as a link), The Ethno-Botany of the Maya, that lists 10 Mayan herbs and plants demonstrated to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, including.
Also found an older book, Sastun: My Apprenticeship with a Mayan Healer, by Rosita Arvigo, that made me want to drop everything and head for the rainforest for further study.
Very interesting. I will have to go to the healthfood store and see if I can find alfalfa tea for my husband. I've been wondering about the safety of traveling in Mexico?
avocado tea sounds intriguing! I wonder how he prepares it – does he just mash it in?
I think you make a tea out of it; I think it's actually lemon leaves but I'm not sure about the avocado and need to find out more. I want to try it myself!
Wondered where you were, now I know, green with envy. Yucatan beaches, exotic birds, Mayan medical cures, sounds grand. And good for you for traveling to Mexico at a time when many Americans wouldn't. I'm sure tourism has been hard hit in light of recent news.
About the safety of traveling to Mexico, I can't say enough good things to encourage Americans to return. The violence is only in border towns like Ciudad Juarez and tourist areas like this are honestly safer than we are at home! The last thing Mexico wants is for something to happen to an American tourist, because we are the country's lifeblood. And at this point there's more serious flu at home than here.
So interesting. Oftentimes I think we have to really pay attention to these natural curatives rather than rely on pharmaceuticals. There really is something to it.
Look at that gorgeous toucan. I had no idea that they went for so much on the black market. I'm always horrified at the way animals are trafficked.
Sounds like a great place. I had no idea they renamed the Yucatan peninsula!
Fascinating stuff! How sad that we are discouraged from using natural remedies in the USA and pushed towards drugs, which cost so much more and not better for us to ingest, but worse, in fact.
Wish I were there RIGHT NOW. It's cold and dreary where I live. It was SNOWING a few minutes ago…
I was coveting your pictures on Facebook, because we're in the throws of late-winter-will-spring-ever-get-here in Michigan. So glad to know it's beautiful and sunny SOMEWHERE in the world.
Those are really interesting natural remedies. And it is so wonderful when someone takes the time to research folk medicine and discovers the "old wives' tales" were right all along.
Those photos beautifully capture the local color and flavor. Wish I were in sunny Mexico right about now …
Thanks, all! I'm back in the rain myself now and sunny Mexico seems like an all-too-brief interval of escape. What I really miss is the culture, where everyone's outdoors in the evenings, milling around smiling and listening to music and catching up with friends. We need more of that in the chilly north!
Wonderful post. I returned from the Riviera Maya several months ago and was surprised with the number of medicinal plants our guides told us about. Fascinating.
Great post with tips – thanks so much! Also, love the photos, Melanie.
I've only been to Mexico once and I'm hooked. I'd love to visit the Yucatan. You've got me convinced.
I’ve also only been to Mexico once just like Kristen above. I really loved the Yucatan and would go back there tomorrow if I could. Mexico has to be one of my favourite holidays!
If you are looking for a perfect honeymoon destination then look no further than Punta Brava on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Peaceful and romantic, Punta Brava is located between Puerto Morelos and Punta Maroma. Although the resort is quiet and secluded, it is still only about 30 minutes from Cancun and 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen.
Mark
Written simply and tastefully. It’s pleasant to read. Thank u!..
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I even do not know what to say… This photos so… so… full of life! They are amzing. Thank you.