Diamond Head Road

"The Greatest Wealth Is Health"

There's no way around it: Getting old is not for the faint of heart. Of course, it helps to be mindful and to remember your morning flax seed, but after the big 4-0, sometimes the body just doesn't choose to cooperate.

For the last three weeks, I have been a dutiful wife listening to the gripes and groans from the hubby who has been dealing with a very painful pinched nerve in his neck. Was it the impromptu beach volleyball game? The morning stand up paddle surf session? The wrong pillow, perhaps? 

So, week one he tried the massages; week two the chiropractor and week three some x-rays were taken. Along the way, several of our friends insisted that David see a Balinese healer. "You know, an old blind one that can cure anything," whispered our neighbor. 

The most famous Balinese healer is Ketut Liyer of "Eat, Pray, Love" fame and he is still alive and well in Ubud enjoying much success as a sought after medicine man. We were open to suggestions from our friends as to whom we should contact for help, but mysteriously, no one could provide us with a name or number. I finally came to the conclusion that we couldn't seek the healer; he would have to find us. 

Last Wednesday, we visited the home of DHR model, Melati Erhart, to talk shop. She said her hip had been bothering her for the last couple of years and that her healer was coming over shortly to perform an exorcism of sorts. My ears perked up. An exorcism on my husband sounded exactly like what he needed!

Abdul took David into the guest bale (bah-lay) and diagnosed the problem, pinpointing the exact excruciating spot. Melati translated while he poked and prodded and then got down to work. I excused myself to eat some lunch and could hear the yelps and screams coming from the guest house as Abdul physically lifted the tendons up from below David's left shoulder blade. 

He then offered David an ancient Balinese herbal remedy called jamu which is a potent brown mixture chock full of ginger and local honey from his village. Abdul winked at us as Melati translated that the traditional cure-all drink would not only help heal David's neck but also give his virility a big boost. "Thanks a lot," I said. "The jamu doesn't happen to come with a side of birth control, does it?"