Page 10 - AHATA

a7
local Thursday 15 June 2023

Lessons from our elders:

Plants and fruits for medicinal use

sold as a powder or whole.
It is said that you can take
arrowroot powder and
make a “shalup” (porridge)
for stomach pain or when
you’re feeling weak. You
can make it with milk too,
but it is advised to best
use just water. You can
also add prunes for a bit of
sweetness. Arrowroot sha-
lup is also good to treat an
unhealthy gut or for diar-
rhea.
(Oranjestad)—Though tion on the ovaries or uter- To make arrowroot shalup,
western medicine is now us. This gets rid of irritation boil a bit of water and add
widely used for common and inflammation. one tablespoon of arrow-
illnesses and to keep our When the fruit is unripe and root powder and stir con-
bodies healthy and happy, green, this can be used to tinuously until you reach
it is still very common in stimulate menstruation flow porridge consistency. If you
every household in Aruba in women. This also stimu- make a shalup with milk,
(and around the world) to lates the passing kidney add a pinch of salt. Raw
have staple home rem- stones. When ripe, the fruit arrowroot powder can be
edies that is passed on can be used for poisoning used to powder babies.
through generations. Here in the gut and can help
are some tips that our el- treat rheumatic diseases, Eggplant/Aubergine
ders have passed on to us like arthritis. Eggplants, or aubergines,
over the years. are easy to find in super-
However, breastfeeding markets around the world
Pineapple women who cannot pro- and can be grown all year
Pineapple has more uses duce much milk are ad- round on the island. Relat-
than topping it on your vised not to consume too ed to potato and tomato, make sure to drink slowly; ternally to treat arthritis.
Christmas ham. According pineapple, and people eggplants are good to let it mix with your spit and *warapa: term referring to
to elders, the skin of a pine- with acid reflux are recom- calm nerves. It can also be then swallow. a water and sugar solution,
apple is great to use to re- mended to not consume used to lower blood pres- a.k.a simple syrup.
fresh your body. Clean the any pineapple at all. sure, by steeping its leaves Eggplant kataplan* can *kataplan: porridge-like
skin thoroughly and make in boiled water and drink- also be used to treat skin mixture used externally
tea or warapa* with it. It is Arrowroot ing it. You can also make tumors, abscesses and for wounds or parts of the
said that this tea can also Arrowroot is native to tropi- eggplant juice to help puri- hemorrhoids. Eggplant kat- body that are painful or
be drank after an opera- cal America and can be fy your blood. However, do aplan can also be used ex- swollen.q

George Forbes: Father of the “Parke Curason”

ORANJESTAD - For many years, job, and then there are those who weekends."
sports enthusiasts have had a make a difference in how they do
unique place dedicated to their their job. Mr. Forbes makes a differ- Every country and every age is rep-
activities. The biggest park on the ence when you visit Parke Curason. resented; indeed, this is a multicul-
island, “Parke Curason*” in Jaburi- He greets visitors, walks around to tural and multigenerational park.
bari is a well-rounded park, featur- help a child fix their soccer ball, According to Mr. Forbes, the park
ing a covered basketball court, a or assists a jogger on the path. He has been in existence for 14 years,
soccer field, a BMX racing track, a even takes care of the cars that as it was there from the beginning. Jaymer Carolina was a profession-
skateboard park, exercise stations, enter and directs them to a nearby al BMX rider, and he confirms the
a children's garden, and a 750-me- parking spot. For many people, he "The park looked fantastic back importance of this park for his sport.
ter asphalt path. But one of the best is the face of the place, and we of- then, everything was new and in "The park was my training ground. I
parts is the dedication of the park's ten forget to thank people like Mr. good shape. More and more peo- trained here six times a week, from
'tata' (father): George Forbes. Forbes, who stand out in this way. ple come nowadays; Arubans love 5 to 7 in the evening." He was part
sports more now, and that's great. of Rough Riders Aruba, where he
The Face of the Park 150 visitors per day Compared to the past, it's better, competed in the 17-24 age cat-
There are people who just do their Linda Reijnders spoke with Mr. so we need to focus on maintain- egory.
Forbes. "I've been working here ing the park," Mr. Forbes explains. The park is not only for BMX groups
since I was 13 years old, and I cher- He enjoys sports himself and always but also for basketball teams, soc-
ish everything about my work. I'm walks around to assist both young cer groups, skateboard enthusi-
a supervisor and security guard. and older people. "I'm not some- asts, young children, and people
People come here every day, and one who sits in a corner to make who enjoy jogging and walking.
the connection I have with them money. There are many things to Additionally, it serves as a social
makes me happy." He explains consider to prevent accidents." gathering place.
that the park receives around 150
visitors every day. "That's the aver- BMX Training Spot *”Parke Curason” translates literally

age, and it can be even more on Before moving to the Netherlands, to “Heart Park”q