The Healing Wisdom They Didn’t Teach Us
I grew up believing that sickness was just a part of life. My grandfather died from prostate cancer, my father struggles with diabetes, and my aunt battled the same disease. It felt like these illnesses were inescapable—just something that ran in our family. No one ever told us that we had the power to heal.
Instead, we were given prescriptions, told to manage symptoms, and conditioned to believe that sickness was inevitable. But deep down, something never felt right. Why weren’t we looking for the root cause? Why weren’t we taught the ways our ancestors healed themselves?
These questions became even more important when I learned my grandmother was a village healer.
She knew the power of plants, the rhythms of nature, and the ancestral remedies that had kept our people strong for generations. That truth opened my heart and mind. If healing was in my blood, why had it been hidden from me?
This realization ignited something in me. I started Rich Sol Foods because I saw how disconnected we had become from the very wisdom that was meant to sustain us. I knew I had to bridge that gap—to reclaim what was always ours and to share it with those who needed it most.
But this isn’t just about herbs. This is about remembering who we are.
Ancestral Healing: Africa to the Diaspora
Long before Western medicine, our ancestors in Africa understood the body, the land, and the universe in ways that modern science is just beginning to catch up to. The knowledge of healing, passed from generation to generation, wasn’t written in textbooks—it was encoded in our traditions, in our rituals, in the sacred relationship between humans and nature.
When our ancestors were brought to the Caribbean and the Americas, they carried this wisdom with them. Despite enslavement, displacement, and oppression, they found ways to preserve it—hiding it in plain sight, passing it down in whispers, weaving it into the fabric of our cultural practices.
Today, we are witnessing a renaissance of this wisdom. People are returning to herbal medicine, seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals, and rediscovering what was always ours.
Now, let’s explore the healing rituals of our ancestors—the practices they used to cleanse, fortify, and rejuvenate their bodies in alignment with nature’s rhythms.
Sacred Rituals of Herbal Healing
1. The New Moon Cleanse – Cassia Alata
Our ancestors understood that the moon governed more than just the tides—it influenced the body, the blood, and the spirit. They saw the moon’s cycles as a reflection of the cleansing and rebuilding process within us.
As the moon waned from full to new, they recognized this as a time for deep cleansing—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Seven days before the new moon, they would begin drinking Cassia Alata tea, preparing their bodies for detox. The night before the new moon, they would take a strong colon cleanse, releasing what no longer served them.
Cassia Alata was even juiced into a potent colon cleanser, a practice still used today for its powerful purgative effects.
As the moon waxed from new to full, they shifted from cleansing to nourishment, focusing on blood-building herbs like Blue Vervain and iron-rich plants to restore strength and energy.
Cassia Alata Leaf
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Cassia Alata - Your Liver’s Best Friend 🌿 Detox. Balance. Glow. 🌿 Known as the “King of the Forest”, Cassia Alata is one of the most powerful herbs for cleansing and restoring the liver. Harvested with love and intention on… read more
2. Purification Beyond the Body – Anamu
Anamu was not just a tea—it was a protector.
Our ancestors burned it, brewed it, and used it to cleanse their homes, clearing negative energy and creating a sacred, purified space.
And now, modern science confirms what they always knew: Anamu has powerful antiviral, antimicrobial, and immune-boosting properties. It has even been found to be cytotoxic, meaning it can help fight against cancer cells.
What was once seen as purely spiritual is now recognized as one of nature’s most potent defenders against illness.
You can take advantage of this cleansing herb by making some anamu tea and using it to wipe down counters, tables and even clean put some in your mop bucket to clean your floor!
3. Healing Through Sight – St. John’s Bush
They believed that nature left clues, and the deep red hue of St. John’s Bush tea was a sign—it was used to treat red eye and conjunctivitis.
Our ancestors would brew the tea and use it as an eyewash, trusting in nature’s wisdom. Today, we know that St. John’s Bush contains anti-inflammatory compounds that support eye health and reduce irritation.
The knowledge they carried wasn’t just tradition—it was science in its purest form.
You can use it if you have red eye by putting a few drops of st Johns bush tea in your eye 3 times a day and let it work its magic!
St. Johns Bush
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Our St Johns bush is harvested with love and intention on the lush island of Saint Lucia. St. Johns bush is known as one of the most potent herbs for women's health (not to be confused with St. Johns Wort) Why… read more
4. White Flowers and Women’s Health – Red Raspberry
Herbs with white flowers were considered sacred for women’s health.
Red Raspberry, with its delicate white blooms, was used to strengthen the womb, ease menstrual pain, and support pregnancy. It was rich in iron, helping to build and nourish the blood, and was known to tonify the uterus—improving circulation and relieving stagnation.
Modern research now confirms that Red Raspberry is one of the best uterine tonics, supporting reproductive health at every stage of a woman’s life.
5. The Ancestral Origins of Cycle Syncing
Cycle syncing—the practice of adjusting diet, exercise, and herbal support based on a woman’s menstrual phase—has gained popularity on social media. But this is not new. Our ancestors have been doing this for as long as we can remember.
They used herbs to align the body with its natural cycles:
🌑 Leading up to the menstrual cycle (7 days before bleeding): St. John’s Bush was used to prepare the body for the shedding process, regulate the cycle, and boost progesterone. It helped build the blood and ensure a smooth transition into menstruation.
🌕 During the cycle (7 days of bleeding): Red Raspberry was taken to tonify the uterus, relieve cramps, and restore lost blood. Rich in iron, it strengthened the body and ensured a balanced, healthy flow.
Our ancestors knew that healing wasn’t just about treating symptoms—it was about supporting the body in harmony with its natural rhythms.
Download our Herb Cycling E-book!Reclaiming Our Birthright to Heal
This knowledge was never meant to be lost. It was meant to be passed down, honored, and lived.
And now, it’s in your hands.
You are the bridge between the past and the future. By choosing to heal, you are breaking generational cycles of sickness, disconnection, and forgotten wisdom. You are doing something rare—something powerful. You are choosing to remember.
There is something sacred about this path you are walking. The ancestors whisper to those who listen, and they have called you to this work for a reason. It is not a coincidence that you are here, drawn to this knowledge, feeling the pull to reclaim what was always yours.
When you drink these teas, when you cleanse, when you nourish your body with the same herbs that sustained our people for generations—you are not just healing yourself.
You are healing those who came before you.
You are healing those who will come after you.
You are healing those who may never even know your name, but will feel the ripples of your transformation.
This is what makes you a chosen one.
To walk this path is to carry the light of our ancestors forward. It is a responsibility, but it is also an honor.
So do not underestimate the power of what you are doing.
🌿 Explore our collection of ancestral herbs and start integrating these sacred remedies into your daily life.
🔗 [Shop Our Ancestral Herb Collection]
Blessings and abundance,
Akeem
