HARARE - Although not a favourite of many because of the harsh weather conditions, winter is most definitely the season of love.
It is also the season when both men and women go out of their way to ensure that they keep their partners warm by all means possible.
This last week, I stumbled onto an interesting conversation on Facebook where women and men were sharing advice on how to increase one’s body temperature.
I read with much interest the many remedies which include ndorani/intowani and an assortment of herbs which one can take with mealie meal porridge.
A herbalist who sells her merchandise on the streets of Harare said, ndorani is a herb which is taken to cure colic in babies and can be taken by adults to cure the same condition.
Some even went on to the extent of advising women to insert the herbs into the privates for more effectiveness.
This last method, however, rang alarm bells to me considering all the risks of contracting diseases like cervical cancer which is said to be the most prevalent among women in Zimbabwe.
It is also the leading cause of death in Zimbabwe, which according to the World Cancer Research Fund International ranks at number 5 out of 20 of the countries where cervical cancer is most prevalent.
Malawi, however, has the highest incidence of cervical cancer followed by Mozambique, Comoros and Zambia.
The cancer, which affects the mouth of the uterus, is the 4th most common cancer among women worldwide.
WCRF states that at least 528 000 new infections were recorded in 2012 alone.
Cervical cancer is said to be caused by exposure to tobacco, either directly or indirectly or inserting herbs into the vagina.
The cancer is also caused by the human papilloma virus which is sexually transmitted and health experts argue that 70 percent of this cancer; in sub Saharan Africa are due to the transmission of the virus.
HIV positive women are also said to be at a higher risk of contracting cancer of the cervix which is responsible for the deaths of at least 300 000 women across the globe annually.
So, when I read about women offering advice of inserting herbs in their vagina, it triggered alarm bells.
But when one takes a closer look at the matter, it becomes apparent that all this putting of one’s life at risk is all aimed at pleasing one’s spouse.
I have been privy to a lot of conversations where men openly talk about how so and so is such a cold woman and so on.
What then is the big deal about body temperature? Should people really put their lives at risk to achieve this?
Is there really something as a cold blooded woman out there?
If such a thing does truly exist, then I am sure a safer way to increase one’s body temperature also exists.
Most men that I have spoken to about increasing one’s body temperature actually laughed it off, so I just concluded that the fuss was nothing but a myth.
It has become apparent that half the time we spend precious time and money on harmful things which ultimately change nothing in the long run.
True love and acceptance is surely not contained in a packet of herbs but it is more like what the Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians in I Corinthians 13 versus 4 to 8.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.”