ENLARGE




Sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll made me crazy—thank God!



An Erotic Novel



How we lost the right to feel.

Go to the beach.

A Literary Love Affair

Botánicas

Botánicas are native drug stores where you can buy herbal remedies, as well as whatever you might need for cursing your enemies, enhancing your love life, improving your luck and so on. None of these look quite like the apothecary shop in Romeo and Juliet. The packaging is mostly plastic bags and plastic bottles and the artwork is decidedly comic book, but if you need to get rid of a noisy neighbor, you can try a candle made especially for that purpose.

The remedies do work. Anita and I once had low-grade pneumonias that responded to nothing at all, until our maid brought us a bag of herbs from the market and we were soon breathing normally again.

Among the teas that we’ve found useful:

Damiana californiana

Considered an aphrodisiac, it has what appear to be distinctly anti-depressant effects, inducing a distinctly more positive sense of well-being without the jitters.

Tila

Excellent relaxant that I’ve found works better than a sleeping pill.

Preparado para Tos

This is a mixture of eucalyptus berries, mullein and other herbs. First aid for all coughs, relieves some cold symptoms.

La Flor Oaxaqueña

Downtown, Mercado 23

Authentic herbal shop

Overflowing with barrels and bags and bottles and candles and garlic wreaths. Excellent selection of herbal remedies and teas.