Roots of Lalang Grass

The lalang (Imperata cyllindrica) is a terrible and aggressive weed which have never been a welcome feature of rural farmers' life. It grows very fast and it cannot be controlled. Even the best of weedicide cannot kill it. Once a field of lalang is burnt, it would grow in a matter of weeks.

When our Foochow ancestors came to Sibu, their spirits were dampened by the fast growth of lalang or Huong Chow . Huong here may mean wild, or chaotic.




But its roots are powerful in reducing fever when brewed for one or two hours.

When the Foochow pioneers first arrived they had no medical support and Sarawak government did not even have a clinic in Sibu. Those sinseh who came with them were mainly barefoot doctors who knew only about rustic cures. And among the cures was lalang root.





It is quite tough to harvest the roots because the leaves have sharp edges which can cut our fine skin. And it is very difficult to pull out the roots at the same time. Most of the time, people would changkul the soil and then break up the soil to extract the roots. That would be an easier way without cutting one's arms by the sharp blades of the leaves.

Today we can easily buy the dried roots of the lalang in any Chinese sinseh or medicine shop. Just take a handful and boil it with water. After cooling the brew, just drink it and the fever will be gone.