Big Sister Zhou, who is nearing 50 years old, has a slim figure and a kind personality. Having lived in Shuanggang for the first ten years, Big Sister Zhou's neighborhood consists of many old acquaintances who often visit each other’s homes. However, she rarely enters her neighbors' kitchens, not because she fears the smoke, but because she can't stand the sight of oil.
To others, salad oil might be an everyday sight, but to Big Sister Zhou, it exudes an irresistible allure — its golden gleam tempts her to take a sip or two. This desire has persisted for over three years. A chance encounter with drinking oil led Big Sister Zhou to become addicted. In order to hide this habit from her family and neighbors, she had to "steal" sips of oil. However, as they say, you can't keep a secret forever, and eventually, she was found out...
After drinking salad oil, Big Sister Zhou felt a sense of comfort. "Gulping...gulping..." With a few swallows of salad oil, Big Sister Zhou sighed in relief, as if her craving had been satisfied. The golden salad oil seemed to transform into orange juice, offering her immense satisfaction.
Big Sister Zhou chuckled awkwardly, showing some embarrassment as she recalled her first experience with drinking oil, which happened three years ago.
On a summer evening in June 2008, after returning home from work, Big Sister Zhou felt an unusual dryness in her throat. Entering the kitchen, she initially intended to pour herself a glass of water. However, upon seeing a bucket of salad oil on the cabinet, she inexplicably felt an urge to drink it.
"I was extremely thirsty, longing to quench my thirst... That's how I felt." Big Sister Zhou poured a small bowl of oil and drank it in a few gulps. She described feeling comfortable all over after drinking it, noting that the taste wasn't as unpleasant as she had originally imagined. Initially, it felt strange, but she soon grew accustomed to it.
While others might get addicted to smoking, Big Sister Zhou became addicted to drinking oil. Whenever she felt thirsty, her first thought wasn't about drinking water but finding some oil to quench her thirst. "The more I drink, the more addicted I become. Just seeing salad oil makes me want to drink it, even a large bowl at once isn't a problem."
Since falling in love with salad oil, Big Sister Zhou became cautious, drinking it secretly and carefully so as not to be discovered by her family or others. "At first, I worried if I had some strange illness, but I didn't dare tell anyone, fearing my family would worry."
When the urge to drink oil arose, Big Sister Zhou usually took advantage of moments when no one was home. For several months, no one noticed. "Sometimes, I thought about going to the hospital for a check-up, but I couldn't bring myself to ask. So, I never went." Although Big Sister Zhou had multiple thoughts about quitting her oil-drinking habit, forcing herself not to think about it or drink it, she inevitably encountered oil while cooking. Every time she saw it, her heart itched, tempting her again due to the sensation of comfort after drinking.
After drinking oil for some time, Big Sister Zhou noticed no significant changes in her body, which slightly reassured her. Her enthusiasm for drinking oil increased, sometimes leading her to drink several times a day.
Eventually, her habit was exposed, and her family became concerned. Over the course of several months, the oil in their home mysteriously disappeared quickly, puzzling her husband, Mr. Wu. During a conversation, Big Sister Zhou accidentally revealed her secret: "My throat feels uncomfortable, and I want to drink oil again..."
After persistent questioning, Mr. Wu finally understood. The family was baffled, wondering, "What's so good about drinking oil?" "Is there something wrong with your health?" After a round of questions, Big Sister Zhou was taken to the hospital for a check-up, but nothing unusual was found. Although somewhat relieved, the family still believed drinking oil was abnormal and decided to supervise her closely to help her quit her "oil addiction."
Their first strategy was to hide the oil, removing it from her reach. Their second strategy involved close supervision, assigning someone to watch her constantly... Despite devising numerous strategies, they abandoned them after only a few days. "We all have jobs, and she prepares our daily meals. It's impossible not to let her touch oil, and relying solely on supervision isn't reliable."
Seeing how much her family cared about her, Big Sister Zhou resolved to control herself. When she wanted to drink oil, she tried to endure it, occasionally allowing herself a small bowl when she truly couldn't resist. Over time, her "oil addiction" indeed decreased.
This "strange illness" turned out to be "pica." Although her addiction had lessened, Big Sister Zhou still didn't understand what was wrong with her. Recently, our newspaper reported on a citizen who loved eating newspapers, and the doctor diagnosed him with pica. What about Big Sister Zhou, who loves drinking oil? Curious, the reporter consulted Traditional Chinese Medicine expert Zhang Qi, who examined her and confirmed that this was also a form of "pica," similar to people who eat dragonflies or dirt, but Big Sister Zhou's physical condition was fine.
"The causes of 'pica' are varied, both physiological and psychological, requiring proper guidance from loved ones," Zhang Qi explained. "Whether eating strange things harms the body depends on what is eaten. For example, swallowing large amounts of ash or paper might lead to lead poisoning. If any discomfort arises, medical attention should be sought immediately."
(Intern) Qian Li, (Reporter) Sun Youjie