Category Archives: Folk medicine

Soda as Medicine

Text:

The subject informed me that drinking soda could help someone recover from a sore throat or other kind of throat infection.  The subject was told that the carbonation from the soda was deadly to the viruses that cause sore throats, and that therefore, drinking a soda whilst having a sore throat could help them immensely with alleviating the symptoms and giving them some relief from the pain.  Furthermore, they were told that different sodas could benefit them more than other sodas when it comes to sore throats; while sodas like Dr. Pepper and Coke could help somewhat, Sprite and 7-Up helped significantly more, and even could help cure sore throats within a single day.

Context:

The subject, L.D., learned of this cure from their parents, and first learned of it from them when they were young and had a sore throat.  During this time, the subject was told that drinking some soda would be able to help with a sore throat, and that they can have some if they wanted to.  The subject also noted that they were often only given soda during these times when they were young, and that their parents were more lax when it came to them drinking soft drinks and eating junk food when they were sick as compared to when they were healthy.

Interpretation:

It is likely that giving the subject soda when they were a kid was a way for the subject’s parents to provide their child some comfort and support whilst they were sick so that they would be able to feel better whilst being so sick.  Because of their desire to keep their kids from asking for soda more often, the parents likely told them that soda would help with their sore throats so that their kids would only expect them whilst being sick.  They likely also wanted to make sure that their kids had some kind of medication that they could accept that they’d know well, would believe that it would help them, and would be something they would want to drink, as opposed to medication they wouldn’t want. 

Reiki Meets Catholicism

Text: “My mom has been practicing Reiki for a long time. It is an energy healing practice from Japan, also known as hands-on healing. The practitioner places their hands on the patient and uses their own energy and emotion to either detect energy from the patient or transfer energy. My mom does it kind of casually, but she can sense tension and soreness on someone else’s body just by hovering her hands over them. Whenever she knows I’m nervous or tense, she hovers her hands over my shoulders and transfers healing energy into them. I’m not very knowledgeable in Reiki, but it’s a weird thing where you feel warm and tingly in the areas that you’ve had energy transferred into, and the tension does dissolve.” 

Context: My informant – a 21-year-old woman from Los Angeles, California – explained the role Reiki has played in her family and in the relationship she has with her mom. She explained to me that this was something she remembered her mom doing for her whole life, and she cannot doubt the healing power of it because she truly feels that it makes her feel better and it relieves a lot of tension in her mind and body. She went on to explain that her mom is also Catholic and comes from a Mexican family of witches, which she said is a weird mix because in Catholicism, “witchcraft is the Devil’s work.” However, her mom connects her beliefs and cultures because she believes that the healing properties that Jesus had were actually Reiki practices, or some form of it. My informant explained to me that the connection her mom made between Japanese and Mexican culture – along with the role of religion – has shaped her own beliefs regarding Catholicism, and she feels like it has made her feel a bit more connected to her own spirituality.

Analysis: The practice of Reiki within my informant’s family exemplifies a unique blend of cultural beliefs and healing traditions that bridge diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Reiki, originating from Japan as an energy healing practice, has been integrated into my informant’s family dynamics and relationship with her mother as a source of comfort and healing. Her approach to Reiki reflects a personal and intuitive understanding of energy healing, where she uses her own energy and emotion to detect and alleviate tension and soreness in others. This hands-on approach to healing underscores the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit within Reiki practice.

What stands out is my informant’s mother’s ability to reconcile her Catholic faith with her practice of Reiki, despite potential religious tensions associated with practices labeled as “witchcraft.” By interpreting Jesus’ healing miracles as akin to Reiki principles, her mother synthesizes elements of Japanese and Mexican culture with her Catholic beliefs, creating a unique and deeply personal spiritual perspective. For my informant, witnessing her mother’s integration of Reiki into her family’s spiritual and healing practices has shaped her own beliefs and sense of spirituality. The blending of cultural influences and healing traditions fosters a sense of connection to her heritage and spirituality, providing a holistic framework that embraces both diversity and personal growth.

Silky Black Skinned Chicken Soup

Nationality: Chinese/Vietnamese
Primary Language: English
Other language(s): Mandarin, Cheo Chow (Chinese Dialect)
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: LA, California
Performance Date: 3/12/2024

Context:

My informant, AC, is a friend of mine from my freshman year at USC from Los Angeles, California. I talked with her about food one day in second semester freshman year after getting some soup for myself while out at lunch. On that topic of food, we touched on soup, as this is what I was planning to eat. As we discussed soup at this point, all different types of it, she mentioned that at home, she would have this chicken soup with the skin of the cooked chicken still in it, but the skin was burnt black. I questioned her further about this and she said it was a natural homemade remedy and all around good soup that was apparently, as discussed with her parents, supposed to cure her asthma and other illnesses, as a sort of magic.

Text:

“So basically, this soup would help me feel better whenever I was sick or whenever I had asthma attacks or problems. I could never figure it out, but whenever I had it, my sicknesses would just seemingly disappear the next day. And with asthma, if I ever had wheezed or anything worse, I would have this soup and then my breathing issues would just dissipate. But, I don’t know how it works, though I know it does. Again, it’s pretty strange, magical almost.”

Analysis:

Well I did a bunch of research on this topic and ended up finding out that black skin chicken soup, also known as Black Bone Soup, is a popular Chinese dish which is said to have exceptional medicinal properties. Based on my research, apparently, dark meat of black chicken breeds like the Kadaknath or cooked black skin chicken provides a rich source of carnosine, which is a protein-building compound that has antioxidant properties. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, this black chicken soup recipe tonifies (balances, stabilizes, or unblocks) qi (chi)/energy in the body. It is also believed to strengthen the liver and kidneys, nourish the blood, and improve immunity and overall energy. So, in turn black chicken soup can indeed somewhat help stabilize breathing issues due to asthma and act as an aid to sickness symptoms. Apparently, black chicken has been known since the 7th century, and it is believed that eating these chickens, known in China as gu chi, ‘chicken with black bones,’ has a beneficial effect on human health. This has been a recurring theme in Chinese culture for centuries, and based on multiple human health articles I’ve read so far, its benefits are seemingly scientifically accurate. It’s extremely interesting for me to see this form of folk medicine and near magic to be used and be historically proven to work as well. I’ve dealt with my fair share of folk medicine personally, but this one, not only have I never heard of it, it blows my mind to see how beneficial it is in the field of science when dealing with its positive effects on the human immune system.

Cross-Cultural Medicine: Folk Medicine/ Superstition

Context:

The informant SY is of Cambodian descent and dives into the beliefs of his culture and explains the beliefs of keeping spirits away and medicine used to maintain good health

Interview:

Growing up, my parents would always tell me that some things can’t be done because it can bring bad luck to me and my family. I never doubted them and listened to their advice to protect myself. They would inform me about the good and bad spirits that are around every day. For example, cutting nails at night is not allowed because it can invite evil spirits into your home. They liked telling me, “Those spirits can bring misfortunes and bad luck that can harm you or make you sick.” Some people don’t really believe in this, but they still follow the rules just because they don’t want evil spirits or bad luck around them.

In Cambodia, people fear the evil spirits that roam around. They are said to cause bad luck and bring you misfortune. According to an article written about Khmer beliefs and superstition, “Among these phenomena are khmoc (ghosts), pret and besach (particularly nasty demons, the spirits of people who have died violent, untimely, or unnatural deaths)… they can cause trouble ranging from mischief to serious life-threatening illnesses” (Hays). These different kinds of spirits are the ones that bring fear to those who have khmer beliefs. This gives these people a reason to listen and follow beliefs/superstitions so that they can keep these spirits away from them.

When it comes to warding off these evil and unlucky spirits, there are different types of people who can get in touch with the spirit world. These shamans and healers have their own methods of keeping evil spirits away from people who seek their help. A culture-profile written about the Khmer lifestyle, beliefs, and background states, “A Khru Khmer (traditional healer) may be sought who will often travel into the jungle for herbs, roots and plants for healing… Traditional healers or spiritual healers will be sought for illnesses thought to be caused by spirits” (Wetzel, Kemp). These healers can use their knowledge to find the right ingredients that can keep the spirits away. They can also give people protective artifacts that can also help ward off the evil that is following or after someone. Different healers can provide people with different things like medicine, fortune telling, artifacts, and magical tattoos. 

Whenever I would get a cold or fever, my mom would tell me to lay down so that she could do some coining. This is a process where a coin is used to scrape the “bad wind” away. I was always reluctant to do this because it would hurt a little. She would always say, “endure through the pain, it will make your sickness go away.” 

Another method of curing illness that could’ve been caused by these evil spirits is by maintaining balance within your physical body and spirit. A research study conducted on the topic of traditional Cambodian medicine states, “maintaining “hot/cold” balance, and herbal medicines. Specific examples include use of tattoos/religious medals; healing ceremonies; dermabrasion; and consumption of “hot” or “cold” foods/medicines” (Richman). This study includes the idea of yin and yang used for healing and balancing your spirit. Hot and cold foods are also a way that you can get sick. Hot foods can be foods that are fried, baked, and mostly unhealthy. While reading through the culture profile and background of Cambodian beliefs, it quotes, “Cupping, pinching, or rubbing (also known as coining) are the most commonly used and are thought to restore balance by releasing excessive air” (Wetzel). Methods like cupping and coining can be related to the belief of balancing in your body. Coining is supposed to release the unhealthy hot air in your body and is said to be able to cure people who are feeling ill or have fevers/colds.

Analysis:

YS explains in great detail the ideas of superstitious beliefs that are fundamental to Cambodian culture with a focus on how these beliefs affect daily life and medical procedures. As mentioned, the fear of bad spirits called locally “khmoc,” “pret,” and “besach,” which are believed to bring misfortune and disease, is central to the fundamental concepts. This fear drives devotion to customs and beliefs, like not cutting nails at night to keep these spirits out of the house. YS also mentions the function of traditional healers, or “Khru Khmer,” who treat people for illnesses brought on by spirits by using spiritual rituals, herbs, and roots. Among these customs are coining, which is said to drive away evil spirits that appear as illnesses, and keeping a “hot/cold” equilibrium in the body, reflecting an indigenous understanding of health akin to the yin-yang concept.

White Sage Smudging – Shelby S

• (co-opted) Indigenous American practice

Whenever Shelby moves into a new place, permanently or just for a short period of time, as well as after an occurrence thats makes her feel her space has been “dirtied” with negative events or emotions, she “smudges” by burning white sage with the window(s) and door(s) open to “release” the negativity.

This is a ritual among Indigenous Americans on the West Coast, where Shelby grew up (she is Black), which is performed to remove harmful spirits, forces, and “energy” from a structure, place, or person. As she’s gotten older, learned about the endangerment of white sage due to the spirituality industry’s overharvesting, as well as the general problems with appropriating Native American religious traditions, Shelby put effort into developing a sustainable and thoughtful relationship with white sage smudging and other practices only known to her because of the Indian-mania of American culture during the mid-late 20th century in which she was raised. 

She also burns other leaves and barks, such as cedar, that are used for smudging in places like West Africa. She says various affirmations, sometimes out loud and sometimes in her head, that call in protective spirits and forces while expelling harmful ones. The change in smell alone makes the space/person/object feel anew, and bugs tend to not be fans of aromatic smoke, illuminating potential origins of the belief in the “cleansing” powers of white sage, and smudging in general.