From the beginning, many Hoodoo shops have been associated with traditional pharmacies and apothecaries. In addition to functioning as spiritual shops, they have provided their customers with a wide range of topical herbal treatments, dietary supplements, pain-relieving analgesics, cosmetics, hair care products, perfumes, and patent medicines.
Traditional pharmacies were introduced and eventually included in Hoodoo as many of its practitioners also perform some form of 'chiropractic' manipulation and/or massage therapy known as rub-down rites for the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal ailments, as well as spiritual afflictions; and merge folkloric therapies with mainstream medicine, incorporating allopathic treatment modalities and prescription of pharmaceuticals into their practice. Usually, this is a specialization, but in the Southern areas, many of the root doctors are familiar with using these modalities. However, most practitioners do not have formal training in mainstream or contemporary medicines. Others are naturally gifted in this healing art, while others achieve their skills through an indigenous hand-me-down education.
Numerous techniques exist, varying by region and folkloric esoterica. Common in the practice of rub-down in the rural areas is the practitioners' attribution of the healing effect to God, and other spiritual entities, that it is through Their presence, power, and assistance that they can manipulate the spiritual and energy channels in the body's meridians (and chakras), hoping to expel evil spirits or negative energies that may have invaded the patient's etheric space and may have caused the physical ailments. Some traditional rub-down techniques utilize symbolic patterns of the cross, crown, rosary, and angel wings. A few practitioners achieve expertise in this healing modality, incorporating it with elements of 'science' (reflexology, basic anatomy, and physiology), gaining knowledge through self-study, membership in a local group with shared interests, or some workshops. These modalities are performed with medicated topical preparations and even some pharmaceutical drugs.
Nowadays, while most Black families would prefer an immediate consultation with a licensed physician, many African-American and Hoodoo homes still carry so-called homestyle remedies - oils, creams, liniments, and an assortment of other products that all purport to treat discomforts mild to profound.
Whether these over-the-counter remedies for aches and pains heal is often tertiary to the fact that people believe they do, so conjure practitioners and their patients can think of them as actual medicine. Many of them have been around for years, even decades, so one has to wonder - if they don't work, why are they still around?
Here are some good old-fashioned American and Latino, as well as traditional Chinese and South-East Asian remedies for life's minor aches, pains, and needs:
 |
| Oil of Gladness or Oriental Balm and Old Indian Rubbing Oil, hand-blended with traditional herbs and essential oils. |
 |
| Time-honored over-the-counter Chinese traditional medicine, pain relievers, and topical analgesics sold in Chinese herbal pharmacies in Asia and America. |
An example is a story from a man cured by a famous root doctor called Guinea Sam Nightingale. This is an excerpt from a journal in History of the Present, written by Andrew Zimmerman: Sam once treated a man who had been tricked by taking him to a local pharmacy and swallowing an entire box of pills. Nightingale then informed the patient that the pills were laxatives and recommended that he hurry home, "for your bowels sure going to move," and also encouraged him to drink his own urine. "Course I never drank my water," the man later explained, "but he cured me, he sure did."
Some old-time recipes for balms, salves, and ointments:
I do not want to boast, but I rarely succumb to the bugs that go around the time of the year, but whenever I get the flu, I usually make myself this soothing balm my mentor from the West Coast has taught me. Although it's best to harvest or wildcraft your herbs, I usually used dried leaves and flowers for this recipe as they are easier to work with:
- Ginger root - Chrysanthemum flowers - Codonopsis root - Elderberries - Elderflowers - Meadowsweet flowers - Mullein leaves - Slippery Elm bark - Mint essential oil - Eucalyptus essential oilThis ointment is health-enhancing, especially for soothing lungs and sinuses, but it also effectively protects against unnatural illness, enemy works, nightmares, crossed conditions, and evil tongues. There are no known contraindications or drug interactions for the above herbs. Properties of these herbs, in combination: support immune function; are gently anti-microbial (anti-viral, antibiotic); anti-inflammatory; analgesic; a decongestant, and soothe; and support the lungs, throat, and sinuses.
Another basic formula I learned from a root doctor is what she called her own Analgesic Salve. I find it particularly effective for the relief of headaches and minor muscle pain, as well as soothing for cold and flu-related aches. It can also be used for motivation, igniting passion, and inspiration.
To have on hand, mix:
- Meadowsweet flowers - Passionflower leaves - Chamomile essential oil
To use, heat two cans of Black and White Ointment and two tablespoons of Olive Oil in a double boiler. When all is melted, stir in equal parts of the herbs, as much as the mixture can hold. Make sure not to let the oil get hot enough to 'fry' the herbs.
Keep it warm for an hour, then let it stand tightly covered in a cool place for one week. Warm it, strain the plant matter, add three drops of essential oil, then pour it back into the original tin.
As cautionary measures for those who would try to make and use this: passionflower may potentiate medications such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and sleeping pills.
A useful ointment from the book, Dr. Chase's Old-Time Home Remedies, can be made too as a counter-irritant and to reverse bad luck into good.
 |
| This book includes traditional advice for illness and injuries, nursing and midwifery, meals and desserts, household maintenance, beekeeping, and much more! |
To do this, you will need the following:
- 8 oz. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly - 2 tablespoons dried, powdered ginger root - 2 tablespoons dried, powdered clove pods - 2 tablespoons dried, powdered cinnamon bark - 2 tablespoons dried, powdered black pepper - 2 tablespoons dried, powdered red pepper
Melt the Vaseline in a double boiler and stir in the powdered spices. To make it even more robust, when stirring in the other herbs.
Keep warm on the stove for one hour, then strain the herbs. Pour into small wide-mouth containers.
This ointment is a traditional skin irritant. If you spread it on too thickly and leave it on, it may cause blistering of the skin.
Lastly, a salve for itchiness and money drawing. It is believed in Hoodoo and even in Filipino custom that an itchy palm is a predictor of financial gain or loss soon. A good practice when your palm is itchy is to avoid scratching it but instead rub it with this salve or any money-related condition oils.
If using fresh herbs, gently spray clean and let it dry overnight in a dark place.
- 1 handful of chickweed - 1/2 handful of chamomile heads - 1/2 handful of calendula heads - 2 tablespoons of thyme - 2 tablespoons of comfrey root - 2 tablespoons of Althea root
To use: Cover with Jojoba oil, and infuse over low heat for 3 hours. Strain and add 1-2 oz. of lard, unsalted butter, or cocoa butter, and 1-2 oz. Beeswax, heat until melted. Just drop a little on a plate and see if it hardens enough. If not, add more Beeswax, only a little at a time, and re-test. Once the texture is good, pour it into containers.
The standard advice from most doctors: using any medicinal herbs, supplements, etc., during pregnancy should only be done with the advice of a personal health care provider. I wouldn't recommend the use of these balms or ointments during pregnancy.
As you can see from the recipes above, for a base of balms, salves, or ointments, you can use any of the following neutral, solid fatty substances:
- Beeswax - Petroleum Jelly - Lard, tallow, or mutton - Unsalted Butter - Vegetable Fats like Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
 |
| Melting Beeswax and adding virgin coconut oil for our premium balms. |
If you prefer to work with an already-started fatty base that has a good texture and a natural herbal scent, you can do as many workers have and make good use of either or both of these two commercial ointments:
- Black and White Ointment - Bag Balm
 |
| Ointments and salve from old-fashioned recipes: Strong Ointment for protection, breaking adverse effects of magic that has affected the skin or muscles and driving off enemies; Golden Flower Ointment for cheering, health-enhancing, and money drawing; and Protective Salve for protection of home and family against diseases. |
Liniments that contain rubbing alcohol, either isopropyl alcohol or ethanol-based liquids, are well received by clients, especially during hot weather, due to the evaporation of the alcohol, which cools the skin. Most liniments provide fast and lasting relief from various body pains. Their main ingredients aside from alcohol could include menthol, camphor, ammonia, turpentine, methyl salicylate, and oils such as Olive oil, Sweet Almond oil, or Virgin Coconut oil. Like many other similar products, they work by just rubbing it onto the affected area of the body. They are beneficial in soothing and easing tension, fatigue, and aching muscles. They also have an anti-itching effect that relieves itching, thus preventing infection from insect bites and scratches.
Dissolve the Camphor and lavender Oil in the alcohol, then gradually pour in the ammonia, careful not to breathe the fumes. Stir well and bottle tightly.
Another recipe I took from the book Dr. Chase's Old-Time Home Remedies is Dr. A.B. Mason's Liniment:
Dissolve the camphor, sweet almond oil, and essential oils in the alcohol, then gradually pour in the ammonia and turpentine, being careful not to breathe the fumes. Stir well and cork tightly.
Rubbing oils are used primarily to help expel abdominal discomfort due to gas or colic, otherwise known in the Philippines as "kabag." They are also suitable for massaging a client's head or giving rub-down to arms and legs. They could be mixed with condition oils for use on the body. Some rubbing oils are specially formulated for babies and toddlers, as they are mild on children's skin and have a mild scent.
Here's a recipe of camphorated or mentholated oil that I learned from my two teachers, which I combined for more effective use:
Heat the oil in a double boiler. Dissolve the camphor and menthol in the heated oil, then remove them from the heat. After it cools, a few drops of essential oil of lavender, mint, wintergreen, chamomile, or eucalyptus may be added if desired for fragrance and to align the oil with a specific set of healing or medicinal properties and magical attributes.
Some additional information for all the recipes I shared: Add a small amount of Vitamin E and grapefruit seed oil - about 1/8 teaspoon per 8 oz. oil - at the end of the process (once everything's cooked and strained before pouring into their respective containers). Grapefruit seed oil is an excellent natural preservative and adds an anti-microbial property to rubbing oil, liniment, or salve, while Vitamin E oil moisturizes and nourishes the skin.
0 comments:
Post a Comment