Leaving Our Health to Chance

Asian Superstitions and Folklore in Health

By Clementine Dela Cruz

The superstitious beliefs and folklore that permeate Asian societies are often carried along as many begin their journeys as Asian Americans, most commonly appearing in tales they hear during their upbringing or through advice from family and friends. While most superstitions do not hold religious ties or originate from any factual basis, most Asian Americans are often taught to abide by these beliefs. Although the majority of superstitions may be harmless and are inherent parts of Asian culture, some can have negative impacts. It is crucial to acknowledge superstitions and their relation to mental and physical health and to be wary of how superstitions and medical alternatives can impact the Asian American community.

The Evil Eye

One of the most well-recognized symbols amongst both Eastern and Western cultures is the “nazar,” or the “evil eye,” in many Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures. Many believe that the evil eye is an intangible entity which can cause misfortune or injury when received. On the other hand, others consider the evil eye to be a force which reflects malicious gazes upon those with harmful intent toward others. In India, nazar is also referred to as “drishti,” and it is believed to be caused by negative or jealous thoughts. It is common for people to display images of ferce ogres in their homes or on their vehicles to ward off the evil eye. Innocents, such as babies and children, are considered to be the most vulnerable

and susceptible to drishti. In order to protect against it, special precautions are taken, such as parents marking their babies’ faces with kohl, a black powder, to create black “beauty marks.”

Priyal Patel, an Indian student attending the University of Florida, recounts her childhood experience with drishti.

“As a kid I had nightmares every night [and] constant headaches throughout the day, making it hard for me to perform any academic or extracurricular activity to the best of my ability. My aunt decided that the best way to get rid of the negative energy that affected me was to remove the nazar,” Patel said.

“From what I remember, she took a handful of rock salt and rotated the hand over my head seven times and then discarded it in the drain. After that night, I could sleep peacefully without any negative dreams or thoughts. This had a very positive impact on my academics and my overall health.” One of the most infamous cases of this involves Ramon Labo, a Filipino faith healer who received local and international controversial acclaim in the 1990s.

Pseudomedicine and Folk Healing

Pseudomedicine, which are alternative methods of healing not backed by scientifc data, and traditional folk healing are prevalent in the rural areas of the Philippines. This common practice can result in misconceptions of disease causation and can worsen one’s health condition as a result of the delay in seeking professional diagnosis and clinical management.

“After that night, I could sleep peacefully without any negative dreams or thoughts.”

Labo practiced “psychic surgery” to allegedly extract the cause of ailment from clients, ranging from people with paralysis to those experiencing blindness. Once it was discovered that Labo was using cheap tricks, such as using cow blood instead of properly drawing and testing the blood of clients, Labo’s reputation rapidly declined. After practicing this type of “healing” for decades and garnering immense wealth, Labo eventually found himself with

over 1,000 charges of swindling fled against him by citizens of Moscow.

The reason why locals turn to faith healers and other superstitious means of healing can be attributed to “namaligno,” a term which refers to being affected by mystical or supernatural causes. “Maligno” are spirits which haunt and possess the ability to bring harm to people, and they are often credited as the causes for diseases or ailments that cannot be explained.

Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome is a phenomenon most commonly found in the Philippines. With no clear or defnite cause, people ascribe this occurrence of sudden cardiac arrest to maligno.

Traditional folk healing also typically involves “tawas,” an alum or mineral, which can be used as a diagnostic tool as well as treatment. A ritual using tawas consists of several steps. First, the tawas is waved in the sign of a cross over the forehead and other possible areas of ailment in the body. Next, it is placed over embers, removed once it begins to crack, and then transferred to a small pool of water. As the tawas cools, it spreads across the water’s surface, revealing a shape that suggests the cause of ailment. Usually, the cause of the ailment is a maligno or other mystical forces, such as demons and dwarves.

Conclusion

There are plenty of other superstitions of unlucky numbers or obscure acts which can bring misfortune, such as taking pictures in groups of three or opening umbrellas indoors. Regardless of how much truth they may hold, superstitions should not dictate one’s daily decisions or disturb one’s peace of mind. Turn to healthcare professionals when mental and physical health seem to be going downhill, and feel free to whistle a tune at night.