Some of the CPAP posters are asking about vintage Voodoun cures for apnea. It is easier to ask about snoring, so I called a friend down in NOLA who lives near bourbon street and has some connections in the Voodoun scene.
Voodoo, Hoodoo or Voodoun cures for snoring typically take a few weeks to complete and require that the snorer (the afflicted) and the bed partner (the hapless witness) participate fully in the cure. I was hoping this involved dolls and pins, but it does not.
To cure Snoring with Hatian/African VooDoun, the afflicted and his witness (usually the husband and his wife) would wait until the new moon to cut fourteen switches in a marsh (swamp). It is a good idea that this requires two people, because a new moon is dark in a swamp and really more flaming torches are better in my estimation. The switches must be thicker than a pinky finger, but not larger than a man's thumb. These switches should be at least 24 inches in length and somewhat green so they whip back when used to hit something. With each switch cut, the afflicted would call out "no more" and the witness says "yes one" until the last switch was cut and the witness said "it is done". Cat tail switches were not recommended unless you wanted to borrow trouble in the afterlife.
After gathering the switches, the afflicted and witness would go home with the bundle of switches tied together with red twine and a crucifix until the next night.
On the first night after the new moon, the Voodoun priest or priestess would bless the couple and tie chicken feet to the four posts on the bed. At the head of the bed, the Voodoun priest would place black rooster feet so the snoring cure would bring fertility and not squelch future erections in the marriage.
You will be persecuted for your good deeds and should make Ebo and offerings of Protection.
· “A well fed dog does not play with a hungry one.” Yoruba Proverb
· “A deaf dog is good for hunting.” Yoruba Proverb
· Regret comes from thinking with the wrong head
· Regret comes from promiscuity.
· Regret comes from a lack of Honesty and Integrity.
· Regret comes from negative energy and a serious need to be cleansed.
Once all that is complete the witness takes one of the switches and smacks the tar out of the snorer on both balls of the feet and then the shins. It wasn't clear to me if both feet were smacked at the same time or separately, but the witness is supposed to really whale on it until the switch frays on the end. Then the process gets repeated the next night until all the switches are gone. Most young couples don't need to go further than the first night. Older couples, where the witness has witnessed the snoring for sometime and maybe there's some bitterness, those couples can finish the bundle.
If the couple is still together after that, the red twine and crucifix is added to the black rooster feet and something else is preserved, but I can read the notes I took.
Anyway, this is pretty complicated and somewhat painful, I mean gosh - swinging a switch fourteen nights in a row is going to really bulk up the muscles!
WHERE do you find this stuff??
