Diseases Superstitions
Explore traditional beliefs surrounding illnesses and their omens. Different cultures interpret diseases and symptoms as signs of spiritual or supernatural causes.
Asthma
Asthma was associated with fear or trauma from childhood.
Some believed it was the result of a spirit "sitting" on your chest, and wearing a silver pendant helped keep attacks away.
Baldness
Baldness was sometimes believed to be a punishment for vanity.
Wearing a hat blessed by a holy person was said to restore hair.
Boil
Boils were seen as a release of inner poison or spiritual impurity.
Whispering a healing charm over them was a common folk remedy.
Choking
Choking during a meal was believed to mean someone had cursed your food or was speaking ill of you.
Cold
Catching a cold from rain was believed to happen when spirits entered the body through the neck.
Wearing a scarf was a protection charm.
Corn
Stepping barefoot on holy ground was believed to cure corns.
Others rubbed them with moon-exposed garlic.
Corpse
Touching a corpse was seen as spiritually dangerous.
One had to cleanse themselves with salt or holy water afterward.
Cough
A dry cough was said to mean a spirit was near.
Boiling herbs like thyme was used to ward off both the illness and the spirit.
Dandruff
Dandruff was thought to be caused by spiritual "flakes" from the crown chakra.
A rinse of rainwater and herbs was a common remedy.
Dead Body
Leaving mirrors uncovered near a corpse was said to trap the spirit.
Coins were placed over the eyes to help the soul cross over.
Death
Talking too often about death was believed to invite it.
Hearing a death watch beetle or seeing a black dog was an omen of death.
Diphtheria
In older folklore, diphtheria was seen as a choking curse.
Children wore amulets with herbs to prevent it.
Diseases
Diseases were often seen as punishment for sins or a result of the evil eye.
Wearing garlic or red threads was believed to protect from illness.
Drowned Person
Seeing a drowned person in a dream was considered a warning.
Spirits of drowned people were believed to roam near water at night.
Fear
Fear was said to weaken the soul's defenses.
Carrying an amulet or whispering your name three times calmed the spirit.
Flu
Flu outbreaks were once attributed to bad air or curses.
Burning herbs or incense in the home was believed to keep sickness away.
Forgetfulness
Losing memory was thought to mean your soul had wandered or you were hexed.
A coin under the pillow helped bring clarity.
Frostbite
Frostbite was seen as a punishment for disrespecting winter spirits.
Warming the affected area with breath was thought to invite healing.
Headache
A headache was thought to be caused by spirits pressing on the head.
Tying a red ribbon around the forehead was believed to relieve it.
Hiccups
Hiccups were believed to mean someone was talking about you.
Saying their name aloud was thought to stop the hiccup.
Hysteria
In old beliefs, hysteria in women was attributed to wandering wombs or spiritual imbalance, treated with herbs or ritual baths.
Inflammation
Inflammation was seen as the body purging evil heat.
Cold herbal compresses were applied with prayers.
Insomnia
Insomnia was thought to be a sign of witchcraft or inner unrest.
Placing lavender or rosemary under the pillow was a common cure.
Jaundice
Seeing someone with jaundice was believed to bring bad luck.
In some folk traditions, touching gold was said to "draw out" the yellow and help cure the illness.
Madness
Madness was often attributed to possession or curses.
Protective charms or blessings were used to drive the madness out.
Nightmares
Nightmares were believed to be caused by spirits sitting on the sleeper's chest.
Horseshoes above the bed were thought to prevent them.
On the Face Marks on the face were seen as signs from spirits.
A sudden spot or scratch may indicate someone cursed you in your sleep.
Pimples
Pimples were signs of lies or secrets.
Popping one on a Sunday was believed to spread misfortune.
Poisoning
Food poisoning was believed to come from evil intentions.
Salt was sprinkled around the table as protection.
Protection Against Bewitchment
Evil eye talismans, holy water, and midnight prayers were common protections.
Avoiding envy and staying clean were also recommended.
Protection from Assault Wearing a charm of St. Michael or carrying rosemary was believed to protect from physical or spiritual attacks.
Protection from Illness Garlic, salt, or iron objects were traditional protections.
Some hung herbs above doors or wore red threads.
Protection from Spells Amulets, especially with inscriptions or herbs like rue and sage, were used to block magic.
Iron was also a strong protector.
Rabies
Animals showing signs of rabies were thought to be possessed or cursed.
Rabid dog bites were believed to carry spiritual contamination.
Rheumatism
Reuma was believed to be caused by damp spirits or sleeping in cursed places.
Rubbing with blessed oil was a cure.
Scratch
A scratch bleeding immediately was a good sign-it meant the evil was leaving.
If it didn't bleed, it was considered spiritually "dirty".
Seizures
Seizures were believed to be caused by demons or curses.
Iron objects were placed nearby to ward off evil.
Sick Person
It was believed that keeping mirrors covered in the room of a sick person prevented the spirit from leaving the body prematurely.
Sneezing
Sneezing was believed to open your soul, making you vulnerable.
Saying "Bless you" was meant to protect your spirit.
Snoring
Snoring was once seen as a sign that the sleeper was fighting off bad spirits or possessed energy.
Sore Throat
Drinking water from a silver cup or warming a scarf in sunlight before wearing it were popular folk cures for sore throats.
Stomach Pains
Stomach cramps were thought to mean someone had cursed your food.
Drinking mint tea with a protective charm helped ease it.
Stomachache
Tummy pain was often blamed on evil spirits or food curses.
Binding the belly with red cloth or drinking blessed water was a cure.
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks were seen as "warrior lines" or signs of strength from childbearing or survival.
Stye
A stye was believed to form if you looked at someone with the evil eye.
Rubbing it with a gold ring was a common folk remedy.
Toothache
Toothaches were believed to come from sin or spiritual punishment.
Biting on cloves while chanting could relieve the pain.
Warts
Warts were thought to be caused by touching frogs or cursed objects.
Rubbing a raw potato on the wart and burying it under the moon was believed to cure it.
Yawning
Yawning without covering your mouth was thought to let your soul escape.
Saying a quick prayer protected you.
