African/Hatian Shamanism and Zombies (soul, America, confessions, religion)

[angellous_evangellous]

Voodoo Science by William Booth in Science, New Series, Vol. 240, No. 4850. (Apr. 15, 1988), pp. 274-277.

William Booth discusses the results and nature of Davis' research as published in his dissertation and books.

[Feathers in Hair]

Not sure if it matters, but in Western shamanism, at least, person whose soul has left them can be 'taken over' by another spirit- usually one that might have ill intent.

[angellous_evangellous]

Voodoo Science
William Booth
Science > New Series, Vol. 240, No. 4850 (Apr., 1988), pp. 274-277

Booth reviews Davis's experiments and such. Not very flattering.

Davis' theory is that a zombie powder with the poison tetrodotoxin derived from a few species of Hatian fish have an effect on the human nervous system when ingested, creating a zombie. The powders that he brought back with him from Haiti, for whatever reason, were shown not to have high enough levels of tetrodotoxin to have any effect on the lab rats. He did send some powder to a friend that had a successful - unscientific - effect on rats and a monkey. Although the test was carried out by a very well respected pharmachologist, the text was not scientific because he did not really know the substance that he was using, and feels betrayed that Davis published the results in his dissertation.

Sorry - no quotes - I don't have time.

In the bibliography is "Tetrodotoxin and the Hatian Zombie" by T. Yasumaro and C.Y. Kao in Taxicon 24 no 8 (1986). This article also reviews Davis' work.

[Hema]

In Trinidad, there is a type of evil magic that a few people do. It's called Obeah. I don't know if Obeah and Voodoo are the same thing. However, I have heard from an old person that when Obeah is done to others, there will be payback for it in this lifetime or the next. For eg. I have heard of a spell where the eyes of a black cat have to be dug out ; but one day the person doing the spell will also have his/her eyes dug out by someone.

[angellous_evangellous]

Unfortunately, I can't readily find anything more on African zombies.

[Capt. Haddock]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

He has published two books on the topic: The Serpant and the Rainbow

I saw the film...chilling.

Basically, he claims that there is some herbal concoction that slows people's vital functions down to the point where they appear to be dead. The effect wears off after a few days, but by then most of these people have been buried. When they come round, most of them die of asphyxiation in their coffins, but a few are "resurrected".

I think there's probably a scientific/chemical explanation to most of it. West African peoples have a phenomenal knowledge of herbs and plants.

Having said that, I've heard enough weird stories to make me wonder. My dad grew up in Africa and he can certainly tell a few.

[zombieharlot]

I was beginning to wonder why there is always a shaman sitting next to my bed when I awake in the morning.

In all seriousness, I think zombie-like behavior can come about if there is some way to manipulated the nervous system. I know that when the nervous system starts burning on a body that is being cremated, the body will move and sometimes even as much as to completely sit up.

[Feathers in Hair]

Originally Posted by zombieharlot

I was beginning to wonder why there is always a shaman sitting next to my bed when I awake in the morning.

Naw- shamans just like sitting up with the dead!

[zombieharlot]

Originally Posted by Feathers in Hair

Naw- shamans just like sitting up with the dead!

At least I'm in good company.