The Magic of Wild Animals in Folk Medicine

Folk medicine uses domestic animals for both natural and magical purposes but wild animals are almost always used for magical purposes. Read on to discover the magic of wild animals in folk medicine.

The Magic of Wild Animals in Folk Medicine - Birds

Birds are among the wild animals used for magic in folk medicine. The nests of our feathered friends have been linked with headaches. Folk medicine practitioners throughout the United States have long believed that if human hair is used to build a bird's nest, the owner of the hair will develop a headache. It is also believed in folk medicine that a pulled tooth placed into a bird's nest will prevent headaches.

The Magic of Wild Animals in Folk Medicine - Muskrats

Another of the wild animals used for magic in folk medicine is the muskrat. Muskrat skin has been used to prevent colds by sewing the bloody side to a piece of red flannel. The flannel side is then worn next to the skin until it falls off on its own. The magic effect of cold prevention is believed to be enhanced by rubbing the patient with goose grease first.

The Magic of Wild Animals in Folk Medicine - Moles

Of all the magic wild animals used in folk medicine, moles have the longest and strangest history. Moles live underground and the powers of fertility and mystery have long been attributed to the underground world. Because of this, the mole holds a special place in magic and folk medicine.

Holding a mole in your hand and suffocating it is believed to grant you the power to heal. The power of the mole is thought to transfer to the holder as it dies. This belief is still held in rural parts of America. Unfortunately for this lowly animal, many remedies that use moles involve injury or death to the animal.

A tooth extracted from a mole and worn around the neck is said to prevent toothache. A mole's foot worn around the neck is thought to prevent the pain of teething. In the southern United States, it's believed that the string holding the mole's foot must be black and the foot should be bitten off of a live mole. How's that for magic?

The Magic of Wild Animals in Folk Medicine - Snakes

Snakes are wild animals that have long been used for magic in folk medicine. Most people have heard of snake oil in some form, usually to indicate fraudulent remedies. This is due to medicine peddlers in the nineteenth century selling fake medicines and calling them "snake oil".

In magic folk medicine traditions, snake bones are used as amulets to cure a toothache. In some places, it is believed that a person with goiter should wear a snake around their neck. Then, when the snake crawls away it will take the goiter with it.

Snake skin is also widely used in folk medicine. Snake skin around the foot is thought to ease cramps and worn on other parts of the body it is thought to alleviate rheumatism.

The Magic of Wild Animals in Folk Medicine - Toads

Toads are another of the wild animals used for magic in folk medicine. Although it is a myth that toads cause warts, there are many other folk medicine beliefs about these wild animals.

One such belief is that if you tie a thread around the foot of a toad, cut off the foot and then tie it to your own leg, when it falls off your leg or foot wound will be healed. Whooping cough is believed to be healed by tying a frog to the bedpost of the sick bed. Spitting into a toad's mouth has also been said to cure asthma among folk medicine practitioners.

There are many other wild animals that are used for magic in folk medicine traditions. Whether these remedies actually work or not will always be a matter of debate. Some people think it's rubbish while others will swear by these magic cures.