In the past, insanity, moulting and other similar diseases have been treated as follows: In a leather bag are placed the herbs oman, delen (dilyanka), tazhel, kimen (devisil), stork meat, black pig fat and bear hair. The pouch is sutured to the patient’s waistband and worn until it is torn or lost, or until the waistband is torn. At the same time, the patient and his room smoke.
In case of “fright”, the person must swallow nine whole sunflower seeds three mornings in a row and have to take it down three times in a row upside down on the ladder facing east. Everything is done before sunrise.
Another way to treat “fear” is by casting a bullet. The frightened man’s head is covered with a scarlet apron and a green bowl of water is held over it. A red-hot iron shovel is placed over the bowl, in which a shot is melted. The words are spoken: “If he is afraid of a dog, let him become a dog, if he is afraid of a bear, let him become a bear!” The molten bullet is then poured into the bowl, where it takes the form of an animal that frightened man. This is repeated three times before sunrise.
When someone falls ill with “vankasno” (seizures, dizziness, epilepsy, etc.), the hostess must slaughter a black hen with silver steam and bury her in the hearth under the bricks, where she stays forever. It is believed that this is how evil is buried.
When someone is moulting, they treat him with a “weapon” necklace – on a chain are hung made of bronze in miniature various known tools and weapons – ax, shovel, hoe, hammer, plow, yoke, sickle, hair, rifle, pistol, spear, bow, mace, etc. This necklace must be made by only one blacksmith, who forged it naked and himself, and only for one night, without saying a word. The patient must wear the necklace until he recovers. Another way to treat the same condition is to take the patient at night on some bridge over water, where he is placed on his back with outstretched arms in the form of a crucifix. A nail is driven into his head, legs and arms. It is believed that the disease remains nailed to the bridge.
If someone is bewitched by a “bad eye” look, the following ritual and bathing is performed. A green bowl of water is placed over his head, in which nine live coals are released one after the other, and specific words are pronounced. Then the bowl of water and coal is left to spend the night under the roof. The next morning the victim’s face is washed with the same water and he is given to drink it three times, after which it is thrown into the river. This is repeated three days in a row.
If a sick person’s body parts are smeared with honey and he spends the night like this, and they are washed early in the morning and the water is thrown into the vortex of a mill at sunrise, he will recover.
If someone suddenly becomes ill and a part of his body is paralyzed, water with honey is put in a cauldron – it is called “blajina”, and he is left to spend the night with the patient. In the morning before sunrise this “blajina” is sprayed on all places where the patient has slept or sat.
When a child is ill, he or she should “catch a sibling”. The two children are taken to a church, where the priest performs a rite – he puts wreaths on the children’s heads and tells them that from now on they will become brothers or sisters. Then the parents of the sick child plant a willow – as it grows and grows green, so their child grows and fights the disease.
Boils or scabs on a child’s body are treated by stroking three times with the tail of a black cat.