HausofAsseveration
This month, the Haus of Asseveration is proud to feature a remarkable exploration into the heart of American folk tradition.
Haus of Asseveration Feature Presentation of the Month: Good For What Ails You: Secrets of the Bayou Healers | 1998
Introduction:
Beneath the rustling cypress and veiled by the humid, moss-laden air of the Louisiana bayou, a profound and ancient form of healing persists. It is a tradition born from a vital mingling of European, African, and Native American wisdom, where the pharmacy is the swamp and the prescription is a sacred prayer.
This month, the Haus of Asseveration is honored to present Good For What Ails You: Secrets of the Bayou Healers—the definitive 1998 documentary from Louisiana Public Broadcasting (@LPBTV).
Far removed from the often-impersonal halls of orthodox medicine [19:06], this film introduces us to the quiet, devoted practitioners known as traiteurs (or “treaters”). For generations, these cultural guardians have relied on a powerful combination of faith, herbal remedy, and ritual magic to address sickness in their communities.
- You will see treatments ranging from the esoteric to the deeply spiritual: on the bayou, alligator grease is mixed with honey to relieve asthma [20:13], a buried potato is used to draw out warts [39:10], and the ritual of “smoking a baby” is employed to ease the relentless pains of colic [50:07].
- We witness the healers gathering wild teas, brewing homemade cough syrups from burnt sugar and honey [04:13], and invoking the saints at their home altars.
This is more than a historical look; it is a vital exploration of a living, breathing tradition that prioritizes the “art of caring” [54:05] and views the ability to heal as a spiritual gift [06:50]. Join us as we enter the homes and hearts of the traiteurs, whose powerful, personal practices continue to offer comfort and cure in the deep wetlands of America.
The documentary is hosted on our website and originally sourced from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YykyzUJ9ghE
