Traditional Medicine

Insects

Hair lice are tied with a length of hair and are made to walk on an eyeball affected by snow blindness. The insect’s sticky legs pick up the white film that develops on the eyeball. Flies may also be used in this manner.

Codfish lice, which attach themselves to the outer skin of the fish, are peeled open; inside is a gum-like substance that is flattened and used on cuts.

Maggots, which must be obtained from meat and not from garbage, are sometimes placed in a boil after it has been drained in order to “eat out” any remaining pus. The maggots eventually remove themselves.