Religion

African-derived religious ceremonies double as healing sessions for physical and spiritual ailments, addressing concrete issues of the serviteur such as pain, disaster, loss, economic difficulties, problems in love, unemployment, and providing support to seek chans (luck) and to survive. "Life, in the Vodou view of things, is thus characterized by alternating cycles of suffering and the transient relief from suffering that is called having luck" (Brown, 1991, p. 344). Vodun devotees believe that although magical insects may cause illness, so can bad relationships. Santería devotees also believe that suffering and illness result from bad relationships among good and bad humans, divinities, ancestors, and the orishas. A devotee with difficulties consults a diviner to help determine the cause of his or her suffering and prescribe ways of dealing with the problem. The solution involves restoring broken relationships and finding balance in the community. In Haiti, the mambo works with the people to seek healing. In Venezuela, the curioso, and the lukuman in Suriname practice divination to diagnose problems. Mediums, called buyai, practice healing in Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.

Herbalists provide remedies for illnesses. In colonial Brazil, people suffered from banzo, a condition that led to depression and physical deterioration. Its symptoms were alcoholism, use of narcotics, and the eating of dirt. Healers in the African diaspora were called root doctor, weed woman, magical doctor, or the bush doctor, who was also called obeahman. In Brazil, the benzador treated people with St. Mary's herb. In Candomblé, healers also use herbs and sacred leaves.

Rituals enable the serviteur to relate to a cosmic system, draw strength, and deal with evil. Because an inner miracle may take place in the individual, what happens may not be seen—nevertheless, a miracle strong enough to alter the circumstances of the serviteur is believed to occur. Priestesses may also diagnose a problem. Treatment may include, in the case of broken relationships, binding two dolls together. Other treatments involve preparing special food to calm a restive spirit, and giving healing baths using a mixture of herbs and perfumes. In Suriname, meki wan sweri is a healing technique in which a winti-man discovers the wishes of Winti and contracts to fulfill those desires and become well.