Superstitions and Other Weird Medical Consultations

During my medical training in Mexico, I heard some superstitions and weird beliefs.

Mexicans, especially in rural areas, are superstitious. But these beliefs can be part of the heritage of Mexico.

Some people are still surprised that Mayan and the Aztec language (Nahuatl) are still spoken in some parts of Mexico. In fact, there are more than 1.6 million speakers of Nahuatl. Mayan has about half that number with over 30 varieties of it.

Also, for the most part, Mexico remains a strong macho culture.

I explain this to give you some context on what is coming. Let’s get to some of the weirdest medical consultations I heard and saw.

A Cure for Gayness

When patients first enter the examining room, they do so composedly. Whether their symptoms are acute or chronic, vague or specific, strong or mild they do their best to arrive composed.

But one day a man came for a medical consultation. Unlike the others, he arrived apprehensive. Without much preamble, he narrated what he did after a night of heavy drinking.

He ended up having relationships with his compadre (close male friend).

According to him, he was suffering from “Ricky Martin’s Disease.”

In the middle of the last century, when physicians tried to “cure” people of their homosexuality, the “treatments” were horrendous. They didn’t really remove what supposedly ailed them.

Of course, this was explained to him. But he didn’t care. He knew what he had, and, most importantly, he knew how to cure it: testosterone.

With conviction, he assured us that testosterone will cure him.

The doctor explained how this will not really cure him, as he wasn’t really sick. Even if he was “sick,” as the patient put it, testosterone isn’t the “cure.”

But the patient would hear none of it. Nothing would dissuade him.

All he needed was a booster of testosterone. The way he saw it: he faulted his body, more specifically a cursory lack of testosterone.

The doctor saw him so determined, worried, and guilt-ridden that he gave him a low dose of testosterone.

After receiving the injection, the patient was filled with gratitude.

Even better yet, upon return after a few weeks, he believed he was cured. He would be forever grateful.

I wasn’t the treating doctor back then; I was a student. But after years I still wonder: what the hell was that?!

Red moon, Red Accessories, and Protecting Babies

A woman and her husband came for a pregnancy check-up. They were both sitting across my desk.

“A lunar eclipse is coming doctor,” the woman said.

I thought they were making small talk. Just as I was about to tell them that I love stargazing and watching blood moons, the man added:

“Yes, and she is wearing her red string.”

The woman pulled her shirt up, revealing a red thread hanging from a piercing on her belly.

I didn’t quite know where they were going with this. I cocked my head and raised my eyebrows. As if I wasn’t expressive enough, I then shrugged while leaving my mouth open.

“You know?” said the man “to protect the baby from the eclipse.”

“The red string prevents babies from having body malformations” repeated the man so I could understand.

“Yes,” said the woman “Didn’t you know about it doctor?!” Her tone sounded more than surprised; it sounded as if what they were saying was common knowledge.

She must have been wondering how I got my medical degree. And maybe she was right, maybe I fell asleep during Medical Astrology 101.

“Our neighbor,” said the man “one time she didn’t wear the red thread while pregnant and her son came out without an arm.”

They were so sure about it that they made me doubt. But after thoughtful reasoning and consideration, I told them that they could remove it.

I tried explaining how nowhere in the medical literature, as far as I knew, said that lunar eclipses could cause body malformations. Nothing will happen; I reassured them.

But after seeing how their reactions, I told them to leave the red string. Removing the red string would only leave them anxious; so, let it hang there.

Mayans had a complex understanding of the stars. But when it comes to lunar eclipses, Mayans and their descendants believe that they can cause birth defects — especially cleft lip.

This belief has been passed down from generation to generation. Some Mexicans still believe it.

But the color red helps protect against many more things. These same people believe that the mother should wear a red headband while giving birth.

Babies and toddlers must also wear a red armband. Because they are so young, they cannot protect themselves from bad energies. A red armband does the job for them.