Gettin' Down To The Root of It

Healing with herbs is a form of natural medicine that has been practiced for centuries. Native Americans are one of the first groups of people who used herbs and plants to treat ailments and understood the power in Nature’s cures. In the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Coastal Georgia, there is an old, well-known practice of using herbs for healing illnesses. However, the illnesses are not believed to be brought on by natural causes, but rather supernaturally. Hoodoo, also known as rootwork or folk medicine, is a practice that enslaved Africans brought with them to the United States and used for healing through the use of magic, plants, herbs, and natural sources. Many people confuse Hoodoo with Voodoo. Hoodoo, unlike Voodoo, is not a religion. Hoodoo is a combination of African herbal remedies and magic used to remove hexes and bad luck by using elements of the earth. Hoodoo is also not considered witchcraft hear in the Lowcountry, although it consists of the use of spells. The most famous rootworker and Hoodoo practitioner in South Carolina was Dr. Buzzard. He was a well-known rootworker from St. Helena Island, South Carolina who practiced until his death in 1947. He was sought by many people for his spells and rootwork for services ranging from protection to healing. Hexes, and evil spirits are the afflictions that most people seek Hoodoo practitioners to rid them of. Others seek the services of rootworkers to draw money, love, and to gain favor in legal troubles. In the book, Fifty Years as a Low Country Witch, J.E. McTeer discussed Dr. Buzzard’s specialty of “chewing the root” in court. This specialty would protect criminals from receiving guilty verdicts. Traditional Hoodoo uses natural elements like herbs and plants with magical and spiritual significance. One of the most popular Hoodoo herbs is angelic root. Angelic root is used in rootwork to bring in protective, angelic power and is also useful in healing spells. Another popular herb,bloodroot, is used to bring good luck in relationships where there are blood ties. Herbs are selected based on the intended magical application. Owner of Ole Ye Herb store, Consuelo L., is not a Hoodoo practitioner. “I do not practice it, I only sell herbs,” is her response when asked about Hoodoo. Upon further inquiry about knowledge of any Hoodoo practitioners in the Savannah area, she abruptly responds, “No, I don’t know anyone around here.”In a city that is considered Hoodoo territory, the wide variety of herbs sold in her store is a wonderful source for those who do practice. While Hoodoo is widely acknowledged in the coastal Carolinas, it is still a practice that is seen as taboo to some natives. It is difficult to find a Hoodoo practitioner because most true rootworkers do not advertise to the general public. Furthermore, not everyone believes in Hoodoo, although they may be familiar with the term. According to guitarist, and native Beaufort resident Vincent G. Brown, “If you believe it, it’s true. I never bought into it. Tales from the crypt stuff.” While Hoodoo is very much still alive and heavily practiced in South Carolina and Coastal Georgia, some are still skeptical. Brown continues, “The only spell ever cast on me was Comfortbly Numb by Pink Floyd!” Lifetime Beaufort native, Sabrina Brown, agrees with the notion. “I’ve lived in Beaufort all of my life and I have always heard of Hoodoo. I’ve heard the stories of women burying a man’s underwear in the yard to keep him home, but it’s all just superstition to me. I personally believe it’s just old folk tales.” Throughout the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Coastal Georgia, Hoodoo is still practiced among the Gullah-Geechee people. These people are the descendents of the enslaved West Africans who brought their elements of magic and culture to the United States. The teachings of Hoodoo are traditionally passed down from generation to generation, keeping this unique tradition and cultural practice alive. Sources: Herb Magic retrieved from http://herbmagic.com/ McTeer, J.E. Fifty Years as a Low Country Witch Doctor. Beaufort, S.C.: Beaufort Book Company, 1976 Sumpter, A. (March 2006) Geechee and Gullah Culture. Retrieved from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/geechee-and-gullah-culture