Just thought some of you might be interested to see the process of medicinal tattooing by the Ju/'Hoansi San in Namibia.
Video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msUlKpxiWDo
The process involves cutting a series of incisions into the skin with an arrowhead, rubbing in the crushed root of whichever plant is used to treat the ailment and then rubbing in the burnt and powdered remains of another root, which results in permanent black scarring to the skin. Almost every adult in the community bears the scars of this type of treatment and I found it totally fascinating!
More information on the specific plants used to treat each ailment can be found in the book 'Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle' by Arno Leffers (ISBN 978-99916-0-491-6).
Video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msUlKpxiWDo
The process involves cutting a series of incisions into the skin with an arrowhead, rubbing in the crushed root of whichever plant is used to treat the ailment and then rubbing in the burnt and powdered remains of another root, which results in permanent black scarring to the skin. Almost every adult in the community bears the scars of this type of treatment and I found it totally fascinating!
More information on the specific plants used to treat each ailment can be found in the book 'Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle' by Arno Leffers (ISBN 978-99916-0-491-6).