Zombies in Haitian VouDou & “Le Coup de Poudre” (Zombie Powder)

Haitian legends maintain that a powerful, ethnobotanical drug prepared by #Haitian VouDou Priests (“Bokor” or “Bòkò”) and Priestesses (“Caplatas”) can turn people into literal zombies by slowing down their basal metabolic rates whilst simultaneously paralyzing their voluntary muscles.

The drug is often referred to as "zombie powder" or "Le Coup de Poudre" and is associated with the folklore and practices of #Vodou (#voodoo).

In most cases the main ingredient of these “magical concoctions” - is tetrodotoxin - a super-potent #neurotoxin found in native #pufferfish that can cause paralysis and a state resembling death at certain dosage levels.

#Tetrodotoxin is known for its ability to block sodium channels in nerve cells, leading to paralysis and even death if ingested in high quantities, while in lower doses, it frequently induces a state of apparent death or severe lethargy.

"Le Coup de Poudre" also frequently contains #bufotoxin - extracted from the skin and glands of the cane toad - and can cause heart irregularities, hallucinations, and muscle paralysis.

In Haitian Vodou the powder is reportedly used by bokors and captalas to induce a death-like state in individuals (post-aspiration of the compound), who are then subsequently revived and allegedly controlled as "zombies.” This process frequently involves burying the person alive – often in a cemetery - and then reviving them with a second compound made from the datura plant.

The #datura plant - also known as “Jimson Weed” and “Zombie Cucumber” contains a natural cocktail of tropane alkaloids like #scopolamine and #atropine, which can cause post-administration delirium, hallucinations, and amnesia, while simultaneously “reviving the zombie" and keeping them in a disoriented state.

Human remains are also commonly added to the tetrodotoxin concoction as symbolic and ritualistic components, rather than #pharmacologically active elements. Finally - for the “icing on the cake,” various toxic animals, insects and local plants with known psychoactive properties might be included in the mix in order to enhance the potency of the powder.

Each Bokor and Caplata has their own secret recipes and preparation procedures that they adhere to during the preparation of this powerful drug. The ingredients are not usually recorded and their preparation is usually learned practically and via oral communication.

The concept of zombies in Haiti is deeply rooted in the cultural and spiritual beliefs of Vodou. It is thought that once the drug has been administered the bokors have the power to capture a person's soul and control their body, effectively creating a "#zombie." This supernatural belief combined with a potent cocktail of ethnobotanicals can indeed put people in a deep, trance-like state and make them very open to suggestion.

This phenomenon and practice was popularized by the work of #ethnobotanist Wade Davis, who investigated these practices in the 1980s and documented his findings in the book The Serpent and the Rainbow, which later became a film.

While the research did bring significant attention to the subject, it has also been met with its fair share of skepticism and criticism with respect to its scientific validity.

It's important to approach the topic with an understanding of Haitian cultural context, as the concept of zombies in Haitian #Vodou is tied to deeply held beliefs and traditions. In Haiti, even if one is a practicing Christian who does not believe in VouDou, this is not a topic that most are willing to discuss as it scares the heck out of them.

In accordance with the burial, this dark ceremony is associated with an omnipotent Haitian spirit (“#Lwa” in #Creole) referred to as “Baron Samedi,” Master of the Dead and King of The #Cemetery. ?