Medicine and Healing Stories in Western Georgia
According to historical sources, in late medieval Western Georgia, various diseases were widespread, but healers were almost non-existent. Archangelo Lamberti notes: "In all of Colchis, doctors are in high demand, and people long for nothing more than the medical profession." Interestingly, even Levan Dadiani himself studied the art of medicine "in order to provide medical care to his people. He reads various books translated from Latin into their language, has studied many spices, medicinal herbs, plant roots, and makes many ointments and medicinal drinks. He has boxes full of such medicines, which he carries with him and distributes to everyone as needed. These medicines are so sought after, it's as if Galen himself were distributing them."
According to missionaries, there were folk healers in Samegrelo, and they attributed the cause of diseases to the humid climate of the region. Lamberti reports that to escape the damp climate, the inhabitants of Colchis would change their air and living place throughout the year, which benefited their health: "In summer, Megrelians go to stay in mountainous areas, where there are various fruits and clear springs bubbling nearby... They choose suitable places in spring and autumn as well. They don't have houses near the sea, both because of the bad air and for fear of attacks by neighboring barbarians."
In Samegrelo, if a disease did not respond to traditional treatment, they would turn to places of worship for healing.
The ritual of "head circling" was particularly popular. These rituals were mostly held on religious holidays, and the livestock circled around the head was considered sacrificed to the place of worship. Various types of offerings are confirmed: bulls, cows, sheep, roosters, etc.
The purpose of the ritual was to sacrifice something else instead of the sick person and to soften the deity's heart through sacrifice, avoiding their wrath.
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In Samegrelo, the evil eye, curses, and magic were considered causes of disease, and various means were used to prevent their effects. Archangelo Lamberti writes:
"Megrelians are not only afraid of loud verbal curses, but they are also convinced that the air itself is often poisoned by some magic or evil eye, and they are very afraid of such air. To protect themselves from it, they use various means. The main means is considered to be a fisherman's net, which they wrap around the sick person's bed and children's cradles. This net, in their opinion, protects a person from the bewitched air and the evil eye, which they believe greatly harms the sick. In addition, to scare away the devil, they put an unsheathed sword under the patient's pillow, as well as a spear and other weapons. I have seen a local nobleman who was always preceded by a boy. This boy held a stick with several small silver icons of various saints hanging on it. The nobleman thought that by this means, the air in front of him would be purified and nothing could harm him."
To protect against the evil eye, they wore talismans and used incantations rooted in paganism.
For the treatment of mental illnesses, Megrelians believed it was necessary to visit St. George's church, offer appropriate sacrifices, and ask St. George for the patient's recovery, as he was considered the dispeller of all evil spirits and their deeds."
