20 Strange Rituals for Good Health

Updated: 31 May, 2025 • 0 • 7 min read

Bizarre Health Rituals from Around the World

Good health is a universal goal, but not everyone seeks it in the same way. Across the world, people have developed bizarre, ancient, and sometimes humorous rituals aimed at promoting physical and mental well-being. These traditions reflect a fascinating blend of cultural beliefs, spiritual practices, and folklore. Here are 20 strange rituals from around the world that people believe can help boost health and longevity.

1. Fire Walking in Fiji

In Fiji, the Sawau tribe performs fire walking ceremonies where participants walk barefoot over hot stones. This act is believed to purify the body and soul, promoting both spiritual and physical well-being. Participants undergo fasting and meditation before the event, ensuring their mental state aligns with the spiritual nature of the ritual.

2. Baby Tossing in India

In parts of Karnataka, India, a 500-year-old ritual involves tossing babies from a 30-foot temple balcony onto a cloth held by villagers below. This act is said to bring health, strength, and good luck to the child. Despite concerns from outsiders, local communities see it as a long-standing blessing ceremony.

3. Crying Sumo Contest in Japan

The Naki Sumo ritual involves sumo wrestlers holding babies and trying to make them cry. It’s believed that a strong cry scares away evil spirits and signals good health. The tradition, held at Shinto shrines, draws large crowds and is a celebration of life and vitality.

4. Tooth Tossing in Greece

Greek children throw their lost baby teeth onto rooftops while making a wish for strong, healthy adult teeth. This charming ritual combines folklore and superstition, passing on a belief in health through generational storytelling.

5. Cow Dung Therapy in India

In Gujarat and other regions, some people apply cow dung and urine on their bodies, believing it strengthens immunity and treats diseases. This controversial practice is rooted in Hindu belief that the cow is sacred and its byproducts possess healing powers. Practitioners often chant mantras during the process for added spiritual effect.

6. Sauna Births in Finland

Before modern hospitals, Finnish women gave birth in saunas, considered the cleanest place in the home. The intense heat was thought to ward off bacteria and soothe pain. Even today, saunas are viewed as essential for relaxation and bodily purification in Finland.

7. Bird Spitting Soup in China

Bird’s nest soup, a delicacy made from the hardened saliva of swiftlets, is prized in Chinese traditional medicine. Consuming it is believed to promote skin health, boost immunity, and increase energy. Despite its cost, many see it as a worthwhile investment in health.

8. Rolling Down the Hill in England

During the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling Festival, participants chase cheese wheels down steep hills. Though often resulting in injuries, it’s seen as a test of strength and endurance. Some locals view the bruises as badges of health and vitality.

9. Cupping Therapy in the Middle East

Hijama, or cupping therapy, has been practiced for centuries across the Middle East. By creating suction on the skin, it's believed to extract toxins and improve circulation. It’s often used alongside prayer, making it both a physical and spiritual healing method.

10. Garlic Necklaces in Italy

In Italian folklore, wearing a garlic necklace not only repelled vampires but also illnesses. Garlic was thought to contain protective energy that kept disease at bay. This belief was especially common during pandemics like the Black Death.

11. Clay Eating in the American South

Known as geophagy, the practice of eating clay is believed by some to provide minerals and aid digestion. In the American South, this tradition continues in certain communities, passed down through generations despite its risks. Many believe it eases morning sickness and stomach discomfort.

12. Bloodletting in Ancient Europe

Medieval Europeans believed that illnesses were caused by imbalances in bodily fluids. Bloodletting using leeches or sharp tools was a common cure. While discredited today, this ritual played a major role in historical medical practice, often seen as a preventive measure for various ailments.

13. Spitting for Blessings in Kenya

Among the Maasai people, spitting is a sacred gesture. Elders spit on babies and brides as a way to pass blessings and health. The act, though shocking to outsiders, is a sign of respect and goodwill within the culture.

14. Drinking Snake Wine in Southeast Asia

In Vietnam and Thailand, people drink alcohol infused with venomous snakes. It's believed to cure back pain, improve libido, and boost stamina. The preparation involves placing a whole snake in rice wine, creating a beverage said to absorb the creature’s power.

15. Whale Fat Consumption in the Arctic

Inuit and other Arctic peoples consume raw whale skin and blubber, known as muktuk. High in vitamins A, C, and D, it supports survival in extreme conditions. Though strange to outsiders, it's a vital health food in these regions.

16. Sweat Lodge Ceremonies in North America

Native American tribes conduct sweat lodge rituals for purification. Participants sit in a dome-shaped hut filled with steam from heated stones, sweating out physical and emotional toxins. These rituals are also spiritual, often guided by a shaman or elder.

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17. Carrying Heavy Loads in Bolivia

In rural Bolivia, young men participate in tests of strength, such as carrying large stones, as a way to prove health and masculinity. The ability to lift and endure is seen as a sign of good health and eligibility for marriage.

18. Bizarre Baths in Japan

Japan offers many eccentric bath experiences—like soaking in wine, chocolate, green tea, or even ramen broth. These themed onsens are believed to benefit the skin and improve mood. Though it sounds strange, it’s a booming industry of health tourism.

19. Foot Binding in Ancient China

Foot binding was once believed to preserve internal energies and make women more refined. Though painful and now outlawed, it was historically linked to notions of health, femininity, and status. Families believed it helped a girl secure a better future.

20. Tree Hugging in Iceland

When social distancing became the norm during the pandemic, Icelandic officials encouraged tree hugging as a form of therapy. Studies even suggest hugging trees may reduce cortisol levels, thus improving mental health. Nature-based healing remains strong in many Nordic traditions.

Other Noteworthy Rituals

Ayahuasca Ceremonies in Peru: Indigenous shamans brew a psychoactive tea believed to heal trauma and provide spiritual cleansing.
Ice Swimming in Russia: Swimming in frozen lakes is considered a way to boost the immune system and build mental toughness.
Salt Baths in Hungary: Bathing in mineral-rich thermal spas is a common practice to relieve joint pain and promote circulation.
Camel Urine in Some Arab Cultures: Traditionally believed to have medicinal properties, though modern science strongly disputes its safety.
Silence Retreats in India: Practiced in ashrams, silence is believed to bring mental clarity and emotional healing.

Why These Rituals Persist

Many of these rituals continue because they are deeply rooted in cultural identity. Even if they lack scientific support, they provide community, comfort, and a sense of control over health. Some are symbolic, others based on traditional medicine, and many persist simply because they are part of a larger spiritual worldview.

Modern Reflections

In a world dominated by modern medicine and science, these strange health rituals remind us that healing is not always clinical. It can be emotional, spiritual, and cultural. Understanding these practices helps foster respect for other cultures and opens our minds to the many ways people define wellness.

Conclusion

From fire walking to snake wine, the pursuit of good health takes many forms across the globe. Whether these rituals are symbolic, spiritual, or based on traditional knowledge, they highlight humanity’s universal desire for well-being. While some might raise eyebrows, they are testaments to human creativity, resilience, and the enduring search for balance between body, mind, and spirit.

@2025 Haruka Cigem - Curious Facts Explored.