07/11/2025
Recap: Hoodoo has several types of baths and are used for many reasons. Here are some you may want to know.
1. Pour over baths - Pour over baths can be poured over the body head down or shoulder down. Typically, a basin or washing tub of the bath mixture is prepared, and a cup is used to scoop the liquid to pour over the body. Some scenarios include standing in the tub mixture as it's poured over them and will dispose of the unused bath in the road in a particular direction such as north, south, east, or west. One typically will pat dry or air dry to allow the medicine (bath) to continue to be absorbed into the skin and to wear the medicine (film of the bath). It's customary not to rinse or wipe off the bath. These baths are typically taken cooled or at room temperature.
2. Sitz baths - Sitz baths are designed to sit in but can not go past the belly button. This bath would be given to new mothers or those who may have spiritual or physical trauma of their private area, in need of healing of their legs, or to remove a spirit sitting on the lower back.
3. Soaking baths - These baths are designed to either pull out toxins (such as those with Epsom salt), allow cooling (such as starch baths with oatmeal), provide blessings, break hexes, and more. The person taking the bath would soak in a tub with added ingredients specific to the condition. After taking the bath, they are instructed not to look or watch the bath flow down the drain. It is said that watching your bathwater go down the drain will cause you to give or watch your blessings go down the drain because quickly you've retracted and revisited the past.
4. Foot washing or foot baths - Feet washing or baths may consist of the feet soaking, can be stood in, or the act of washing may occur. Different foot baths are designed to draw out jinxes or to encourage blessings.
5. Hand washing baths - Hand washing is a technique used to remove negative energy, witchcraft, protection, feeding, or blessings.
6. Submerging baths - This bath is taken neck down or head down. The concept is created to completely submerge the body. These baths are done for the same reasons listed above but are commonly done in consecration ceremonies.
7. Birthing baths for a baby - These baths are created to protect and bless the baby. The baby is bathed in an herbal mixture, but most commonly, the mixture would be pot likkah from greens.
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