Konstantin Lagaev, Bone-setting and Massage
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Konstantion is a bone-setter and diviner (he uses a rosary and looks at people’s faces and eyes during divinations). He learnt these skills from his father and is constantly perfecting them by himself. Being the youngest son in his family, Konstantin stayed at home to help and look after his parents, and in this way he learnt certain skills from them. Konstantin’s mother who reads prayers twice a day (in the morning and in the evening) instilled religious faith in her son. In this video Konstantin shows how to treat a headache (in Kalmyk ‘tolgan uidl’) with hand massage. Depending on the condition of his patients, Konstantin does several types of hand massage. He says that people may have headaches for various reasons: They may sleep uncomfortably, hit their head, spend long hours inside a car, etc. Konstantin starts and finishes his treatment by reading special prayers to Tsagan Aav. After each session, he purifies himself. Konstantin believes that it is gods who cure sick people via his hands. He also says that his clan performs the ritual of gal tyalgn (fire offerings) for their ancestors annually.