Hi!
Hope I didn’t scare you off with my title there… I’m a nice girl, really 😉
I’m looking for som info on a traditional tattoo.
I know almost nothing about it so I hope you guys can help me out.
I was told it’s named a digu or digoe, and made out of a powdered plant mixed with urine.
Than, a little carving is made in the skin, the paste is applied and that makes the tattoo.
I’s supposed to make a blue/green kind of shade, a little bit ‘shiny’ like the inside of an oyster is (don’t know the english word, sorry).
And it’s traditionally done to wise women; the tattoo is half a circle/moon, placed on the forehead exactly on the hairline.
Googling didn’t make me any wiser, I hope you will!
Hi
I am currently researching tattooing and there are several common plants used in Africa to do the style of tattooing you are suggesting.
The Digo are a Kenyan tribe and as far as I know they are a mixture of animist (spiritual and witchcraft) and broad islamic – but mostly more on islamic folklore rather than full adherence to the Koran.
I know of several possible plants that they probably use to do this style of tattooing.
However I would strongly recommend that you do not do this type of tattoo;
The plants are actually poisonous if used incorrectly.
The infection rate is huge.
Do it yourself tattoos are a serious no-no and should only be done by professional artists.
Anyhow there are approximately 50 different types of plants native to that type of African sub-contient that could be used for tattooing. Many actually belong to the same broad group;
Ethiopians use resin derived from the plant Datura stramonium and combined with lantern soot. This is for gum and facial tattooing. They mix with water rather than urine. Although it is suggested that your own urine has antiseptic properties. (Again I am totally opposed to anybody trying).
http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/138/8/1097
However I suspect the actual plant used is most likely the Rothmannia longiflora. It is a common plant that produces a blue/black dye and can be used for temporary tattooing but when placed into a cut forms a perm tatt.
A close relative is Rothmannia urcelliformis which is used in hunting due to the poisonous nature of it.
See why I am against the use of this stuff 😉
http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/Rothmannia%20longiflora_En.htm
Take Care
Matthew
Thanx for your answer!
I’ll check out the links.
see, as I’m a herbalist myself, I’m pretty acquainted with the force plants can have.
So I wouldn’t go and pick somehting to tattoo myself with, without full research 😀
I think I just remembered the plants are supposedly burnt before use, it is possible that the toxines are changed and made unpoisonous by that process… more to check out.
You won’t find me tattooiing myself tomorrowmorning :rolleyes:
I just needed a hint in what direction to look.
Interesting subject though… do you know of any more plants that are used to tattoo (sorry, I’m a herb freak, can’t help it :o) ?
Hi Bella
I do and some are very easy and common to get ahold of. (This is why I am not keen to divulge this info).
Because I do not support the idea of self tattooing I cannot give you these answers as if anything happened to you it would be on my conscience 🙁 ( I hope you understand).
There are several books online and in decent herbalist shops that would direct you to the plants which can be used.
I mentioned those 2 plants as they are very difficult to obtain in the West due to their classification and import rules in the West.
I am not a plant biologist but looking at the contents of them I do not think burning would remove their toxicity – these are the ones that are purgative – which is why they are used in medicine.
Take Care
Matthew
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