# Cures for Vampirism, Lycanthropy, etc.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962 "2003-10-17T08:13:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/1 "2003-10-17T08:13:12Z")
…Or other mythical “conditions” like them? (Zombiism, Mummyism (sp?), or whathaveyou) Now, obviously, there aren’t a lot of _historical_ myths about curing Vampirism, etc…but in _modern_ mythology, like in the movies, there’ve actually been a few. Even aside from “Kill the ‘head’ Vampire/Werewolf/Zombie, and the people he’s infected turn back to normal.” I mean, those stories are a dime a dozen. There was an old Lon Chaney Jr. movie (who’s title I can’t remember) that featured a mad scientist who was working to cure Vampirism and Lycanthropy. It involved blood transfusions, I think. And in _Blade_… …a hematologist Blade rescues finds a way of using gene therapy to reverse the effects of vampirism in newly-bitten victims. So…are there any others? Magical or technological, from film, literature, TV shows or mythology…any method counts. As long as it’s been shown to work, or at least hasn’t been shown _not to_ work, at curing a patient of their undead affliction. Without killing them. And a fistful of dinars says that this thread doesn’t get any responses. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/2 "2003-10-17T09:21:09Z")
Exorcism, application of holy symbols, I’ve seen that drive the vampire out of infected people in movies before, but that’s usually for freshly bitten people. The White Wolf RPGs had a condition vampires could attain where they no longer needed blood, and were somehow aligned against the forces of evil, but I cannot recall the details. It was not a return to being a normal human, but evolving into something less monstrous but more powerful. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/3 "2003-10-17T12:06:59Z")
Ah, yes. _Gehenna_, I believe. Or maybe I have it mixed up with something else. Hard to say since I haven’t looked at the books in a few years. It isn’t a cure, it is only moving to a less destructive path of vampiric “enlightenment.” You have learned to control the Beast - that which makes the vampire go nuts for blood - and you can live happily on plain old animal blood. As for lycanthropy, I have heard only one single instance of a possible cure, and that’s in D&D. In every other film, book and show where lycanthropy has been featured, you’re pretty much screwed. ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Dracul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@Vlad\_Dracul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Dracul)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/4 "2003-10-17T17:18:29Z")
I saw a TV movie a few years ago, involving a vampire, a werewolf, and a Frankenstein-type creature. I think it turned up on Sci-Fi channel last year, too. Leading man was in love with female werewolf. After killing his rival (the vampire), he took the seriously-wounded werewolf to the hospital, where he commandeered an operating room and some doctors at gunpoint. He ordered the doctors to let the wolf die on the table (not hard, since they were scared to touch it!). In keeping with legend, she turned back to human form. Leading man then ordered doctors to bring her back to life. This didn’t appear too hard, and she was cured… the lycanthropy apparently ending with her clinical death. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/5 "2003-10-17T17:40:13Z")
I seem to remember some 10-15 year old made-for-TV movie where an IV of garlic extract would cure someone of vampirism. Don’t remember the name of the movie, though. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/6 "2003-10-17T17:53:08Z")
Given that vampires are dead, there really isn’t much available in the way of a cure. A very long time ago, when it was still in 1st run, I used to watch the _Dark Shadows_ tv show. Barnabas Collins spent countless episodes looking for a cure. IIRC, the “cure” finally came when somebody pounded a stake through him. He then mysteriously re-appeared a few episodes later as a normal human. It was all kind of a senseless mishmash, but then that could describe the whole series. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/7 "2003-10-17T21:14:52Z")
In the movie _Near Dark_ a character named Caleb was “infected” but IIRC never “turned” completely. He was cured by massive blood transfusions. In the second of the _John Capenter’s Vampires_ movies there are experimental drugs that hold vampirism in check and, when take in massive doses, will allow fully-turned vampires to function in partial sunlight without bursting into flame. There’s at least one other recent film with the same plot device. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/8 "2003-10-17T21:38:47Z")
Stop reading so many fantasy novels. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/9 "2003-10-17T21:48:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Badtz Maru \* > The White Wolf RPGs had a condition vampires could attain where they no longer needed blood, and were somehow aligned against the forces of evil, but I cannot recall the details. It was not a return to being a normal human, but evolving into something less monstrous but more powerful. That is _Golconda_ wherein the Vampire maintains a certain level of humanity (not falling to the ‘beast’ and becoming some ravening blood hungry animal or some depraved being wherein people are merely cattle and cannon fodder. Basically how like normal humans you are. As a general guide the older you are the more likely it is that you are disillusioned and have less humanity. The more humanity you have the closer to a ‘perfect’ person you are… ie for reference normal humans have about a level 3, psychopaths 0/1, priests/nuns/monks 5 (or anyone with True Faith in whatever deity. Does NOT have to be Christian God can even be Buddha, Allah, etc), Pope 8, Jesus 9/10\*) When you have attained Golconda you maintain your humanity, you need only feed about once a month or two instead of every night, you are at peace with yourself and no longer fighting between the human and the beast. Gehenna is the Vampire Apocalypse when all the founders will rise up and eat their children and then Caine will rise and kill all of them and anyone left because his law is that no one shall make any more without his express permission. He has not given permission and so they all must die. _gets shivers awaiting Gehenna which is coming in 2004, along with the Winter, Apocalypse etc etc_ [sub]\*This is just a basic guide as I understand it. I may be wrong but it’s about as accurate as my memory of what I’ve read, heard and talked about with other gamers.[/sub] Uhm… I can’t really think of cures other then the ones mentioned. According to the Harry Dresden series vampirism can be held in check, but only as long as the person infected has enough willpower to refuse to feed on blood. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/10 "2003-10-17T23:09:07Z")
**Vlad Dracul** —that movie actually sounds pretty interesting, if only for watching on a rainy afternoon. Do you remember any of the actors, directors, etc.? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/11 "2003-10-18T01:30:19Z")
Well, John Webster has conclusively chronicled the fact that one _cannot_ cure a lycanthrope by pelting him with forty urinals filled with rosewater. I haven’t got any better ideas, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Naz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@Naz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naz)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/12 "2003-10-18T03:27:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Vlad Dracul \* > \*\*I saw a TV movie a few years ago, involving a vampire, a werewolf, and a Frankenstein-type creature. I think it turned up on Sci-Fi channel last year, too. > > Leading man was in love with female werewolf. After killing his rival (the vampire), he took the seriously-wounded werewolf to the hospital, where he commandeered an operating room and some doctors at gunpoint. > > He ordered the doctors to let the wolf die on the table (not hard, since they were scared to touch it!). In keeping with legend, she turned back to human form. Leading man then ordered doctors to bring her back to life. This didn’t appear too hard, and she was cured… the lycanthropy apparently ending with her clinical death. \*\* Hey, I remember that! Although I think there was a downside; I seem to recall at the end of the movie that the former werewolf was going to age far more rapidly than a normal human. Wasn’t it some made-for-tv movie? Made by NBC? Unfortunately, I don’t remember any of the actors’ names… ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/13 "2003-10-18T03:29:02Z")
**Moderator’s note:** Since the plagues and cures are confined to the arts I’m gonna send this one over to **Cafe Society**. TVeblen, IMHO mod ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/14 "2003-10-18T03:33:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Wasn’t it some made-for-tv movie? Made by NBC? Unfortunately, I don’t remember any of the actors’ names… [House of Frankenstein 1997](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0127378/) ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Dracul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@Vlad\_Dracul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Dracul)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/15 "2003-10-18T03:48:05Z")
I think Otto’s got it… I KNOW I saw it around Halloween of 1997, and I didn’t recognize anybody in it, which fits with that list of actors I’ve never heard of. ---
**Author:** ![Sinungaling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Sinungaling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinungaling)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/16 "2003-10-18T04:09:53Z")
In _An American Werewolf in Paris_, which was an unworthy sequel to _An American Werewolf in London_, lycanthropism could be cured by eating the heart of the person that turned you into a werewolf. ---
**Author:** ![rmbnxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@rmbnxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rmbnxs)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/17 "2003-10-18T06:02:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Cures for Vampirism, Lycanthropy, etc.? Adolescence worked for me. I know that some others have had to resort to adulthood. Try senescence as a last resort. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/18 "2003-10-18T14:28:44Z")
Beheading seems to be a pretty effective cure. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/19 "2003-10-18T17:23:46Z")
According to tradition, if a vampire restrained fron drinking blood for seven years, he would become human again. Unfortunately, upon his death he would become a vampire again. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962/20 "2003-10-18T19:33:54Z")
Again with the _Dark Shadows_ I vaguely remember a cure for lycanthropism being mentioned. I think Quentin was told that if a werewolf could kneel in the same place for 100 years then a cure would be effected. But my memory is fuzzy on that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cures-for-vampirism-lycanthropy-etc/207962.md?page=2)