Stories of Dracula and Vampires that rise after dark to stalk the innocent and drink their blood have been a part of popular folklore for centuries. The fascination with tales of supernatural beings never seems to wane and has spawned an entire genre of books and films. How did these legends come to be? Is it possible these myths are rooted in medical science?
What is Porphyria?
Porphyria, sometimes called “the Vampire disease”, is a collection of rare, genetic blood disorders. Extreme cases of the disease can manifest gruesome symptoms where victims accumulate pigments called porphyrins in the skin, bones and teeth.
While harmless in the dark, porphyrins become caustic, flesh eating toxins that can cause gruesome facial disfigurement when exposed to the ultraviolet rays of sunshine. Noses and ears can be eaten away with lips exhibiting a red, burned effect until they peel back from the gums that in turn recede, exposing the teeth in an unnatural way with a frightening, fang-like appearance.
Clinical cases of patients with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) describe those patients as being “irritable, aggressive, uncooperative” with behavior characterized by disinhibition, aggression, violence, and swearing.”
Porphyria and Vampire Lore
Like the Vampires of legend who can be weakened or even destroyed by the rays of the sun, real life victims of porphyria do indeed need to exercise great caution when venturing out into ordinary sunlight. This is due to the way porphyria causes changes in heme, a component of blood that carries oxygen throughout the body and is used to remove carbon dioxide.
Heme is turned into a toxic substance by porphyria, which the body then tries to break down. Lacking the ability to dispose of these toxic substances the body deposits them on the skin, gums and teeth. As the disease grows worse, the skin blackens, swells, and ruptures when exposed to the sun with hair growing from the sores. This hair growth could have made the victim appear to be changing into some sort of wolf-like beast and become woven into the fabric of Vampire/Werewolf legend.
One of the most well-known myths associated with Vampires, the drinking of human blood, can also be attributed to porphyria. It has been theorized that people afflicted with porphyria centuries ago may have used the folk remedy of drinking animals blood as a way to relieve their pain and the associated anemia. Add to this the fact that blood-drinking would have taken place during the night when porphyria victims did not have to worry about reactions to sunlight and it is easy to see how these unusual practices could well have been incorporated by people of that era into a crucial part of Vampire lore.
Another well-known part of Vampire legend says that the creatures cast no reflection in a mirror. A person who suffered from advanced stages of porphyria might likely have avoid mirrors when confronted with their own reflection after the disease had eaten away their ears and nose and caused their teeth to be exposed in a hideous grin.
Porphyria, Dracula, and Garlic
One of the most peculiar aspects of Vampire legend is the brandishing of garlic as a device to ward off the creatures. Why garlic and not some other common vegetable? It turns out that this use of garlic to combat Vampires has a direct connection to porphyria. Garlic contains chemicals that are believed to exacerbate porphyria’s symptoms. These chemicals can turn a mild case of the disease into an agonizing attack.
Porphryia in History
Victims of porphyria, due to fear and superstition, subsequently became victims of the law during the 16th century, a time when the Inquisition was flourishing. Individuals suffering from revolting disfigurement faced doctors who wouldn’t or didn’t know how to treat the disease. This left them at the mercy of church officials who demanded they confess their sins or face death by fire.
Approximately 600 people suffering from prophyria during this time were burned at the stake. This could explain flolkore that has vampires repelled by crucifix-wearing priests. Porphyria victims of that era would likely have associated the church with danger and have had an aversion to religious symbols.
Similarities between the clinical symptoms displayed by porphyria sufferers and the many manifestations of Vampirism cited in folklore and legend are too numerous for this to be mere coincidence. It is much more likely that these tales have their origins in this medical condition and provide us a glimpse into how human beings originate such legends and myths that live on into modern times.
Sources:
“Scientific Basis for Dracula.” Skeptic Magazine 1998, Vol 6, Issue 4, pg. 20
Lane, Nick, “New Light on Medicine.” Scientific American Jan. 2003, Vol. 288, Issue 1
Appell, David, “Out of the Darkness.” Current Science 1999, Vol. 85, Issue 1, pg. 10
“The Science of Halloween.” Economist Magazine Oct. 1998, Vol. 349, Issue 8092
Lawrence Koppy - Lawrence Koppy is an Oregon native living in the high desert of Central Oregon. He has been a small business owner for many years ...
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