Some friends and I were discussing this and I thought it would make a good topic for discussion here at ADN.
Now this is not the stereotypical Hollywood zombie with rotting flesh, seeking to eat brains. This is a real incident involving real people.

This case happened in Haiti, reported in the early 80s. But the story began in the 60s. In 1962 a Haitian man named Clairvius Narcisse was sold to a zombie master by his family for refusing to sell his share of the family land. Clairvius was soon declared dead and taken control of by his master. But 2 years later the zombie master died and Clairvius wandered the island in a daze, the zombie affect slowly wearing off, until in 1980 he stumbled across his long lost sister in a marketplace. She didn't recognize him. But he knew childhood stories that only he could know and proved his identity.

What actually happens is the witchdoctor drugs the intended victim made from poisonous toad skins and the toxins from the puffer fish. This concoction mimics the conditions of death in the victim. The victim is then buried, only to be dug up by the witchdoctor before the victim actually dies. The witchdoctor then force feeds the victim a paste made from datura(Jimsons weed). Datura breaks the victims link with reality and erases all recent memories making the individual easily controllable. In the case of Clairvius, the affects of the datura slowly wore off as he wandered Haiti until the day he encountered his sister.

The Discovery Channel has a special on this case, including video of Clairvius, which it airs a few times during the year.

Here is the link to a story about the case by Time Magazine.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,952208-1,00.html

Has anyone read The Serpent and the Rainbow? It was a book that came out in the 80s and it was written by Wade Davis. He was researching the zombie powder in Haiti for possible use as an anesthetic.

It's a true story, and I found it utterly fascinating.

Please don't confuse it with the horror movie that was made that was based (very, very loosely) on the book.

Wade was a hero of mine in the 80s. lol

http://www.amazon.com/Serpent-Rainbow-Scientists-Astonishing-Societies/dp/0684839296

There were also theories that being buried deprived them of enough oxygen so there was brain damage, which caused the shambling gait and lack of emotion etc. that is associated with the zombie.

I HIGHLY recommend this book.

I remembered the name of the "zombie". That's what brought Davis' book to mind.
You should have known I would know about this one Bobby.

I hope someone else chimes in on this one. I think it's a fascinating subject, but then...I'm odd.

I agree. It is rather terrifying. I've seen different documentaries about this and I haven't read the book, but I did sneak into the theater when the movie came out, I was under age.  And it absolutely terrified me that this was really happening to some degree. I've always sworn that no matter what, I will never go to Haiti. Couldn't pay me enough! lol

Oh yeah, I know. But I couldn't imagine turning someone into a zombie or it happening to me. That's what freaked me out the most. I think for some it's that having no control over yourself that makes it even more terrifying.

From what I understand they use them to do things like field work-basically slave labor.

Biology Online has a very detailed report on this case.
http://www.biology-online.org/articles/dead_man_walking.html

Mel it is a scary thing indeed. I wonder how long this dates back in their culture? It's seems to be a common practice.

Thanks for that link Bobby. Very interesting.

Yes, it's a horrible thing to do to someone. Imagine being buried alive and aware. *shudders*
No wonder they tend to lose their minds.