The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

I am asking all people here.
I have had a sudden curiosity.

A woman I was speaking to mentioned that when she turned 50 she began to crave blood.

Does anyone have any ideas on this case or this scenario?

~Sprinkles~

There are a number of diseases or disorders that can cause a person to crave blood. Porphyria, Pica, Celiac Disease, or a number of psychological issues could be the reason.

Pica, specifically, is a deficiency that causes odd cravings. For example, one woman with Pica had the irresistable urge to eat her son's crayons (it was in a Dear Abbey article or some such. I laughed when I read it).

i do agree it is amusing that
she ate his crayons but that
strikes fer into my heart for the little boy.
or the loved ones of these people
who randomly get these diseases.

~Sprinkles~

While no doubt that there are physiological and psychological abherrations that can causing unusual cravings, yet for most it seems to me that the "craving" usually stems from their desire to identify with the "vampire." And as everyone KNOWS that vampires drink blood... 'cuz fiction writers say they do, right?... then if they want to complete that "vampire" emulation, they must drink blood, as well.

I've found that (while plenty here will deny this in the forums, of course) when one really gets down to it, the vast majority of those who drink blood do so not out of any true craving but simply because they want to view themselves and be viewed by others as ... vampires. And that is the only real "craving" they possess.


- Upir'

While the most common reason for blood "craving" could be put down to a desire to be identified with vampires, I brought up Pica for this specific scenario because the woman mentioned began to "crave" blood at or around age 50. Pica is commonly associated with iron deficiency anemia, which often arises in premenopausal women, though of course it could be any number of causes. To suddenly have these cravings at such an age strikes me as odd though.

I'm drawn to wonder if it's an actual craving or simply a developed taste. It would seem highly counter-intuitive for anyone to actually crave blood as blood tends to be a strong stomach irritant in humans. This is one of the reasons the treatment of epistaxis (nose bleed), involves preventing the blood from flowing down the throat. If this is allowed, the usual result is an upset stomach, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

In cases of certain deficiency diseases already mentioned, one might make some sense of it but in all other cases, I would have to suggest that it's not an actual craving but as others have suggested, a developed romance with the idea of vampires. It's not at all uncommon to hear people remark that they're craving a certain food, yet after asking certain key questions, find out that it's simply a food they like for the taste.

well, personally when my nose
used to bleed it would run down
my throat... it made me feel better
call me weird but its true.
i find my self not craving blood but
my mouth waters when i think of it.

i am but 19

A percentage should be allowed got those simply claiming to crave blood for shock value, a way to see how believable they are. I find most who ask probing questions of those who believe people crave blood, will usually use the collective testimony to present themselves as a knowledgable "vampire practicioner".

My view does not pertain to human blood.

Apologies to all the vegetarian vampires out there, but I occasionally crave a rare steak. In this case, it's the meat, but also the blood. Since I rarely eat red meat any inclination in that direction is vivid (imagine thought bubble above head with a slab of raw meat featured). I'm assuming there is a physiological basis --- I need iron or something I'm not getting in my regular diet.

Also there's a nurture aspect since I was taught to like the blood from beef by my Dad and grandfather.

Humans are omniverous. I think it's more unusual to not like meat or blood. We train ourselves in certain directions.

50 is a milestone in age considering the life expectancy in the UK currently is 77. One day your 49, the next your 50, then your panicing wondering if you have actually lived your life and how much time you have left and so i guess its possible that a darker side to her personality came into play, toying with the idea of immortality through blood. (Doesnt sound like she took herself seriously)

But as stated in earlier replys, there are many idea's and theory's to what could have occured.

i suppose all those things are possible.
very much so.

i have a NEW Q's for y'all to chew on...

do you think each person has a certain percentage or the vampiric nature in each DNA strand?

Do you know if a Vampiric gene has been found? All i know is that gene research at the moment is very new and not much is known about it. I'm aware that they think they've found a gene that makes you gay XD But as for one that makes you crave blood or percieve the world in a darker manner, i dont know.

The idea of Vampirism is interpritated differently to many people, thats what's interesting but alot of the time extremely irritating about the whole subject. I had a google for a "Vampire" gene and all i got was an article about bats that live souly off blood. Link is below.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn15083-how-vampires-evolved-to-live-on-blood-alone.html?feedId=online-news_rss20

Perhaps in future it would be possible to geneticly enginer such a gene (And behind closed door's i'm very sure such a thing will happen) Ive also heard that humans have "Dormant" gene's and that they can be awakened. Maybe there is actually a gene there but its just dormant. (Although the likelyness of that is pretty minimal lol)
If one was to mess around with the human form i think its almost certain that what you create will be destructive and most probably the means of doing so would be crule, despite the willigness of the paitent.

I will agree with ~Upir~ on this one. It is just the same as with watching...Let us say, a martial arts flick. The individual suddenly wants to either learn kung-fu, or mimic a move while watching the movie.

The craving of the blood from this perspective is the same at wanting to go out into the moonlight after watching...Let us say, the HOWLING.

I would say that the assumption would be most accurate on that of the intention of the movie is not to suggest that the individual mimic it in anyway, but to enjoy the entertainment it brings. But, the influence is always there regardless of what movie the individual watches.

After a vampire flick, does the individual not wish to walk the streets thinking they have the site of the vampire? Mimicing the movie they just watched? Or at least have the craving for blood after a certain scene catches their intention because it was that well made?

This could be one possible scenerio, and assumption out of many.

I get the craving for blood, but not nessessarily after watching movies, or from diseases. If I see an injury on an individiual, I automatically want to taste the blood, or drink it. So in this aspect, does voilence influence my craving? Absolutely not. But, if the smell of blood is in the air...I do get set off. But that is just me.

Even walking past the meat department of a grocery store, the craving sets in. Even if it is animals blood...Blood is blood. But, this does not nessessarily mean I will drink the blood of an animal. Again, that is just me.

i never said that there was a gene.
i said there MIGHT be one.
and i did not ask for proof.

either way, i still believe there
is a gene in every human that
makes us think we crave blood.
or something to that effect.

"either way, i still believe there
is a gene in every human that
makes us think we crave blood.
or something to that effect."

Even if there was a gene, the likelyness of it incorperating all the common notions of Vampirism is very slim. Perhaps there's more of a chance of dominant gene that affects your mood, causing you to feel more a pull to supernatural subjects?

Gosh, its so very...Complex =/
I should really read into this, i just love making my own theorys XD

if anything we are all right there is still a lot unknow about the human geno and all of that we will just have to wait in see or look to the past its all the same

Actually, no, there isn't a lot we still don't know about the genome. We know an incredible amount about it, actually.

"Actually, no, there isn't a lot we still don't know about the genome. We know an incredible amount about it, actually."

If i am not mistaken, is there not a book that consists of just the genomes? Like, page after page of just the codes?

I wouldn't know about that, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Well, after a cursory glance, it seems there's a project underway. Rewriting the Human Genome. I didn't read much into it, but apparently they have mapped the entire genome.

It is not with genes themselves; humans share a near identical amount of genes with other species. Yet, as humans we look and act very differently then other mammals. It is in the promoters then the genes that cause differences, and similarities. I suppose one would have to look into the promoters on genes in other species (such as blood drinking bats, finches, so forth) in any hopes of creating “vampirism” in humans. However still this is probably 100% unlikely.

Well, there is no doubt that there are all kind of psychological causes, and physical illness which might cause this, but besides that it must be that they are just hungry, for something new in their lives.

Well I have a genetic disease where my body kills red blood cells faster then it can make them....I have to have regular blood transfusions because of this. There are a few similar diseases and it seems perfectly natural to me that these people would have cravings for blood. BM

I am just a curious why a person would share that fact, or claim with another, I can understand someone getting to know a person, and then mentioning "Oh I drink blood.". I puzzle the intent of the person making the claim. Whether , or not they practice drinking blood. The to dismiss those who prefer theatric symbolism.

but they are still researching it so there is still a lot we dont know there maybe books about it but it still not finshed we are still learning more and more about it we may never know everything about because we are closely viewable to many animals

It depends upon her "lifestyle" as it were. Some experience cravings that are strange at first, but must be considered a "lack of" something that either their body or their "soul" needs for nourishment. To continually disregard these cravings can and usually does turn into blood lust of some type. For others who crave blood, for some it is a matter of living what they believe is an enhanced lifestyle, also believing that when blood is ingested that it lends to higher and more acute senses. Craving blood, blood is high in Iron, maybe a mineral supplement may help in that regard.

Aracon

All living creatures, regarding whether they are self-aware of it or not, are bound by one law. The law of survival!

That same law of survival also allows life to fall within two categories, the categories of predator or prey.

The philosophy surrounding the myth of the Vampire and in respects of “feeding” is a simple one, while we are not against the method of feeding, in regards to “willing donors”, we acknowledge that we are of the predator nature being Vampires. Thus this carries with it a life-style that most individuals including some would call themselves vampires, look down upon.

But before I share our philosophies, which are sacrosanct to our nature and to our survival, I must first share the varying genres within our realms.

Most people, especially ones that claim to be of arcane existence, are not entirely sure as to the “genre” and are not aware that there are more than one type of Vampire, so to "enlighten" those who are "in the dark" on the subject, here goes:

1. The Psychic Vampire – one who may use several methods to gain the vital energy he or she needs.
2. The Emotional Vampire - ones who use attention getting behaviors to get others emotionally fixated on them, thus draining the emotion-laden energy.
3. The Sexual Vampire - those who feed upon the energy generated by there partners during sexual encounters.
4. Energy Vampires, sometimes known as "Pranic" Vampires - those feed from the life force of others thru touch, or "line of sight" in a room.
5. Sanguine Vampire – those who feed through the method of drinking blood, much like the vampire bat. Sanguine practices are not common within the Psychic Vampires, due to the obvious health risks, besides the method of energy feeding is much more efficient. There are also those known as
6. Necro-Vampires - those who are able to feed from what is known as "Death Energy", either from mortuaries, graveyards, or straight from corpses, usually from those who have recently deceased.
7. Then there is the Vampire known as the , who are able to engage all of the above methods, but are usually centered on "pranic" feeding, as well as feeding from the Undead in specialized rituals, and embrace what is currently known as the Left Hand Path. The are unlike any other Vampire, however we do not shun the Dark side of life, for it is necessary for awakening what is called the Dragon, and achieving the twilight.

Now to our philosophies regarding the human race. Those who have not yet awakened the Dragon from within, or those who are considered “potentials” are referred to as the “Human Battery”. Every living creature is, as you know, imbued with a specific amount of life force, whilst others still (human mainly) are able to attain greater levels of this quinessentiality. It is believed by some that humans contain more of this energy than any other species of moderate size, so it is the un-awakened human who are the most preferred selections for our prey.

The Vampire who denies their predatory nature, is in reality, not a vampire, but yet another human battery who thinks that by feeding from only a willing participant, they will reach some form of spiritual metanoia. In truth, they are usually delusional and is waste of life force.

To those who would disparage the vampire for their predatory nature, I have but a question to ask. Are you vegetarian? If not, why? Do you honestly believe that you cannot survive without the sacrifice of an animal to fill your stomach?

The Vampire views the human battery in the same fashion the "herd" looks upon grazing livestock, only the vampire doesn’t require the death of the human to sustain him. He would rather feed from this energy source, then leave him to rebuild his life force so that he may again serve the vampire.

This is much more humane than those who raise livestock purely for the purpose of slaughter! It is suggested that the adult human should be the target here when concerning the act of feeding, as the Elderly are usually either sick, or lacking of abundant life force, thus greatly improving the chance for reverse feedback, depleting the vampires life-force instead of vise-versa. And children are defenseless, and are easily influenced, even when it is only there subconscious that has been touched, thus improving there chances of becoming "potentials". It is suggested that these individuals be given the time to fully develop before exposing them to such currents that would otherwise perhaps turn them, into what is known as "potentials", until they are physically, and mentally ready.

Some who call themselves Vampire even make excuses for the act of feeding, explaining that what they have taken in the amount of life force is replaced with "new vitality", basically a feeble attempt
at whitewashing what makes the Vampire the efficient predator it really is. It is these delusions that separate our kind from the posers, roleplayers, and the rest of the herd it self. The Vampire makes no excuses for what it does. Neither does any other predator. Fortunately the human race is oblivious to our existence, making the hunt that much more easier, but make no mistakes, those who would call themselves Vampire yet cannot separate there conscience from the act of feeding, know absolutely nothing of what it takes to be a Vampire.

But this is not what we all are, and should not meant to be perceived to ONLY be. In fact, there are aspects of our being, our nature that others find useful.

I have myself been employed by others, those near and dear to me for assistance with assisting with their loved ones passing over. For most Vampires of my genre are also shadow walkers, those who assist in guiding the souls from the physical. Call it vampire with compassion, call it vampire with ulterior motive for feeding, call it what you will – but this is who, this is WHAT I am – and now you should come to understand my reasons for entrusting you to keep this off-list, not for the sake of me not knowing anything as I have claimed, not for the sake of deception or for deceipt, not even for having any ulterior motive – but merely and so simply in protecting WHO/WHAT I am.

As you are protective with your own beliefs (hence your request of me to write this) – I too am protective, cautious to disclose my REAL nature to you, but also due to the fact that in some regards I am bound by oath to keep sanction with my Order of Origin, and yes it was a Blood Oath.


In nominee Dei nostril Satanas Luciferi exselsi!

In diem vivere abi in malam rem.

I personally do not think that this topic would come up in any real conversation. Only for those that really do not know anything about the topic at hand, and merely and mostly out of curiousity I would guess.

For those that claim they are real Vampires, they usually do not mention as such, unless among other clan members, and even then, more than likely not, for each would already know most answers.

This type of conversational topic would not come up but this forum is about vampires. It also might come up in the community which is tired of splitting hairs. There are far more than the list showing up above and people have varying names for types. They really aren't a type of vampire but rather how they chose to take their energy and nothing more. People just like to use them as types. The AVA's list is much longer than that.

Those that crave blood are a minority on any list but they do exist along with those who have blood fetishes. People can say all they want about it but they neither can prove that these people do not need it. The fetishers get a high off it. There are worse things going on than drinking blood from a willing donor.

Blood is an emetic but studies of cannabalism and blood drinking have shown that 30 percent of the population can tolerate large amounts of blood. The rest will throw up because it is an emetic. I don't have a study at hand but I believe they mention this in the History Channels special on cannabalism. Vomiting is controlled by Serotonin so I would suspect that some have a different combination of neurotransmitters. Can I prove it, of course not but it cannot be disproved.

Pica is very common by the way and especially with those who have autism. I worked with autistics for over ten years. As far as the lady mentioned it may have to do with aging and changes in her brain chemistry and hormones.

Blood is a living protein so it has numerous constituents including many sugars but is mostly made up of water in all actuality. They say it's due to life force being concentrated but I have never agreed with that. It makes no sense as I would suspect semen or urine to have just as much. There is no way to measure this aspect. I just know from living in San Diego that UCSD is doing a lot of research on neurotransmitters and they don't even know how all of them work in the body. Men have more of the neurotransmitter that women have that starts labor, oxytocin, synthetic is pitocin and the scientists are stumpted as to why this is the case. The serotonin levels and combinations of neurotransmitters may be different in the case of those claiming vampirism as a living being. There are many things we don't know.

The reason I mention Serotonin is because of this:

serotonin - neurotransmitter:

In the central nervous system, serotonin plays an important role as a neurotransmitter in the modulation of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, human sexuality, appetite, and metabolism, as well as stimulating vomiting.

As for vampires drinking blood, some in Eastern Europe are thought not to drink blood although portrayed that way in movies and novels but in other countries such as Ireland this is not the case.

i can concur with your statement.
it is an acquired taste.
from all the times biting one's self
and helping others who cut them selves...
i know the feeling.
i crave blood once in a while but not
often enough to call my self half vampire.

I personally don't crave blood, but I do understand that humans seek a subconscious way away from death, and thus maybe thats why.. I have tasted blood on a mere personally donor situation.. Did she crave it from an aggressor stance, or as a mere injected?? Also it could be the fact shes never tasted it, humans do go through weird fads like that..

I agree with "QueenVampIce" on this. Humans go through fads all the time. We are an ever changing species, so I suppose it would be normal that someone who has a romantic obsession with vampires would begin to "crave blood," despite the fact that blood has a tendency to make their stomach upset. I have never craved blood, however, I find myself fascinated with those who claim to. Certain questions start to possess my mind, such as, "What would ever cause a person to want such a liquid that could make them feel like crap soon after consuming it?"

I have always believed that blood is sacred. Just as water is the life force of the earth, so too is blood the life force of the human. Humans need water, otherwise we cannot survive for very long. However, if we have enough blood in our bodies, then we do not need it. So what could ever possess someone to take that life force from another person, or allow another person to take it away from them? *shivers* I could never allow it to be "donated" much less allow myself to take it from someone else, aside from the fact that blood just doesn't taste very good.

I won't deny that I find myself drinking my own blood after I've had a cut, however, that is out of habit. I've been doing that since I was young, simply because I used to get in trouble for getting hurt.

It's true, there is nothing written in the human genome that could ever allow a person to have immortal life-thus the pointlessness of drinking blood for that reason-nor is there a signature in our genome that allows us to consume large quantities of blood. I suppose my question is the same as the theme of this thread, "Why do humans crave blood?"

I believe it has more to do with romantic obsessions than anything else.

Not sure why peole would start to drink blood but i do know that blood of any form can be addictive as it is a rich source of nutrients but beware the consequence of too much blood is an unbalanced mind, something in it tends to send people crazy, the same for cannibals. I'm not sure what it is but it works like a drug psychosis. hope thats helpful

There are loads of accounts of the practice and reasons why its done for different peeps..but seriously,what is it to honestly crave it?

Some here mention that the taste of blood is an aquired taste and that it initially isn't enjoyable. If it is indeed a choice and not required for life, why would you start drinking it?

I believe that the body craves things that it needs. a vegeterian friend of mine began to crave chicken, so she gave in, as her body was lacking in certain things,

at the moment I keep on getting cravings for cheese and ice (and no I'm not pregnant) but my body needs calcium, and the need for ice has somthing to do with being anemic i think, i give into the ice, dont much fancy the coppery blood of meat eaters and dont know any veggy donors, lol

Most say it has a slightly metalic taste but what it said when I researched is it is affected by what the person has been eating as well. I doubt it is because of iron that some crave blood. The iron is only in the hemoglobin and accounts for the color of the blood but there are only four hemes that have it to help bond the oxygen so it doesn't look to me that it would have anything to do with that. The hemoglobin comes from the bone marror so perhaps it is something else carried from the bone marrow. Even when most get transfusions they don't give whole blood but plasma which is mostly made up of water.

I wonder if it is more of a cleanser of some sort of build up of gases in the body. I know that is a little out there but I know it has this ability and it is (the hemoglobin) attracted to gases. I just can't see the viability other than it being similar to eating meat since it is protein and why in that form I don't know and so little to boot. The fact that it goes through digestion is another consideration.

I don't crave it and I am tested for anemia all the time because my skin is so pale. I have never been anemic, although when I was little I had high white blood cell counts which they said was not anemia nor leukemia. They didn't know what it was actually and stuck me on these nasty diets. My blood also did not acclimatize either. I got pneumonia over and over again when small.

"When humans move from a cool or temperate environment to a hot, dry desert environment or vice versa, they should spend up to seven days acclimatizing to the change in their environment. This lets the body make internal adjustments (see homeostasis) to compensate for the change in environment conditions. If the acclimatization process is ignored, then the person is at higher risk for heat related injuries (heat stroke, heat cramp, pneumonia)."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acclimatization

The thing is in my time people wouldn't have recognized this sort of craving in all cases and might have substituted something else by perhaps being predominantly a meat eater or some other substance for something they didn't know as those who have the internet and a lot of subculture support in the last 30 years or so. I don't think anyone knows the definitive answer to this. They only have best guess.

I think La6Muerte66 coverd the strange things that can cause the crave. And i think fetish was mentiond? or perhaps its psychicological(hope i spelt that right)where the person is so convienced he/she is a real vampire and thuse acts on it.Who know I think every one is diffrent.I wouldn't know I find blood gross lol and it smells bad as well as tasts bad.

Assumed Identity Complex. One must also keep in mind that those who actually practice intimate " rituals" seldom profess such matters in "open" company.

They don't. They make it seem like they do so they can further proclaim their idea that vampires might exist.


Which they don't.

Then what is it with the kids eating glue? some find it delicious..

They ran out of marshmellows.

We all consume blood in every piece of meat we eat. We inherit this craving from our ancestors because of the diet they ate.

theres a very rare desease thats related to the craving of blood but its only a 1 out 1000000 people that have it, its called the hemoglaphagic virus but its not yet curable but im still working on the cure unfortuneitly i have to use my own self as the test subject seeng as how im he only one with the desease were i live. :(

There exists a fairly rare group of genetic disorders that have unfairly branded many sufferers with the term "vampire". These poor souls are extremely sensitive to sunlight that can easily result in burns and abrasions, and so they prefer darkness. They suffer from acute attacks of abdominal pains, vomiting and loose stools. Their urine may have a purplish-red color leading some to wrongly believe that it results from drinking blood. Those afflicted may have increased hair growth, and with repeated damage, their skin tightens and shrinks. When this occurs around the mouth, the canine teeth appear to be more prominent, and suggestive of fangs. At other times, it causes depression and affects the brain to produce peculiar behavior. It is probably no surprise that garlic makes all the symptoms worse. Porphyria is a misunderstood condition that has affected the likes of Mary Queen of Scots and King George III.

Porphyria refers to a growing collection of disorders in which there are abnormalities in the enzymes involved in heme production. Heme is an iron-containing compound used throughout the body. The most common heme-containing substance found in our bodies is the hemoglobin in our red blood cells - an essential component to transport oxygen around our bodies. There are at least eight steps in the production of heme, and at least eight different types of porphyria can result when an enzyme malfunctions and levels of intermediate substances rise to beyond what the body is accustomed to. It is a condition that runs in families and is inherited. At one time, it was thought to be a dominant trait requiring only one gene from one parent, but there are recessive forms now identified in which genes need to come from both parents.

Porphyria is very difficult to diagnose. Its symptoms mimic those of a hundred other conditions. Traditional testing rarely shows a problem, and patients who develop recurrent acute attacks often require strong narcotics to control the abdominal pain. They often undergo surgery for appendicitis or ovarian conditions without positive findings, and then run the risk of being labeled with a narcotic addiction. There are no easy tests available to diagnose the various porphyria conditions. The best time to attempt diagnosis is when the symptoms are active. Special urine tests looking for PBG (porphobilinogen) and ALA (delta-aminolevulinic acid) can provide a starting clue. More intricate testing then follows in an attempt to make a precise diagnosis.

Porphyria sufferers are affected by anything that can alter the functioning of the deficient enzymes. This can occur to different degrees. Some people are affected so slightly that the diagnosis is never considered. Herbs, drugs, alcohol and even hormones can produce acute attacks by interfering with enzyme function. Sufferers are counseled as to which medications to avoid. Maintaining a hardy diet low in carbohydrates is essential. The best news of all is that if the diagnosis is considered, then infusing heme molecules produced in the laboratory can treat acute attacks. After all, heme is what the body is ultimately craving for when an attack occurs.

Well if we categorized this content of blood being in food we might view it from a different perspective...I dont know if you ever tried Black Pudding or Blood pudding before its actually traditional in the island we know them as morcilla people called them a vampire dessert.. but it the intestine of the pig and filled with blood of the cattle or pig or sheep or goat where i live we only use pig blood ... which in other Europeans countries also do the same.i would love for you too taste the blood sausage it quite like no other sausage rich in taste and amazing...
Or blood soup ....... which used blood as main ingredient....

Main Entry:
he·mo·pha·gia
Variant(s):
or chiefly British hae·mo·pha·gia -ˈfā-j(ē-)ə Listen to the pronunciation of haemophagia
Function:
noun

1 : an ingestion of blood
2 : phagocytosis of red blood cells

Hemophagia, otherwise known as the Hemoglaphagic Virus or HGV, is a blood disease (possibly comes from the Greek word "αιμοφαγία", meaning blood eating). It was once a rare pathogen responsible for historical accounts of vampires, but was then modified through genetic engineering by the U.S government to give individuals superhuman abilities. These modifications also made the disease far more contagious, and it soon escaped into the general populace, where the media whipped it into a disease-based state of fear. To help suppress the fact that the quarantine procedures are actually a witch hunt, the authorities have discouraged the use of the term vampire in favor of labeling carriers of the disease Hemophages. However, there can be no doubt that the authorities are engaged in a witch hunt; in the opening scene a detective cuts his finger on a Hemophage fang-he is immediately executed by his partner.

Hemophages are biochemically affected by the disease in different ways and to different degrees, resulting in a remarkably wide range of abilities. Some of the abilities exhibited by hemophages are:

Increased strength, speed and stamina. This could be the result of an increased level of natural hormones similar to anabolic steroids, as well as altered epinephrine (adrenalin) and norepinephrine levels. As the latter would produce an aggravated fight-flight response, this could be the reason for the hair-trigger temper of the more combat-oriented Hemophages.

I read all of this and watched how it veered off into another topic altogether. No vampires in books and movies don't exist. The word is used to describe something or someone. I think it has been misused. There is far more about blood drinking in werewolf folklore than in vampire by the way. Read the study done by Baring-Gould among probably others.

The question was why do "humans" crave blood? I would assume since the topic of vampires came into this you consider them humans, lol. Who knows really some talk here like they are doctors and psychologists, etc etc. Why do you need a link when someone is giving an opinion. I have one, it may be a chemical imbalance or a fetish that developed or watching too many late night vampire movies. There are various disorders that could account for it but...what did it say about the lady in particular? Was there anymore information on her?

An alternative Source, it's the next pandemic, coming soon to a town near you!

Hemophagia

Hemophagia, otherwise known as the HemoPhagic Virus or HPV (not to be confused with Human Papilloma Virus), is a blood disease (from the Greek word "αιμοφαγία", meaning "blood-eating"). Its primary symptom is an aggressively accelerated metabolism.

It was once a rare pathogen responsible for historical accounts of vampires, but was then modified through genetic engineering by the U.S. government to give individuals superhuman abilities. These modifications also made the disease far more contagious, and it soon escaped into the general populace, where the media whipped it into a disease-based state of fear. To help combat the fact that the quarantine procedures are actually a witch hunt, the authorities have discouraged the use of the term 'vampire' in favor of labeling carriers of the disease "hemophages".

Hemophages are biochemically affected by the disease in different ways and to different degrees, resulting in a remarkably wide range of abilities. Some of the abilities exhibited by hemophages are:

Increased strength, speed and stamina as the result of an increased level of natural hormones similar to anabolic steroids, as well as altered epinephrine (adrenalin) and norepinephrine levels. As the latter produces an aggravated fight-flight response; which affects the sympathetic nervous system to directly increase heart rate, release energy from fat, and increase muscle readiness. This is the reason for the hair-trigger temper of the more combat-oriented Hemophages.
Enhanced intelligence by increasing the potency of neurotransmitters responsible for memory and cognition.
A similar process is responsible for enhanced senses.
Hemophages have an inconveniently high sensitivity to light, accompanied by equally keen night vision. This forces them to wear heavily-tinted sunglasses. The longer they are afflicted with the disease, the more sensitive they become to daylight.
However, every hemophage exhibits the following two enhancements:

Slightly elongated canines, but certainly not the wolf-like teeth of legend. They are caused by the massively increased density of bone and dentin throughout the body.
The accelerated metabolism speeds healing.
Although the disease has many benefits, it has two side effects: one inconvenient, one devastating:

It cripples the body's ability to regenerate blood platelets. As a result, hemophages are pale and anemic, and they require frequent blood transfusions to stay alive.
All the increased cellular activity takes an unwanted toll on the carrier's body. With their metabolisms speeding along at unprecedented rates, the victims of Hemophagia could expect to survive, if they were lucky, no more than ten years after their first exposure to disease.
The government uses the above traits to identify hemophages from the general human population. However, meta-suppressants can be used to temporarily suppress and slow them down to within average human range.

SOURCE: http://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/Hemophagia

This may sound crass of me, but there maybe two reasons... One revolving around canabalism and the other revolving around Renfield`s Syndrome.


Canabalism, There comes a time when people get a curiousity where people begin to crave blood then it evolves to human meat...

Renfield Syndrome, is a clinical vampirism that forces these irrational logics that blood is a life sorce and you`ll need it to survive, it begins with Autovampirism (drinking thier own blood) then it evolves to animal blood and last to Human blood.

Those, what I suggested earlier, or the fact that people are just too damn obsessed with vampires, and start acting like them... I`m not saying that I don`t believe in them, I`m saying that vampirism is beginning to be very popular...

I have always loved the taste of blood.
Personally I think it probably occured the first time I was injured and stuck the wound in my mouth, probably some time before age 4. It is intuitive to clean your wounds, and people are largely imune to the germs of their own saliva (unlike biting someone else.)_

I personally think that not liking blood is due to cultural taboos. I do not think I am a renfield or that it is a fetish (although I think biting is.)

A long time ago we were discussing Evolution vs Intellegent Design and how the Vampire fits in with either ecology, one of the things descussed was about hunting.

If a tribe of humans were starving and cold and lacked even teh food energy to hunt... it might be logical for the tribe to sacrifice some blood to teh hunters to give them enough energy and the warmth to aquire food for the tribe. It seams logical because even females (traditionally they are gatherers adn less suseptable to regular hunting inuries) regenerate blood. It is considered healthy to be bled on a regular basis by many alternative health professionals.

So we have a breed of men developing a taste for blood, or a natural craving for that purpose. It would be interesting to determine if blood type O's tend to crave blood more often, as they are considered by those who study blood type to be the hunter/gatherer bloodtype,; whereas other blootypes are from agricultural developement.

i have type o - does that mean that i will eventually crave blood? no i don't think so , i think what causes a human to crave blood could a severe iron defiency or an immeadite depletion of iron and other such elements from the body's reserves.

Well, I obviously take after my father far more than I thought. I mentioned today while visiting my mother how the direct rays of sunlight seemed to effect me. She didn't look surprised, but I have always made slight comments about not liking it or it makes me feel bad.

Her response to a detailed description of it was, "Well, you sound like your father. He never liked being outside in bright light either. Always said it didn't feel good on his skin too..."

I never knew that. My dad enjoys being outside during the day. It brought up another question. How often had I seen my dad wearing shorts in the daylight? Almost never...once or twice my whole life and he was bitterly unhappy about it.

How often do I see him with no shirt or sleeveless? Never. He, like me, usually wears a short or preferably long sleeve in sunlight. He is also as white as a ghost and his skin refuses to tan so much as burn. I never noticed that. Well, I did, but not in relation to my own issues.

I didn't think we were too similar about the whole daywalking bit. He used to grin and tease me about it while my mom harped on 'She thinks she is a vampire, or something. It is disgusting!'

Maybe she had reasons to hate all of my excuses before I was ever born. I have begun to wonder if her vicious comments were made because she was already disgusted by my dad's attitude towards the sunlight first.

Anything is possible...

I know from a few, they crave it because it makes them feel alive as well as it serves their curiosity. But mostly they like seeing it, for most it calms them down, not sure why.

My guess would have to be the flavor because it usually seems to start the first time someone licks the blood from their arm, hand, finger or whatever when they get a cut.

It could be that she had a vitamin deficiency or a health disorder, wheather it be mental or physical

Most humans I've met are repulsed by the idea of tasting blood...even if it's their own.

However, not all of them. Now, I'm not gonna touch on ideas, I'm just gonna talk about my personal experience.

I have met several people who crave blood, or were interested in blood. Some were totally sane...others...not so much. Aside from just being crazy and having delusions, the best way to rationalize it, the way it makes the most sense to me is if you just credit it to obsession.
Seriously, let's be honest, I mean everybody is a different degree of obsessive. In my personal experience, as a very obsessive kind of person, if I immerse myself in a book or television series, it does affect my way of thinking while I'm into it. If somebody's hobbies are all about vampires, well then what do you expect if they're an obsessive person?
So, ruling out mental disorders and lesser degrees of craziness, I'd chalk it up to obsession.

but there are many that drink umm no taste is really a better word blood on a regular basis that don't think of themselves as anything but human. You can't really drink blood so much as taste. If you poured 8oz of blood in a glass and managed to drink the whole thing you would be puking your guts out very quickly. As I mentioned in my earlier post there are many that lick or suck the blood from a cut they happen to get and a portion of those actually crave the taste afterwords. Only a smaller portion still actually considers themselves vampire. To say that everyone that craves blood is obsessed with vampires and that is why they do it is completely false. There are many that crave the blood of animals in one form or another like those some that eat steak very rare and drink the "juice" from the meat. The "juice" is actually blood diluted with water that's injected into the meat during processing (they put a little salt in water and call it a flavor enhancing solution so they can falsely increase the weight of the meat by up to 10%). The majority of those people that eat steak that way do not consider themselves vampires. Only a small portion of those that "drink" or taste blood consider themselves vampire so you cant say that all people that crave blood are obsessed with vampires. After all some of them think they're werewolves. ;)

I can't really say anything much to what has been posted about the elderly lady craving blood and some of the diseases that can cause someone to do so, but I can relate to the question of blood cravings to my own experiences.

Since I was 18, I had a friend who asked me if he could use me as his blood bank. At the time I didn't know what he meant, so I told him sure. He was a really good friend and I knew if he needed something that there was a reason. One evening we got together and he took me out to the woods, and asked me if I was still ok with what he had asked me before, and I told him yes. That night he bit my neck, punctured it, and drank some of my blood.

After that, I realized that I was so into the experience that I wanted to do it as well. So, I would use him and he would use me. It was like we were draining each other and replenishing each other at the same time.

It's funny though cause I can't stand the sight of blood for the most part, but I can handle doing blood leaking and cupping, and storing some blood for future use, as well as eating rare meats.

I don't really do that as much now as I did before, but I do still enjoy my meat with blood still in it, and once in a while when I get really into the biting thing I do tend to puncture skin, and sometimes I feel like sucking the blood from it.

This post is off the original topic, but I feel something needs to be addressed for the safety of the Vampire Rave members.

Darkangel82, I see that you mention allowing someone to puncture your skin with his teeth, and that you have done it to him (or possibly others). This just isn't safe, for either you or the person you're biting. The mouth is one of the dirtiest parts of the human body and by puncturing the skin of another person you can pass along all sort of nasty bacteria to that person. If you're not concerned about the safety of those you're close to, please be concerned for the safety of yourself.

I never thought of that....he always told me it was so safe and intense. That just never occured to me after trying it. I guess it's a good thing that I hadn't done that with anyone else other than him for one, and two that I quit that period once I had my kids. Thank you for bringing that up, and I see where you're coming from now. I will remember that, and pass it on to everyone I know that still does that.

Very interesting and informative thread. I think that there are a number of you that have posted dead spot on. But for the most part I believe it's a combination of these factors. I myself am anemic and take iron daily and I eat really gruesomely rare meat. I have never drank human blood with the exception of my own and that was basically to avoid getting the blood from some cuts on my wrist (accidental) on my clothes.

I do however know a young man that had cancer when he was a child and somehow through blood transfustions and assorted other cancer related procedure was left with a blood condition, He is snow white and rail thin and regularly needs to go get transfusions at the hospital pretty regularly. He never talks about it at all. It's very debilitating and he like me does not tolerate sun well. I would think he might be lying about this except I work with him.

So yes I think blood drinking may freak some ppl out because it's social taboo. Yes I think some individuals may be doing it to identify with vampires that they idealize.

I also think there are people that aquire a taste for it and others that have medical conditions.

I think this is an awesome thread. Thanks everyone for the great posts.

I do not consider myself a vampire or anything like that. I do like the taste of blood and will crave an extremely rare steak from time to time. Does this mean that I have a vitamin deficiency somewhere? I do not have a low blood iron count..so that rules out that. I just like the taste of it is all..plain and simple. Do I go about cutting myself or others to drink it..no I do not. So it is just one of they strange things that someone may crave for whatever reason..maybe a medical condition..a sexual high..or just that they like it.

Yeah - that's the same with me --
when i run my body down real bad , I just crave red meat,
I mean i really got to have it --
My friend is a diabetic - their sugar is always messed up
she eats her meat completely rare ;; most times it's not
even warm .

well either she was somewhat of a vampire or shes just becoming crzy and wants is thirsting for human blood but my only explaination is shes part vampire

Personally, I think it is that people "crave" blood because they want attention. There are a number of diseases - real diseases that are out there that people have that require transfusions and need the nutrients in blood that their body does not produce, but other than that the ones that brag about it and tell everyone oh I crave blood, I drink blood, I think they are pretty much crazy and need straight jackets.

I think that some ppl crave blood to enhance a sexual feeling

Or to feel something sexual

Craving blood is due to a lack of physical deficiency in the persons blood. Person should get a full CBC and Chem 7 profile done.
As far as actually drinking human blood, it is extremely irritating to the stomach lining, and would be vomited back up. Even your own. GI bleeding first sign of gastric ulcers. You can't disolve or ingest it in that type of quanity due to the coagulation(clotting factors)
Small portions in animal meats are consumable, but just as dangerous as we have seen in cases of E-coli deaths and illnesses , and why the FDA recommends complete cooking of your meats before consumtion.
Not to mention the seriousness of blood born pathogens that can cause harm even death. No indifferent than type and cross match errors that result in death.

I know that sometimes I crave it, it's weird. I don't want to drink blood really. I can't. But I do crave it. I mean when I get a cut sure I'll have some of my own blood. But mostly if I start getting this craving I cook a rare steak or ribs. I make sure that it's cooked, but I cook it enough to where I know if I want some blood I can have it.
I have been low on iron only when pregnant. I am not pregnant now, but when I am on my period and what not I also start to crave "red meat" and other "blood" things. It's mostly because I get low on iron and I am full of stress.
I don't know if it's a disease or anything, but everything now n days is a disease, even if we think about just thinks like sometimes I like playing with some chicken or ribs before I cook it. I like the feeling of the cold meat. It's weird, but is it a disease? I don't think so. I know other people who have similar issues like this.
It's just who we are. Am I vampire? I sometimes think it's possible. But then again, I think I am something different.

I am not vampire, but I love a bloody steak. I think the reason humans crave blood is because the illusion of becoming a vampire overcomes us all at some point.

After reading through the entire thread, I draw a couple of conclusions...

Many within this thread point out obvious answer that relate to something within their personal lives, like an apparent admission of guilt out of false truths or something, trying to prove a point that is just completely invalid.

Second, the scientific points of view are worth every mention as well as safety concerns that were pointed out.

My previous post mentioning where and when I tend to "crave" blood is simple relation and nothing more.

Since I will not disclose my "feeding" habits, I will just state that just because the movie vampire apparently drinks blood because the director and or script writer forces them too, does not make them real. They are fictitious portrayals of imagination.

The true vampire does not nessessarily need "blood" nor energy "psi" to survive. There is a completely differant way that the true vampire goes about when it is hungry, which is why I will not disclose my habits.

Let society be manipulated into craving what they will, when they will. There are those out there that know the truth when it is in regards to the true vampire.

Why do "humans" crave blood? "Humans" seems like a term used by some sort of roleplayer. Should not have the thread been entitled "Why does society crave blood?" What gives? Why single the "humans" out? Are we this diluted to the strictest of terms following judgement? Come now...

Live and let lie I suppose.

Like so, It's mostly when someone is low on iron that they "crave" it.
Vampires are nothing near to what the stories say. Do a little deeper research, look through ancient stories. usually they are the best.

I myself drink blood for the simple reason i enjoy it and do need it i crave it but for different reason's its not because i think i'm a vampire but i have rollplay at times with my donors for me its a fetish i have nothing more. i love the taste and feel of it in my mouth and have done for about 11 years thats when i got into the scene for real but i first drank it when i was about 10 a girl across the street feel over and cut her knee i help her up and got some on my fingers without even thinking about i tasted it and i liked it from that day on. so for me i do crave it but for my own pleasure nothing more and it can be so much fun im always safe get tested every mouth and my donors did as well so im not mad i just love it.

But i do understand the old vampirc ways.and i do find great intrest in vampires but thats not why i drink blood thought i'd just get that point across guys,giggles.