“Imagine having poison ivy all over your body for twenty years and being constantly told not to scratch. You can resist for a while, but eventually you give in” (Marlene Targ Brill 18). Tourette syndrome can be compared to poison ivy in some ways. People with Tourette syndrome have suffered from tics and tantrums for hundreds of years, but today there are treatments that can help control Tourette symptoms, allowing sufferers to live a healthy life. normal. The history of Tourette syndrome is very interesting. Hundreds of years ago, Tourette's was viewed very differently around the world. In some countries they were revered and in others they were considered possessed. Furthermore, in other countries they were considered mysterious and unusual. “In South Africa there are several diseases that are considered sacred – diseases of the gods…Tourette's is one of the sacred diseases in Zulu culture where people are so afflicted that they become great leaders. socially and spiritually. They named the disease “Indiki”; the word meaning “pulse” or “jerking disease”” (Health Record Center Academic Print). There were many other cultures where people with Tourette syndrome were considered enchanted or revered. On the other hand, not all Touretters were honored and revered like others. . Some people with Tourette syndrome were considered possessed and tortured because of their tics and tantrums. “Sometimes they underwent extreme ‘treatment’ such as flogging, lobotomy, or even burning at the stake” (Tracy Haerle 20). The pain of these people with Tourette syndrome is unimaginable to understand since no one realized that they could not control their actions. “The weird ...... middle of paper ...... with Tourette syndrome to have educational strategies to facilitate learning. It is vital that he is constantly absorbed in an activity; therefore, they are focused and do not have tics as frequently. Finding hobbies or talents for sufferers is also a key aspect to improving an educational strategy. This helps them develop their self-esteem. When a child with Tourette syndrome is praised for their talent, it boosts their self-confidence even more. Tourette syndrome is not fully understood; therefore there is no cure yet. The story was interesting across cultures. The causes are still unknown and considered a mystery to us, but every day the real causes become more and more apparent. Symptoms are sporadic and sometimes uncontrollable. There are such a variety of treatments that there will soon be a cure for this poison ivy-like disease..