They should try pig's blood. Isn't that easily available from a butcher or similar?

That said, it would be funny if they were just low on iron or something. They should have their blood tested for deficiencies.

Its called black pudding[0] in the UK, or blood sausage[1] in some other places.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_pudding [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_sausage

Here in Portugal, besides the various types of blood sausages, we also have a recipe which is essentially seasoned blobs of coagulated pig blood: http://media.rtp.pt/cookoff/receitas/sangue-de-vinagrete/

In Thailand, Nam Tok is a rich soup made with raw cow or pig's blood:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nam_tok_%28food%29

In the Philippines, there is a similar type of blood stew called Dinuguan. Typically contains an array of organ meats. Not my personal favorite though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinuguan

My ex-wife made me eat blood sausage once, without telling me anything about it. It's one of the reason she's my ex-wife now.

I'll assume it's like coffee, and an acquired taste. how much of this would I have to eat before it didn't make me want to throw up anymore?

No, because they're crazy.

A really unhelpful, stigmatising, attitude that causes problems for very many people.

"Somatoform" illnesses aren't just limited to the extremes of Morgellons or vampirism-to-treat-chronic-fatigue, but includes a large number of people with chronic pain.

Since pain killers result in a large number of death (deliberate and accidental acute overdose, deliberate and accidental chronic overdose) and addiction it's really fucking unhelpful to call people "crazy" when they're seeking treatment for unexplained symptoms.

One can be conditioned in a specific way and still be sane. There are people with really weird constraints in their daily lives due to their physiology or neurology. I'd not label them crazy without actually consulting with a psychiatrist and physician. It's likely a placebo effect, but that does not mean they can wish it away once they are strongly conditioned to the stimulus.

they have symptoms and have found a way to improve their symptoms. they are reaosnable about it. there don't appear to be stories of assault for blood drinking (at least in the article). it doesn't really fit with craziness as in strange beliefs, delusions of grandeur, psychosis, etc.

except for the ones who sleep in coffins. stay away from the ones who sleep in coffins...

> they have symptoms and have found a way to improve their symptoms

To be fair, this is what homeopaths would also say. Without a double blind test of some sort, their conclusion is spurious.

They've found a pretty dangerous way of improving their symptoms, though. Depending on the underlying cause, something like an iron supplement or some psychotherapy would likely also improve symptoms in a much safer manner.