Back in the precovid 3rd world I met people who took very dubious / polluted / rotten stuff as a "purge".

a. The placebo effect is real. A bout of induced vomiting and diarrhea makes whatever you are left with feel less worse than that...

b. They couldn't afford 1st world doctors and medicine anyway.

c. They were desperate.

d. Scoundrels preyed on their desperation.