Volume 10, Issue 1, 24 February 2014, Article number 26
Department of Chemistry, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, P. O. Box 11-01-608, Loja, Ecuador
Abstract
Background: During
the colonial period, the indigenous saraguros maintained their
traditions, knowledge, and practices to restore and preserve the health
of their members. Unfortunately, many of their practices and medicinal
resources have not been documented. In this study, we sought to
document the traditional healers' (yachakkuna saraguros) knowledge about
medicinal and psychoactive plants
used in the mesas and in magical-religious rituals. The study was
conducted under a technical and scientific cooperation agreement between
the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), the Dirección
Provincial de Salud de Loja (DPSL), and the Saraguro Healers Council
(Consejo de Sanadores de Saraguro).Methods: For the present study, the
DPSL and Saraguro Healers Council selected the 10 yachakkuna most
recognized for their knowledge and their use of sacred and psychoactive
species. Ten interviews with the selected yachakkuna were conducted
between 2010 and 2011 to ascertain how the Saraguro traditional healing
system is structured and to obtain a record of the sacred and medicinal plant
species used to treat supernatural diseases and for psychoactive
purposes.Results: The present study describes the traditional health
system in the Saraguro indigenous community located in southern Ecuador.
It also describes the main empirical methods used to diagnose diseases:
direct physical examination of the patient, observation of the
patient's urine, documentation of the patient's pulse, limpia, palpation
and visionary methods, including supernatural diseases (susto, vaho de
agua, mal aire, mal hecho, shuka) and reports of the use of sacred and medicinal psychoactive plants,
such as the San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi), wandug (Brugmansia
spp.), and tobacco (Nicotiana spp.). This study also describes the
rituals (limpia, soplada) employed by the Saraguro yachakkuna to treat
supernatural diseases. Finally, we report on the main plants
used during limpia in the Saraguro community.Conclusion: The current
traditional health system in the Saraguro community is the cultural
expression of the Saraguros' presence as an Andean group in southern Ecuador:
it represents their character as indigenous group, their ability to
survive as a community despite strong external pressure, and the desire
to maintain their ancient healing heritage. © 2014 Armijos et al.;
licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Author keywords
Healing rituals; Medicinal plants; Psychoactive plants; San Pedro cactus; Saraguro; Yachakkuna
Indexed keywords
EMTREE drug terms: psychotropic agent
EMTREE medical terms: Ecuador; human; intranasal drug administration; medicinal plant; phytotherapy; symbolism; tobacco; traditional medicine
MeSH: Administration, Intranasal; Ceremonial Behavior; Ecuador; Humans; Medicine, Traditional; Phytotherapy; Plants, Medicinal; Psychotropic Drugs; Tobacco
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: Psychotropic Drugs
ISSN: 17464269Source Type: Journal
Original language: English
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
