A Deeper Look into Peruvian Mountain Medicine
A Deeper Look into Peruvian Mountain Medicine
By Dr. Mila Rojas
Peruvian mountain medicine involves ancient healing techniques that highly leverage the natural resources of Earth. These traditional practices involve the use of medicinal plants. While a great number of these plants have disappeared or are not used anymore, the knowledge Peruvian healers have of traditional practices continues to be vast, with a great development in this aspect when compared to other regions of the Andes.
Not all ailments can be treated with Peruvian mountain medicine. However, there are common diseases and infections that are treated mainly with the use of plants. These include respiratory diseases, urinary tract infections (UTI), stomach issues, rheumatism, among others (1).
That said, there are also treatments for spiritual ailments or sickness that are considered as stemming from a magical element. In this case, there is a deep understanding of the relationship between Mother Earth and the soul and body and the disbalance between this relationship can lead to illness. Furthermore, some plants are considered sacred and these are among the ones that are more commonly used for medicinal purposes (2).
In addition, shamans are a big part of Peruvian mountain medicine with a role that is mainly focused on healing spiritual ailments, which might or might not be affecting the body according to their knowledge. For many generations, shamans and “curanderos” have studied and documented the best plants to use for certain ailments and they started learning about it from a very young age. Therefore, they are an essential part of these communities (3).
Tending to a sick person can sometimes involve a ritual to identify what the ailment is and a prescription for concoctions made with medicinal plants. These plants are usually fresh plants but sometimes, more elaborate poultices and decoctions are made. Other times, the treatment is simple lifestyle changes, which is not that different from what is often advised by medical doctors (4).
Traditional medicine in Peru has become mainstream in this country, with the government promoting the opening of centers focused on medicinal plant therapies, with many residents benefitting from these treatments. One of the challenges faced in this context is ensuring the sourcing of these plants is done in a sustainable way.
This widespread adoption has led to medical pluralism in Perú, with areas in which both medical doctors and curanderos work side by side to treat a patient. While this does not happen everywhere, it is seen often enough. This is highly influenced by the large proportion of indigenous people present in the country and the preservation of their customs, traditions, and practices (5).
There are still many mysteries to be discovered in the context of Peruvian medicine. However, there have been recent studies in which the benefits of these practices are more deeply explored, taking a look at the bioactive components present in many of these sacred plants (6).
If you are interested in learning more about Peruvian medicine and want to participate in workshops in the beautiful mountains of Perú, visit us and find out more about the incredible educational adventures we have for you.
Sources
- https://ethnobiomed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1746-4269-2-47
- https://www.kuodatravel.com/mystical-medicine-and-healers-in-peru/
- https://www.junglesinparis.com/stories/lessons-of-a-peruvian-medicine-man
- https://www.sapiens.org/biology/peruvian-health-care/
- http://bir.brandeis.edu/handle/10192/23882
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27169179/
