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Ethnomedicine
Ethnomedicine
plays an important role in much of South American culture.
In broad terms it is traditional medicine that is practiced
by jampiris (herbalists) and yachajs (diviners)
that carry on the healing traditions that have been passed
on by ancestors for over a thousand years.
Predominant is the belief that
health and sickness depends upon a correspondence of humpors
in the body, blood, phlegm, yellow and black vile, which relate
to hot, cold, wet, and dry, as well to the seasons, much like
Hippocrates and Galen taught over 2,000 years ago. Although
caused by T. cruzi, constipation
is believed to be caused by an imbalance of these factors.
Kallawaya Andeans believe that health and disease correspond
metaphorically to the three levels of their ayllus, which
have toponym corresponding to a head, trunk, and legs.
It embraces
the belief that the earth plays a vital role in one's spiritual,
emotional, and physical well-being. These methods are proven
to be as at least as effective in many cases as biomedical
treatments (and often more effective).
They are more often readily accepted into many cultures, particularly
Andean. Find out more through the links below.
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