Post Series: Global Traditional Medicine Systems
In order to spread awareness about the rich living herbal traditions from around the world, this post series is intended to introduce some of the characteristics of the herbal or traditional medicine systems to which plants belong.
The traditional medicine of the Shipibo, an indigenous group from the Peruvian Amazon, combines spiritual, physical, and herbal practices. It is deeply embedded in the Shipibo culture and relies on the extensive knowledge of the natural environment, passed down through generations.
The Shipibo healers, known as “Onayas” or shamans, utilize a variety of techniques in their traditional medicine. These include the use of icaros (sacred songs), mapacho (tobacco) smoke, and plant-based medicines during healing ceremonies. The Onayas often enter altered states of consciousness through the use of Ayahuasca, a potent hallucinogenic brew, to diagnose and treat illnesses by communicating with the spiritual world.
Several plants are fundamental to Shipibo traditional medicine. Ayahuasca, central to their spiritual and healing practices, is used to cleanse and heal the body and mind. Chiric sanango (Brunfelsia grandiflora) is used for its warming properties to treat cold and arthritis. Ajo sacha (Mansoa alliacea) a plant resembling garlic, is used for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
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