Herbal and Plant Knowledge
Medicinal plants (lakusina.com)
While in Peru, I found that the vast variety of plants and herbs able to thrive in the mountains were put to use by the local people. Though there were people (such as Don Pancho) who were more knowledgeable about a wider group of herbs and plants, nearly everyone knew how to treat basic health issues with plants. We also did research at a local middle school through activities with the children that tested their medicinal plant knowledge. Even the younger children could identify different plants and their uses, in addition to where to find them.
Volumes of books are written on the plants of Peru and their uses. Here I will try to scratch the surface to give a better idea of how deep herbal knowledge actually runs. I include excerpts from my field notes taken from an eco-tour by Don Pancho that highlight more commonly used plants. If interested in learning more, I have attached a file from an article by Bussmann et al. that lists common afflictions and plants used as treatment. Also look for additional reading in my reference section!
Volumes of books are written on the plants of Peru and their uses. Here I will try to scratch the surface to give a better idea of how deep herbal knowledge actually runs. I include excerpts from my field notes taken from an eco-tour by Don Pancho that highlight more commonly used plants. If interested in learning more, I have attached a file from an article by Bussmann et al. that lists common afflictions and plants used as treatment. Also look for additional reading in my reference section!
More than Medicine: La Coca
Coca leaves (cocagrowers.org)
Any description of Andean life would be incomplete without the mention of coca. This plant is one that has been grown for at least 2,000 years in the highlands of South America, with Peru being one of the largest producers and consumers of the plant. Coca is more than just a plant to the Andean peoples: it is the most sacred of all plants. Its most ancient employment is use in religious and shamanistic rituals, as its narcotic effects that enable deep trances when used in excess. Offerings of coca are routinely given to ask for good crops, health, protection, or as gifts/signs of respect.
Chewing coca leaves is part of everyday life, as well. Just as they did in ancient times, today people carry small bags around with them containing the leaves, which they periodically put in their mouths. They chew and suck on the leaves, creating a ball with the coca and saliva.
Coca is used in a great deal of health preparations, but there are a wide variety of benefits from the leaf itself. It is also popular to make tea by boiling the leaves: "mate de coca." This tea also has many health benefits itself, particularly for internal problems like digestion and also for psychological stress and depression (20).
I was able to chew coca leaves quite frequently in the mountains. They helped me with altitude sickness, but if you chew too many your mouth becomes numb! We had mate de coca often as well, usually after dinner. It is good for helping the body process food, but also very bitter!
Chewing coca leaves is part of everyday life, as well. Just as they did in ancient times, today people carry small bags around with them containing the leaves, which they periodically put in their mouths. They chew and suck on the leaves, creating a ball with the coca and saliva.
Coca is used in a great deal of health preparations, but there are a wide variety of benefits from the leaf itself. It is also popular to make tea by boiling the leaves: "mate de coca." This tea also has many health benefits itself, particularly for internal problems like digestion and also for psychological stress and depression (20).
I was able to chew coca leaves quite frequently in the mountains. They helped me with altitude sickness, but if you chew too many your mouth becomes numb! We had mate de coca often as well, usually after dinner. It is good for helping the body process food, but also very bitter!
Health Benefits and Cultural Issues of Coca
Woman chewing coca (cocagrowers.org)
Most notable benefits of coca:
Many people misunderstand the cultural practice of using coca leaves for various purposes because they contain the cocaine alkaloid is made from. Despite popular belief, coca leaves are not addictive and contain only trace amounts of cocaine. Coca is a plant with countless benefits for health and rich in tradition, but has also served as a basis for discrimination against indigenous Andean peoples who use it legitimately (20).
- Reduces muscular exhaustion
- Relieves hunger and thirst
- Increases endurance
- Acts as an anesthesia
- Rich in vitamins (B1, riboflavin, C, calcium)
- Alleviates respiratory problems associated with high altitude
- Helps pain from rheumatism, external sores, and headaches
- Acts as an aphrodisiac
Many people misunderstand the cultural practice of using coca leaves for various purposes because they contain the cocaine alkaloid is made from. Despite popular belief, coca leaves are not addictive and contain only trace amounts of cocaine. Coca is a plant with countless benefits for health and rich in tradition, but has also served as a basis for discrimination against indigenous Andean peoples who use it legitimately (20).
Other Popular Herbs/Plants in Andean Medicine
Group with our friend on a nature hike (photo by Jack Lazar)
There are thousands of plants that grow in the Peruvian highlands, and many people there know the properties and uses of a lot of these, whether positive or negative effects. Various studies have shown that it is essentially impossible to categorize each and every plant used in the Andes and all their purposes (7). That being said, there are more popular plants, especially those known by the wider population (not just curanderos).
As I mentioned on previous pages, I was able to learn a lot from Don Miguel about medicinal plants and herbs while in Peru. I kept an extensive list of the different plants he pointed out.
Below you can find an excerpt from my journal on medicinal plants and also a more extensive document (7) on afflictions and their corresponding plant treatments (the file to download)!
As I mentioned on previous pages, I was able to learn a lot from Don Miguel about medicinal plants and herbs while in Peru. I kept an extensive list of the different plants he pointed out.
Below you can find an excerpt from my journal on medicinal plants and also a more extensive document (7) on afflictions and their corresponding plant treatments (the file to download)!
- Tuna cactus: good for stomach ache
- Verbena (cruz): misbehaving children, herbal baths, headache (crunch up and put juice on head)
- Wild tobacco: cut it up, sprinkle alcohol, dry it; good for insecticide and sore feet
- Cypress tree: sap good for toothache
- Mint (muña): good for stomach ache, colds, heartache, dizziness
- Moye: good for cough, seeds good for asthma, cold sores
- Yerba Santa: detoxing intestines and stomach, good for bathing babies
- Membrio: lots of vitamin C, good for children, good for nutritional purposes
- Alizo: leaves good for headache, small tumors (grind up and apply with alcohol), bark good for diarrhea
- Shirapoco: flower good for cough
- Tumbu: leaf provokes abortion
- Chilca: good for fractures, make dough with muña, wrap up and in days it will re-calcify (swears by this)
- Uña del gato (cat's claw): good for kidneys, liver (boil stem and drink)
- Grapevine seed: used for cancer, antioxidant
- Chupasangre: grind up and place on bruises, drink for kidney health
- San Pedro cactus: good for cuts
- Rosemary (romero): for intestinal problems, cholesterol, insomnia, sensitive gums
- Orange tree leaf: for stress, also purifies kidneys
- Geranium: elevates fertility
plants_used_in_med_mixtures.pdf | |
File Size: | 699 kb |
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For more information on how traditional uses of plants play a role in "modern" medicine, keep reading!
Next: Medicinal Practices