Importance and valorization of ancestral medicine
The purpose of this essay is to publicize the importance of ancestral medicine, given that over time these practices, beliefs have been devalued and displaced by conventional medicine, despite their advances, there are diseases that neither the scientific methodFind an answer. It should be noted that the ancestral wisdom has remained alive thanks to the effort of the original peoples. It is necessary to claim these knowledge so that in this way they are transmitted to future generations and there is no forgetfulness of the same. However, the ancestral term with the old, but in the indigenous worldview it has another meaning;They conceive that there is no past, present and future, since time is not linear, but cyclical. This means that time returns and what was once, will be again, but with different contributions. They also consider ancestrality as a source of inspiration with nature, which is accompanied by the traditions of each people. To do this, I propose the following thesis. What is ancestral medicine and what is its incidence in Ecuador?
To better understand, the term ancestral medicine will be defined: it is a cluster of beliefs and knowledge, they are based on the experience of indigenous cultures, they aim to prevention and treatment of both physical and spiritual diseases. (World Health Organization). Thus, ancestral medicine was used by our ancestors, considered the only form of health to treat ailments. It is important to highlight their ability to differentiate deadly and healing plants.
The knowledge about ancestral medicine and its healing practices have been achieved by the exploration and need of the human being for expressing health sources that are characterized by being instinctive and having a close connection with Pachamama. It is important to mention that before the arrival of the Spaniards, when in Ecuador only the native cultures predominated the land, as a living being that has provided them with everything necessary for life, so they adored and treated it with respect, with respect,understanding that the relationship with nature had to occur harmoniously, for the well -being and balance of all. For this reason the human being became a guardian of the Earth. But with the passing of time individualism and personal, economic, etc. They have dominated people.
Some authors such as Ikal state that man gets sick when he has lost the bond with the four elements of nature: such as water, earth, fire, air. They are detailed as energies that have an impact on each person’s being, way of interpreting the world. Each element is aware and we can connect with them, to receive their knowledge and harmony.
We will briefly examine these four elements since each one has its own characteristics and functions: water represents the origin of the universe, as well as the origin of the life and conception of the human being. This element is characterized by helping to eliminate negative emotions, such as sadness, lost, etc. In short, it teaches to release what hurts. Earth is symbolized as body support. Connect the human being with heavy matter and to strip these dense energies, this is because they serve as nutrients. As children of Pachamama we owe gratitude and protection.
The air is linked to the mental body. It is a primary component for existence, says the beginning and end of life. So, it is considered a conscious being. It contributes to the release of tensions, harmonizes and purifies being;serve as an example perfumes are used to purify bad energies. On the other hand, the air communicates, this is because, the sound it transmits is vibration.;In other words, it benefits communication regardless of time, distance, only with thought. The fire is characterized by the inti that translates into Spanish as a sun. Fire can use its power to destroy, but also to create things. It also applies with emotions such as fear, resentment, jealousy, etc. This element can help us eliminate these negative energies in affection and consider purposes. (Sanchez, 2012). It should be added that, from the Andean worldview, everything has life. The human being can connect with nature to learn and obtain experiences, so he should not pretend to dominate or exploit his natural resources that are essential for the survival of human being.
The human being has always suffered different diseases that affect the correct functioning of the body, due to this, the human being has developed studies to treat them, thus the medicine is born, it is expressed as the science dedicated to the study of the origin and death of the human being. However, before this term began the concept of healing or treatment of diseases already practiced it, we can verify it in the cultural legacy that our ancestors have left. For each disease there is a curative plant.
In our contemporary society, various investigations state that medicine exists thousands of years ago. That can be confirmed in some excavations that were performed, where skulls with surgeries were found. In the Mesopotamian civilizations they considered that a person became ill, because it was a lesson assigned by some demons after disobeying any norm or law or law. For this, the first thing the doctor did was identify which of all evil spirits was the culprit of the said condition. On the other hand, also towards the use of techniques such as the state of the liver of any of the animals they used for their search. To diagnose the ailment, the doctor made countless questions;Serve as an example: Do you have lied, deceived? To heal.
Ancestral medicine through the Andes. The Incas had the conception that the disease was a punishment of deities, they could only diagnose and cure some people. Those had to be linked to the gods, who practiced healer’s work. Likewise, they made the use of leaves and grains with healing properties such as, for example: the coca, maca, ortiga, palico, achiote, etc.
In the Inca Empire there were different types of healers according to their specialty. The town doctor who was called Masma. The Inca doctor who was known as Hampi Camayoc, were characterized by having surgical skills, performed rituals with human sacrifices. On the other hand, you also have the Watuk was responsible for diagnosing the patient’s state and life. Hanpeq or also known as Shaman, healed the sick with different herbs and medicinal plants, for this to rituals or ceremonies. The Pact, Heal the Spirit. The Sancoyoc, was a delegate to cure torn limbs and teeth. And finally you have Collahuaya, provided different medicinal plants, amulets, etc.
Consider now the thesis of this essay, which consists of the influence of ancestral medicine in Ecuador for which some healing techniques of some provinces will be described. Ancestral medicine in our indigenous people is a cumulus of wisdom that have remained alive through time, they are part of the culture and identity of a people. It is a wisdom that arises from nature cure disease.
It should be noted that Ecuador is a country rich in cultural and ethnic diversity. Each culture has its own characteristics with customs, traditions, medicine, ancestral. It is important that as Ecuadorians we respect and value the indigenous worldview. Ecuador is made up of different ethnic groups;black, mestizos, white, indigenous. In each population there are different healing practices, this depends on the region put, that its healing techniques are different.
The Province of Imbabura is characterized by being social and heterogeneous in what confers economics. With respect to health to relieve pain, to go to alternative medicine, they go to certain ancestral practices, for this they go to a known parish imbabura, it is the parish San Juan de Illumán or also also known as the town of Brujos. To perform the practice of these rituals, it is worth mentioning that all this is done for healing purposes which are mixed with ancestral wisdom, the energy of sacred stones and different medicinal herbs. The present ceremony or ritual is characterized by making a clean physically and spiritually. As the first part the Yachak asks the patient for a candle, which will be rubbed throughout the body. Next, the Yachak proceeds to turn on this candle to determine what evil afflicts the individual and according to this deduction, all the materials for the clean will be prepared, which is usually three. Everything is done in prayers and bathrooms. In the ritual guinea pigs, eggs, ortiga, chilco, liquor, among others are used in ritual, among others. With the aim of providing good energies.
In the province of Pastaza, Kichwas women promote ancestral knowledge regarding medicine. They use medicinal plants between them, they can be mentioned: Boa skin, cat nail, guayusa, tree tear or also known as drago blood these plants are responsible for relieving and cured fever, bad air stomach pains, prostate among others. (El Comercio, 2018)
Within the Kichwa conception there is yachakuk, or also called as learning or herbalist, since it knows plants or medicinal herbs, acquires its knowledge from orality or inheritance family. It is that person designated by nature, they use resources to get in touch with the Pachamama. It should be clarified that these practices are only effective when the patient believes in the ancestral system
Shamans are the intermediaries between deities, and the human being, trained for witchcraft, are also known as healers. This healing system is part of ancient practices. The purpose of the good living and harmony of being, and the energy that can be acquired from it,
Fregadores or also called guesses are those who are in charge of relieving fractures or injuries, they can treat cuts, vein jumped. Many of the times they resort to the use of Western medicine since, as a form of healing they use plaster, analgesics or anti -inflammatories
The midwife or midwife has as its main function to address the gestation of women and their subsequent delivery. This process is determined by the care of pregnancy, food, child’s position. To diagnose if the child is developing effectively, they use pulse palpation, and medicinal herbs. They are also responsible for healing women’s diseases, such as period, colic, infertility.
Currently the midwife is one of the most difficult people to find, this is because they currently resort to specialists. However, there are still people who trust these traditional techniques
Kuypichak Diagnostic disease with the use of guinea pigs, Rikuy, has as a resource the candle to determine ailments;Hampiyachak, is characterized by being the wise of medicine and finally you have the Yachak that is called the most wise. It is a person who has great experience, uses various elements to come into contact with Pachamama and therefore with deities, thus perform rituals and cure people through them.
Finally, in conclusion, it can be said that ancestral medicine is of great importance in our society, since they are traditional practices that have been inherited and orally transmitted to our ancestors. They help cure and relieve countless ailments naturally, to heal they do it through the connection with Pachamama and deities. At present it can be seen that globalization and alternative medicine directly influence the loss of these knowledge. It is necessary that there is an assessment for later dissemination.
Bibliography
- Cachiguango. (July 16, 2016). The Telegraph. Obtained from ancestral medicine, wisdom that will not disappear: https: // www.the Telegraph.com.EC/News/de7en7/1/Medicine-Ancestral-Sabiduria-Que-No-Dearcera
- Trade. (December 26, 2018). Trade. Obtained from Kichwas women promote the ancestral medicine of the Amazon: https: // www.trade.com/Trends/Women-Kichwas-Promueven-Medicina-Ancestral.HTML
- Incas Medicine. (March 2, 2020). Obtained from https: // www.Bulletomachupicchu.com/Medico-Inca/
- World Health Organization. (s.F.). Traditional Medicine: Definitions. Obtained from https: // www.quien.int/topics/traditional_medicine/definitions/es/
- Sanchez, k. (March 3, 2012). The 4 elements. Obtained from Caminoswayra: https: // caminoswayra.WordPress.com/2012/02/03/Los-4-Elements/
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