Traditional medicine applied by the Saraguro yachakkuna: a preliminary approach to the use of sacred and psychoactive plant species in the southern region of Ecuador.
Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine February 24, 2014 Chabaco Armijos, Iuliana Cota, Silvia González 58 citations
The Saraguro indigenous community in southern Ecuador maintains a traditional health system rooted in ancestral knowledge, despite external pressures since the colonial period. Ten recognized yachakkuna (traditional healers) were interviewed between 2010 and 2011 to document their diagnostic methods, including physical examination, urine and pulse observation, limpia (cleansing), palpation, and visionary techniques. They treat supernatural diseases such as susto, vaho de agua, mal aire, mal hecho, and shuka using rituals like limpia and soplada (blowing). Sacred and psychoactive plants used include San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi), wandug (Brugmansia spp.), and tobacco (Nicotiana spp.). This system represents the Saraguros' cultural identity and survival as an Andean group.