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By Abby Goldberg and Elena Pollack
Traditional medicine is important to the people in rural areas of Ecuador
because it incorporates different aspects of their health. It affects
them spiritually, physically, and culturally. There are two main
experiences with traditional medicine that we’ve encountered on this trip.
The first experience occurred in Chichicu Rumi when we visited a Shaman.
We were all given an opportunity to take part in a cleansing ritual.
The Shaman explained to us how he learned about traditional medicine, the
different tools and medicinal plants he uses in rituals, and the spiritual
experience he has during rituals. There is one Shaman in a community
that is highly respected and relied upon by the community members. The
occupation of Shaman is often, as it was in this case, a generational
position. His knowledge of the spirits and plants came to him from his
father and his own explorations into the woods for his spiritual experience
in becoming a Shaman. He explained to us how different spirits come to
him through songs during the ceremonies to heal different ailments.
The
second experience we had was in La Tablada with a traditional healer. Three
of us went through a cleansing process in his home. He began by using
an egg and rubbing it over the body as a diagnostic tool. When he was
done, he cracked the egg open in a glass of water and from there was able to
read what the problem was. When a person was bewitched, he created a
concoction of natural herbs and plants. Then he used it to cover the
person’s body and as a drink for a cleansing of inside and out.
After visiting hospitals and clinics, and discovering medicinal plants in
the rainforest, we were able to compare and contrast the effects that
western and traditional medicine have on the people of Ecuador. It is
obvious that traditional medicine is deeply rooted in the communities.
Many of the community members will choose to pay more for their traditional
healer’s services than to be treated by western medicine in a hospital for a
smaller fee. The Shaman and witch doctor are seen as leaders,
organizers, and providers of the community. Even though people are
being healed spiritually and mentally, some physical ailments can not be
cured with the use of traditional medicine. For example, we saw many
cases of intestinal worms and other contagious and parasitic diseases in
many of the children of these communities. In these cases, the use of
western medicine needs to be implemented, yet combined with traditional
medicine so as not to be rejected by the people of the communities.
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The Rain Forest in the Ecuadorian Amazonic Region
is magnificient. The Jatun Sacha Ecological Reserve project is carried
out by a local non-profit organization that buys land and then
protects it from clear cutting. Ecotourism, biological research grants
and money from local and international conservation organizations
supports this project. M.G.
The rain forest contains an enormous number of
plants and animals that have been used for generation for disease
treatment and prevention. Gabriel explained to the group the medicinal
properties and diverse uses of plants and animals products found in
Jatun Sacha. M.G.
Jatun Sacha has a well built observation tower that
is raises aproximately 120 feet (40 m) from the groun and allows a
breath taking view above the canopy of the rain forest.
M.G.
Jaime Cerda is a renown Shaman in the Area of
Chichico Rumi, near the Napo river. Before demostrating ceremonial
healing practices the group had an opportunity to learn from him about
the way in wich the native population views health and disease.
M.G.
Traditional healing is very different in the Amazon
basin and the Coastal region. Differences are pensent in the belief
system and also in the methods for diagnosis and the medicinal plants
used for treatment. M.G.
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