14/01/2021
✨✨THE MEDICINE OF THE INCAS✨✨
source of ancient wisdom.
The history of Peru tells that since ancient times the Inca culture practiced a traditional medicine based on medicinal plants and rituals related to spirituality and energy. This natural and traditional medicine is the gateway to a magical universe, composed not only by a deep knowledge of the healing properties of medicinal plants, but also by converging the philosophies of life and spirituality with a sacred conception of the elements that we provides nature.
This practice was carried out by herbalists, healers or shamans, known as "Kallawaya"; These doctors tried to discover the causes of the diseases and not only to alleviate the symptoms; They were also concerned with analyzing the spiritual, emotional and psychic problems that could affect the discomforts and diseases of the Inca people.
They practiced cleaning the spirit and body of the people, with traditional natural medicine, the use of fresh and dried herbs and flowers, concoctions with the tallow of some animals such as the serpent, prayers, music and dances; These natural treatments that were first attributed to witchcraft, according to the religion of the old world: but, the incredible efficacy of the herbs of the "Inca medicine" made that during the time of the viceroyalty a scientific study of medicinal plants began .
In the Inca civilization, it is worth highlighting the performance of the "surgeons", who performed amazing operations, skull trepanations or craniotomies, to cure some diseases of the brain and nervous system, extracting from their interior tumors that were the cause of the disease or to repair wounds suffered by warriors in combat.
These perforations were covered with sheets of gold, silver or pumpkin bark. These surgeons also treated bone injuries or breaks, dislocations. They used coca, intoxicating drinks or drugs that made them sleepy as anesthetics, so that they would feel less pain.
They also came to cross to cure various ailments, as well as purges for the expulsion of parasites and other diseases.
It is known that the medicine of the Incas was more advanced than medicine in Europe during that time, however, with the passing of the years, the names coca, ayahuasca, yopo, chacruna, etc., were disappearing, because they collided with the economic interests of large pharmaceutical companies.
The surgical instruments of the Incas were quite simple: the Vilcachina was used to perform extirpations and the famous Tumi, was used to open skulls.
The greatest achievement of the time was the use of plant extracts, whose narcotic and stimulating properties were gradually discovered over the centuries. The healing benefits of roots and herbs used in Inca medicine led to the establishment of the first schools for the study of plants in the old continent, such as the coca leaf, which was considered a ritual component in this civilization .————— ————————————————————————–
The medicine of the Incas transcended its time and is still a subject of study today.
—————————————————————————————– What medical treatments did the Incas know? The Incas managed to treat diseases such as respiratory disorders, diseases of the system immune, gastrointestinal, eye problems and various pain; with remedies made from medicinal plants brought from all ends of the empire; the privileged location and the climate like that of Machu Picchu made it possible to cultivate medicinal plants, coming from all parts of the Empire; wild to***co, Coca leaves (sacred leaf of the Incas) or others such as ayahuasca and chacruna, from the empire's jungle; which are used until today, to enter altered states of consciousness; but they also used hypnosis and anesthesia made from coca leaves, natural liqueurs and other herbs.
Amazingly, they were able to carry out everything from blood transfusions and minor amputations to complicated brain surgeries. They healed the wounds using the boiled bark of the pepper tree, placing plasters on them, while it was still hot; to close the open wounds they used the jaws of some species of ants (natural suture of insects).
There are indications that only the Incas performed successful blood transfusions at that time, the reason is that in the majority of native inhabitants of South America their blood type is O and therefore they could donate blood without inconvenience, unlike other cultures that used even animal blood to perform this type of treatment. (Source) The Incas also used ophthalmic bleeding for the treatment of headaches, making wounds to the eyebrow with a knife. To cure other ills, they opened the vein closest to the affected place. (Source) Cranial trepanation This complicated brain operation has been carried out since 1,000 BC. for the pre-Inca culture, Paracas; It was a high risk operation, which was perfected by the Incas around 1,400, achieving the survival of up to 90% of the people operated on; Today there are similar procedures to relieve pressure on the brain. There is a record of people who were operated on more than once; one individual is known to have been operated on up to seven times. The people undergoing this operation were men who suffered injuries in combat or to cure epilepsy or even chronic infections in the skull.
Who practiced medicine in the Inca Empire? The Inca priests were also doctors; they healed with herbs, minerals, and energy invocations; in some cases, the healing ceremonies included many members of the community singing and dancing for hours or even days to heal their sick.
There were several types of doctors:
1- The Watuk: was in charge of diagnosing the disease and examining the patient's lifestyle.
2- The Hanpiq: A kind of Shaman who healed patients using herbs and minerals in religious and mystical ceremonies.
3- El Paqo: cured the soul; the Incas believed that the heart housed the soul.
4- The Sankoyoq: Surgeon priest, he took care of broken limbs, abscesses and teeth.
5- El Hampi Kamayoq: He was the chemist of the Inca state and in charge of the care of medical resources.
6- The Kallawaya: he supplied medicinal plants, amulets and talismans.
How was medicine practiced in the time of the Incas?
The doctors of the Inca empire acquired their knowledge through rigorous training by their parents and grandparents, since these were supported by certified learning in ancient wisdom, which was a privilege destined to the people who obtained it by inheritance. But that was not all, the children of the doctors learned about the properties of herbs and minerals and how to recognize and treat diseases, in the School of Medicine located in the capital of the Empire, Cusco. It took several years for a student to be considered a doctor. The most skilled were sent with the armies or to the main cities of the empire, such as Machu Picchu, to treat the nobles.
The medicine of the Incas nowadays From time ago to the present day, the inhabitants of the Peruvian territory have cured their illnesses and ailments through this traditional medicine. Inca medicine, although little spread - for obvious reasons - is still practiced, and with increasing force in places like Pisac or Ollantaytambo .———————————————————— ————————–
Currently, people from all over the world come to towns such as Pisac or Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, to learn about and enjoy the medicine of the Incas.
—————————————————————————————– The medicinal plants of the Incas Inca medicine had its origins in medicinal plants, with remedies generally prepared herbal with specific healing properties. There are innumerable medicinal herbs in this territory, in the three natural regions of Peru, with a higher percentage in the jungle, followed by the highlands and coast.
One of the medicinal plants of great importance was the coca leaf, which apart from having curative properties, was used for ceremonial rituals. Likewise, each medicinal plant was classified according to the healing properties they had and their preparation for later application.
Here are some of them:
They developed a powerful anesthetic made from coca leaves, sleeping plants and natural liqueurs.
- MACA: aphrodisiac, anabolic, revitalizing, restorative, antidepressant, sedative and fertility enhancer.
- CAT'S CLAW: at present the leaves, bark and root are used as anticancer, to reduce the effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, against arthritis, venereal diseases, antiviral, snake bite, measles, anti-inflammatory and diuretic.
- NETTLE: diuretic, cauterizing and anti-anemic due to the presence of minerals, these minerals are concentrated in the hairs of the plant, therefore its irritating action on the skin is due when it is applied on the body
CHANKA PIEDRA: to make infusions against fever, liver and kidney ailments.
- Grade blood: the bark, leaves and latex are used as disinfectant, healing for traumatisms, skin wounds, bleeding, gastric ulcers, etc.
HERCAMPURI: it is used as a purgative, antidiabetic, diuretic and anti-infective; regulator of metabolism and to reduce obesity.
- QUINOA: it is a nutritious food, as well as a medicinal plant, it has diuretic, expectorant and refreshing properties. The seed of this herb with milk increases the milk of the calves.
- PAICO: aromatic herb used as anti diarrhea, anti-inflammatory, digestive, carminative, etc.
- ACHIOTE: it is used in cases of prostatic inflammation, urinary infections, in different conditions to the urogenital system and as a regulator of kidney function.
Among many others.
Data
* We must take into account that in Peru there is a flora represented by more than 25,000 varieties of plants, of which about 1,400 have medicinal properties, which have become one of the main inputs of the world pharmacological industry, being the basis for the manufacture of medicines.
* In many places in our America that were part of the so-called Inca Empire, there is still the figure of the shaman or healer, who continues to use the treatments inherited from pre-Hispanic times, based on herbs and other products that constitute the so-called folk or traditional medicine .