Revival of traditional medicine in Amazonia
by Stephanie Wood
This article is based upon information in “For Children
of Southeastern Amazonia, Tribal Traditions Hold Secrets of Rain Forests’
Essential Drugs” by Daniela Pelusa Action for Children (Vol. III,
No. 4) 1988
In southeastern Amazonia, children are learning about the
medical secrets of the tropical rainforest, and are helping to bring traditional
medicinal practices back to their communities.
For centuries, tribal shamans or medicine men passed on their
knowledge of the tropical rainforest. They knew the properties of hundreds of
plants and how to use them to make remedies to treat illnesses. Much of this
invaluable knowledge is in danger of being lost, however, as people today turn
to modern medicines they may not need.
In 1982, Guillermo Arevalo, a shaman of the Shipibo-Conibo tribe
in Peru started teaching native youth how to identify plants and prepare
remedies to treat common health problems such as intestinal parasites, diarrhoea
and dehydration. Within two years, more than 40,000 people in 100 communities of
Ucayli were taking part. By 1986, the project - which has come to be known as
AMETRA 2001 - had spread to the region of Madre de Dios. This region, an area
the size of Belgium and one of the most biologically diverse areas of the world,
is home to 17 different tribes.
Figure
AMETRA health programmes are run by the native people. Each
community chooses one or two volunteers to go on to a two-week medical training
course. The health volunteers return to their villages with knowledge of
traditional medicine and modern health care practices. Supervisors make
follow-up visits to the communities and provide further instruction.
One of the most successful of the AMETRA programmes is the
oje campaign in which whole villages are organized to treat parasite
infections. Oje is a milky tree resin that is remarkably effective in treating
intestinal parasites. Teams are organized to collect oje early in the morning
and according to tribal traditions. AMETRA volunteers show the villagers how to
prepare the resin with alcohol and honey to make it taste better. On the date
set by the General Assembly of each village, everyone takes the oje at the same
time in order to minimise the risk of reinfection. Oje has proven to
dramatically reduce the number of cases of intestinal parasite infections.
Children can take part in all AMETRA projects, and thus learn
about their health needs and the natural benefits offered by the rainforest. In
many communities, children especially enjoy planting gardens which serve as
natural pharmacies.
AMETRA health promoters are rediscovering and teaching the
medical secrets their ancestors once knew. They can identify, cultivate and
prepare herbal remedies to treat skin diseases, tuberculosis, fevers, animal
bites, infertility, kidney disorders, venereal diseases, impotence, cateracts,
conjunctivitis, cuts and wounds, burns, tooth decay and malaria. Using the
plants found in the rainforest reduces the need for modern medicines which are
often hard to get and very costly.
For further information, contact:
Asociacion AMETRA
2001
Casila 42, Puerto Maldonado
Madre de Dios,
PERU
