Healing and curaderism in the Andes

The concept of healing in shamanism is not only the remission of the symptoms of the sick individual, but it also includes the intention of improving the patient, creating a truly healthy person without mental or physical trauma. Healing is the most obvious public aspect of shamanic activities, the one that incorporates most of its techniques. The recovery of health consists of establishing a harmonious relationship with the environment and with the living space of the person under treatment. Of utmost importance is also the cure of community problems, such as the resolution of social conflicts, plagues, difficulties in hunting or agricultural activity and the ups and downs of the weather.

Trichocereus Pachanoj (Jill Plugh and Steven F. White©, 2022).

(Foto, Rodrigo Tisi).

* Video material

Curing the sick
in Moche territory.
───
The vilca (or cebil)
according to the
Spanish chronicler
Cristóbal de
Albornoz, ca. 1580.
───
Healing with San
Pedro cactus.
───
Eduardo, the
Healer of the
Four Winds.*
───

Curing the sick in Moche territory

Healing scenes are common in Moche culture ceramics. The paraphernalia of the healer and his patient are shown in detail, accompanied by assistants and to the side, two captive deer and other belongings. Healing is the most important public activity of a shaman.

The vilca (or cebil) according to the Spanish chronicler Cristóbal de Albornoz, ca. 1580.

“They have another kind of huacas that are called vilcas… They heal and purge themselves with it and are also buried with it in most provinces of this kingdom. It should be noted that some wood or stone carvings resembling sheep, and with a hole as in an inkwell (which is where this vilca is pulverized), must be found and destroyed. This is called vilcana, and it is adored and revered. This vilcanas are made out of many different beautiful stones and strong woods. They have many other types of vilcas, especially purgatives.”

Healing with San Pedro cactus

The San Pedro or wachuma (Trichocereus pachanoi), very abundant in the north and center of Peru, is a cactus with numerous branches that can reach up to six meters in height. Mescaline is the main psychoactive alkaloid present in this plant. The oldest evidence of the use of the San Pedro is from eight thousand years ago in the Peruvian highlands (Cueva Guitarrero) and also on the central coast of Peru, with dates bordering on four millennia (Las Aldas). Later, it appears profusely represented in the ceramic, lithic and textile art of the Cupisnique and Chavín cultures of the Central Andes. The San Pedro cactus remains central to current healing traditions in northern Peru. Its use contributes to the balance, transformation and acquisition of power of the shaman.

Eduardo, the Healer of the Four Winds

Extracto del documental Eduardo, The Healer (Northern coast of Perú), de Douglas Sharon y Richard Cowan, 1977, © The Pennsylvania State University, EEUU.