Pensamiento mágico y epilepsia en la medicina tradicional indígena

Principio bioético de la autonomía en la atención a la salud indígena

“…En América Central, por ejemplo, los descendientes de los mayas creen que existe una diferencia entre los animales que habitan las personas de castas sociales más altas (un puma o un halcón) y los de las de castas inferiores (ovejas o ciervos). Así, para ellos no tiene sentido tomar un medicamento para resolver un desequilibrio entre elementos cuya naturaleza forma parte de la identidad cultural popular 18 .…”

“…Principio bioético de la autonomía en la atención a la salud indígena que habría lanzado alguna especie de magia sobre el individuo. El chamán tendría entonces la función de resolver este conflicto, oponiéndose al poder de la magia enemiga, lo que se realiza ante toda la aldea, usando plantas alucinógenas 18 . Los indios Guaraníes, a su vez, piensan que este desequilibrio entre los espíritus del individuo epiléptico debe ser cuidado con la asociación de conocidas raíces y hojas, que se han usado durante siglos en forma de infusiones, tés y rituales 18 .…”

The bioethical principle of autonomy in caring for the health of Indigenous peoples

“…In Central America, for example, descendants of the Maya civilization believe that different animals inhabit people of higher (puma or hawk) and lower social castes (sheep or deer). Thus, it makes no sense for them to take medication to solve an imbalance among elements whose nature belongs to popular cultural identity 18 .…”

“…Argentine, Paraguayan, and Bolivian Indigenous peoples also believe that epilepsy is a conflict between the "human" and the "animal" soul, triggered by the influence of an enemy who would have cast some kind of spell over the individual. Pajés would then have to solve this conflict by counteracting the power of the enemy's spell, which is done in front of the whole village using hallucinogenic plants 18 . The Guarani, on the other hand, think that this unbalance between the spirits of epileptic individuals should be treated by associating known roots and leaves which have been used for centuries in the form of infusions, teas, and rituals 18 .…”

“…Pajés would then have to solve this conflict by counteracting the power of the enemy's spell, which is done in front of the whole village using hallucinogenic plants 18 . The Guarani, on the other hand, think that this unbalance between the spirits of epileptic individuals should be treated by associating known roots and leaves which have been used for centuries in the form of infusions, teas, and rituals 18 .…”