Traditional medicine

Previously the Peruvian Amazon consisted of pure indigenous tribes such as the Shipibo Indians, the Huitoto indians, the Yagua Indians, the Boras and Cocama indians, to give a few examples. In these times there were no doctors, nurses, nor psychologists, and there were no hospitals as we know it today.

However the native people were healthy and in general even much healthier than the modern man of today; there were not nearly as many diseases as we encounter it today in the Western world.

The natives had their ancestral traditions  integrated into their lives. They lived in a rich natural environment and new how to take care of it.

Their curanderos (medicinemen) were specialists in curing with plants, trees and stones and in case of illness or whatever kind of problem, the curanderos from the tribe were consulted. Usually they were able to cure the illness or solute the problem through the ancestral knowledge they had acquired through the strict diets with the medicinal plants and trees.

In some cases, the Apu (chief, most important elder within the tribe) went to the forest where he stayed with among the trees up to 6 months, dieting, asking for their advice addressing the problem that could occur within the tribe.

While modern life and the influence of the pharmaceutical industry has had much impact, shamanism still is practiced in many parts of the forest, and a recognized, beneficial science. Even nowadays many locals in the city of Iquitos and conscious doctors that work in hospitals recognize the potency of widely used medicinal plants.