Species | Body part used | Method of preparation and use | Ailment and disease treated | Category | Frequency of responses (N = 186) | Percentages(%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lama guanicoe | Leg | The leg is left to dry and, when necessary, it is smelled. | Lung diseases | Respiratory system disorders | 1 | 0.54 |
The leg is allowed to dry; and then is used to knead the affected area of the body | Cervical muscle spasm (“aire”) | Muscular-skeletal system disorders | 1 | 0.54 | ||
The dry leg is heated over ashes and then it is used to knead the affected area of the body, forming a cross. | Transient facial paralysis (“hora”) | Nervous system disorders | 30 | 16.13 | ||
Feces | The feces are allowed to dry; then hot water is poured over it and the resulting liquid is drunk. | Mountain sickness | Mountain sickness | 1 | 0.54 | |
Bezoar stone1 (Not every guanaco has it) | Found in the stomach or liver of the guanaco, the bezoar stone is bright; immediately after removing the stone from the animal it must be put in the mouth, otherwise it disintegrates. The stone is put in a glass to prepare tea. | Heart diseases | Circulatory system disorders | 23 | 23.36 | |
Stomach diseases | Digestive system disorders | 1 | 0.54 | |||
Mountain sickness | Mountain sickness | 2 | 1.07 | |||
Wool | Wool is burned to produce smoke or is prepared as incense stick. | Pain in ear in children | Infections | 1 | 0.54 | |
Meat | Used for cooking food. | High cholesterol level | Circulatory system disorders | 1 | 0.54 | |
Blood | It is extracted from the animal and drunk. | Mountain sickness | Mountain sickness | 1 | 0.54 | |
Lama vicugna | Leg | Same as with guanaco leg. The dry leg is heated over ashes and then it is used to knead the affected area of the body, forming a cross. | Transient facial paralysis (“hora”) | Nervous system disorders | 1 | 0.54 |
Rhea pennata | Fat | It is mixed with lemon juice and sugar, afterwards is heated and then it is drunk. It is melt with tobacco and chamomile and then the preparation is kneaded on the chest, and a hot cloth is put over it. Candies where made of it. | Influenza, cold, chills, and congestion | Infections | 28 | 15.05 |
Asthma, bronchitis, and cough | Respiratory system disorders | 24 | 12.90 | |||
Joint and bone pain, rheumatism | Muscular-skeletal system disorders | 12 | 6.45 | |||
Sore throat | Inflammation | 5 | 2.69 | |||
Cervical muscle spasm (“aire”), and spasm in animals | Muscular-skeletal system disorders | 1 | 0.54 | |||
Conti2 | The lesser rhea stomach is allowed to dry and then it is milled and drunk as a tea or soup. It is also cooked with some water to be used as cream. | Stomach disorder | Digestive system disorders | 9 | 4.84 | |
Indigestion | Digestive system disorders | 9 | 4.84 | |||
Lung and bronchial problems | Respiratory system disorders | 2 | 1.07 | |||
Cervical muscle spasm (“aire”) | Muscular-skeletal system disorders | 1 | 0.54 | |||
Skin problems | Skin/subcutaneous cellular tissue disorders | 1 | 0.54 | |||
Feather | Smoke is made with a drop of oil or sugar over the embers. | Evil eye | Evil eye | 8 | 4.30 | |
Smoke is made with a drop of oil or sugar over the embers. | Ear pain in children | Infections | 8 | 4.30 | ||
Meat | To cook food. | High cholesterol level | Circulatory system disorders | 1 | 0.54 | |
Lepus europaeus | Fat | The fat is heated, and when cold, the ointment is collected for use. | Lung and bronchial problems. | Respiratory system disorders | 1 | 0.54 |
Puma concolor | Fat | The fat is heated, and when cold, the ointment is collected for use. | Rheumatism and bones’ pain | Muscular-skeletal system disorders | 5 | 2.69 |
Chest pain | Respiratory system disorders | 5 | 2.69 | |||
Pseudalopex sp. | Fat | The fat is heated, and when cold, the ointment is collected for use. | Asthma | Respiratory system disorders | 2 | 1.07 |
Conepatus chinga | Liver | It is allowed to dry and then it is drunk as a tea or soup. | Lung problems | Respiratory system disorders | 1 | 0.54 |