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Table 1 Local names and description of health conditions listed in figure 5 according to traditional healers

From: Comparison of health conditions treated with traditional and biomedical health care in a Quechua community in rural Bolivia

Health condition

Spanish or Quechua name (the latter name is underlined)

Diagnostic symptom(s) of health condition according to healers

arthritis

reumatismo, t'ullu taxaj

Pain in bones and knees during low environment temperature

biliary colic and cholecystitis

cólico, cólera, colerina, bilis, jayaq'e punkiy, jayaq'in

Reference to the gall bladder, (cramping) abdominal pain, yellow or green-colored vomiting, sharp taste in the mouth, flatulence. Caused amongst others by feelings of anger towards family. Headache, acidity and heartburn can be accompanying symptoms

cold, flu and chills

resfrío, gripe, ilasqa, chiri pasasqas

Elevated body temperature, sneezing, phlegm. Chiri pasasqas: chills caused by working at night in a cold and/or wet environment

conjunctivitis

ch'ojñi, ñawi

Eye feels warm and painful, inflammation, eye cannot be opened, pus, blurred vision

constipation

estreñimiento, empacho

Inability to release stool, need to apply enema

contraception

planificación familiar, warmis

Women who do not want to have more children

diabetes

diabetes

Patient has dull abdominal pain, sweet tasting urine, a dry mouth and a desire to eat sweets

diarrhea

diarrea

Linked to intestines, can be associated with vomiting and stomachache

fever

k'aja, junp'iy

Dry mouth and nose, elevated body temperature (patient feels 'hot'), accelerated pulse, headache

fractures and sprains

fracturas, torceduras

A distinction is made between closed and open fractures

intestinal parasites

gusanos en los intestinos, botar bichos de la barriga, limpiar las tripas

Worms that have to be expelled from the intestines

labor and puerperium

parto

Labor induction, pain, bleeding, recovery from childbirth

madre ("rupture")

madre, quebradura, quebración, chullchusqas

Caused by working hard or lifting heavy objects (and not eating well). Abdominal pain, flatulence, desire to constantly go to the bathroom, blood in stool (blood in urine is mentioned as well), vomiting and dizziness, diarrhea is possible, itchy hands and feet, difficult urination, loss of appetite, unwillingness to work, weight loss, "lack of blood", loss of vitality

maldición ("cursed")

jap'eqa (asustarse, manchariy); maldición, hechizo, brujería

Caused by fright or witchcraft; the patient does not cure, shivers and has pain in the entire body, abdominal pain, headache, desire to sleep, unwillingness to work, loss of appetite, weak pulse, sadness, fever is possible. In the case of maldición the patient already knows from his dreams that he is cursed

pain, excluding toothache

nanay

Including headache, abdominal, body, back and chest pain

respiratory infections, including cough, otitis, pneumonia and sore throat

cough: tos, ch'ujchu; otitis: sordo, dolor de oído, ninri jukara; pneumonia: neumonia, costa(d)o

Cough can be "dry" or "wet" (with phlegm) and accompanied by a sore throat and fever; otitis is reported as deafness/inability to hear, and earache with yellow pus; pneumonia symptoms include cough, (high) fever, and chest pain and its equivalent costa(d)o consists of cough with blood, and pulsating chest pain

scabies

sarna, rasca paloma, rasca rasca

Itching and infecting skin eruptions caused by scabies

stomachache and gastritis

dolor de estomago, gastritis, bultos en el pecho, dolor de estómago y corazón

Heartburn (described as sensation of "stones" or burning feeling in chest), vomiting, pain in higher abdomen, loss of appetite, stomach problems are thought to be caused by eating burned food or drinking too much alcohol

toothache

dolor de muelas, dolor dedientes

Painful teeth

urijasqa ("malnutrition")

urijasqa

Illness caused in children by the bad smell of a dead animal; symptoms include swollen and painful belly, weight loss, growth retardation, yellow colored skin

urinary and kidney problems

quebración, jisp'ay p'iti quebradura, hemorragia, mal de riñon, dolor de riñones

These can include difficult or painful urination; reduced urination, a "desire to go to the bathroom all the time", painful abdomen, dark colored urine; blood in urine; "cold" bladder, back pain, and swollen hands and feet

wayra ("evil wind")

aire, wayra, wayra jap'isqa

Symptoms can range from stiff and painful muscles to (facial or even corporeal) paralysis, depending on the degree of severity according to healers. In case of facial paralysis, the mouth is twisted or an eye-lid is drooping

wounds and bruises

herida, hinchazón, moradura, punkisqa, abceso, ch'upu

Include abscesses (a swelling with pus that does not want to open), cuts, bleeding from the skin. Bruises are described as a localized feeling of heat, swelling of the skin without pus