Table 2 Magical plants used by curanderos
From: The use of magical plants by curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
Scientific Name | Local Name | Reports | Part Used | Illness | Treatment Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ambrosia arborecens Mill. Asteraceae | marco | 52 | whole plant; leaves stems | mal aire (25) espanto (18) mal viento (9) | brush body with whole plant; infusion made from leaves ingested |
Baccharis latifolia (Ruiz & Pav) Pers | chilca | 13 | whole plant | mal aire (7) espanto (4) mal prójimo | brush body |
Brugmansia sanguinea (Ruiz & Pav.) D. Don Solanaceae | guanto rojo | 8 | leaves flowers | mal aire (5) mal viento (3) | brush body with leaves and flowers |
Citrus medica L. Rutaceae | limón | 6 | fruit/rind | espanto (3) brujería (3) | rub body with whole fruit or rind |
Dianthus caryophyllus L. Caryophyllaceae | clavel | 12 | flowers | mal aire (8) mal viento (4) | patient soaked in warm bath of flowers or sprayed with decoction of flowers |
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Myrtaceae | eucalipto | 17 | leaves stems | espanto (10) mal viento (5) mal prójimo(2) | brush body with small branches or vaporization of leaves |
Mentha × piperita L. Lamiaceae | hierba buena | 7 | leaves | espanto (5) mal viento (2) | infusion ingested |
Minthostachys mollis (Kunth) Griseb Lamiaceae | pumin | 55 | whole plant | mal aire (26) espanto (17) mal viento (12) | brush body with whole plant |
Nicotiana tabacum L. Solanaceae | tabaco | 50 | leaves | mal aire (25) espanto (16) mal viento (6) duende (3) | smoke from cigarette blown on patient; also used to diagnose presence of mal (negative energy) |
Prunus serotina Ehrh. Rosaceae | capulí | 4 | leaves stems | espanto (2) mal aire (2) | brushing with leaves |
Rosmarinus officinalis L. Lamiaceae | romero | 12 | leaves stems | espanto (5) mal aire (4) mal viento (3) | brush body with leaves; infusion made from leaves and stems ingested |
Ruta graveolens L. Rutaceae | ruda | 65 | whole plant; leaves, flowers | espanto (26) mal aire (26) mal viento (12) brujería (1) | brush with leaves; more rarely, patient soaked in warm bath of leaves and/or flowers |
Tanacetum parthenium L. Sch. Bip Asteraceae | Santa María | 46 | whole plant | espanto (23) mal aire (17) mal viento (6) | brush with whole plant |
Urtica dioica L. Urticaceae | ortiga negra | 14 | whole plant; leaves | espanto (7) mal aire (4) mal viento (3) | brush with whole plant; infusion made from leaves ingested |
Valeriana decussate Ruiz & Pav. Valerianaceae | valeriana | 6 | leaves | espanto (3) mal viento (3) | infusion made from leaves ingested |
Unknown | manchari | 8 | whole plant | espanto (8) | brush body with whole plant |
Unknown | tigresillo | 3 | whole plant | mal aire (3) | brush body with whole plant |