mexican medicine

(Mexican Medicine also Spanish Medicine)


Sucking pulque (Agave sap) with a gourd.	Lambsquarters at the Los Colorines, Cuernavaca, Mexico
ECO-TOURS MEXICO CICE in Cuernavaca, Mexico is an experiential learning center with lauguage programs in Spanish and Nahuatl. CICE has economical eco-tour programs providing classes in traditional medicine and cultural anthropology. Cuernavaca is the city of eternal spring a perfect setting for classes in Mexican cooking, dance, art and archaeological tours. Courses can be arranged for college credit. Social workers and health practitioners are encouraged to attend.	After a week in CICE intensive language classes my daughter, Rebecca was talking Spanish in her dreams and has since worked and studied in Costa Rica and Spain. Contact CICE and its directors, Estela Roman (photo) and Dora Diaz at cice@cuer.laneta.apc.org or e-mail Estela for more information at estelaroman@hotmail.com

This is a work in progress due to be finished January, 2002

Ancestors of modern Mexicans discovered, taught and practiced a superior form of medicine. They indulged in a vast and diverse reservoir of plant life harvested from the many biomes that demarcate the country. Prior to the Spanish invasion Mexicans used over 3000 wild plants for food and medicine, about 15 percent of the country's flora. To catalog the 20,000 plants species Mayan, Aztec, Zapotec and other nations invented unique and effective ways of naming and indexing plants that precedes by hundreds of years the Linnaean system developed in Europe. These taxonomies were scientific systems some of which were destroyed by Conquistadors. But much has been preserved. In 1552, the Spanish translated the Badianus Manuscript of Aztec Medicine. This Pharmacopoeia describes the use of plants for food, medicine and magic. It was the first translation of a system of medicine superior to contemporary medical efforts in the Europe. Drawing from this resource and from Mexican informants and personal experience I begin the pleasurable task of uncovering for you practical, scientific and ritual uses of Mexican flora.

This exploration will be in stages. Stage one will deal with familiar plants, many of which are available in supermarkets, Mexican markets and health food stores. These plants include foods, medicines, herbs and spices. I begin with the simple and familiar and advance to the obscure and complex. As much as possible I will share a recipe that is tasteful and perhaps beneficial. Note: numerous plants covered were initially alien to Mexico, coming from abroad carried by soldaderos, missionaries and African slaves. Agriculture and trade brought others. Gardeners and horticulturists filled in the rest. The indigenous people quickly discovered their uses and integrated them into their armamentarium of disease fighting botanicals.

Agave, Agave sp..

Ajo, garlic, Allium sativum

Almedras, Almonds, Terminalia catappa L.

Aloe, Aloe vera L.

Amaranth, Amaranthus sp.

Annato, Achiote, Bixa orellana L

Annona

Borage

Breadfruit

Cacoa

Canela, Cinnamon, Cinamomum zailanicum

Chamomile