Conference on Traditional Medicine and the Ancestral Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples

PR
Dec 19, 2023
4 min read

Recognition and revaluation of ayahuasca as an ancestral medicinal practice.

For the first time, a “Regional Meeting on Traditional Medicine and Ancestral Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples” was held in Pucallpa, in the Ucayali region of Peru. The objective of the gathering was to promote the re-evaluation and international recognition of Amazonian traditional medicine.

The three-day conference, held from November 23 to 25, was organized by the Shipibo Embassy, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, and the Ministry of Health (DIRESA), and was inaugurated by the Regional Governor, Manuel Gambini. It brought together traditional healers from various Indigenous nations, including the Shipibo-Konibo, Huni Kuin, Asháninka, and Awajún peoples, as well as representatives from the Ministries of Health, Culture, and Tourism, alongside national and international experts such as lawyers, scientists, and psychologists.

Global interest in ayahuasca has been steadily increasing, with a growing number of people traveling to the Amazon each year in search of healing and personal development. At the same time, misconceptions about this traditional medicine persist, and there is a rising number of practitioners who may not have sufficient training to work responsibly with ayahuasca. Meanwhile, much of the traditional knowledge of plant medicine within Indigenous communities is at risk of being lost, as it has historically been transmitted primarily through oral tradition.

“Many people think of ayahuasca as a drug. But any kind of medicine is problematic if it is not used properly or is taken in too high a dose". Roger Bardales

In workshops and presentations, a range of topics were addressed, including the documentation and preservation of knowledge related to plant medicine, the development of an encyclopedia of Amazonian medicinal plants, and the clarification of the definition of traditional medicine, as well as its distinction from conventional scientific medicine.

Workshop: Distinction Between Scientific and Traditional Medicine

In scientific medicine, symptoms are treated with medications made from plant extracts or pharmaceutical substances. It is a very "cold" and sober treatment based on giving something to the body and making it resistant to the disease. The medication cures one thing, but often worsens another at the same time.

In traditional medicine, the causes of illness are visualized and the connections between body, mind, spirit and soul, which are often in disharmony, are illuminated. It is a mystical experience that goes beyond the limits of consciousness.

The patient gets back in touch with his or her own being and opens up to a deeper understanding of how everything is connected. Medicinal plants work not only with their biological essences, but also with their whole spirit, bringing people back into harmony with themselves. It is a long process that requires discipline, but also brings long-term healing success.

Testimonials on the Healing Potential of Ayahuasca

Several participants from Europe shared personal testimonies describing their health histories and their experiences with ayahuasca, stating that they found significant improvements in their physical and emotional well-being through work with this traditional medicine.

In Peru, María, 26, reported having found relief from years of depression, which had intensified during a period of psychiatric hospitalization and the use of antidepressant medication. Other accounts include cases of long-term substance and alcohol dependence, where individuals describe experiencing profound personal transformation following intensive ceremonial work with ayahuasca.

While such testimonies reflect the perceived potential of healing experiences, they also raise an important question: how can one identify a responsible and well-qualified ayahuasca practitioner?

Workshop: Identification of Qualified Traditional Medical Practitioners

It should first be noted that the term “shaman” does not exist in the languages of many Indigenous peoples and is largely considered a concept introduced through Western interpretation. In Indigenous contexts, healing practices involving ayahuasca are carried out by traditional medical practitioners or doctors. Among the Shipibo-Konibo, these practitioners are known as Merayas and Unayas, while among the Huni Kuin they are referred to as Uni Yushin and Uni Mukaya, terms that can be translated as “one who knows how to heal” or “one who understands the plants.”

In general, the practice of working with medicinal plants requires many years of study under the guidance of a master practitioner, as well as the completion of dieta processes. These dietas involve extended periods of isolation in the forest, during which apprentices follow strict dietary and behavioral disciplines while working with specific medicinal plants, allowing for deep learning and personal development within the tradition.

The precise identification and establishment of a registry of qualified Indigenous traditional medicine practitioners was identified as one of the key follow-up initiatives arising from the conference, alongside several other related projects.

Agreements and Commitments

Initiate the process of identification and registration of practitioners of Indigenous traditional medicine.
Develop a legislative initiative for public policy on intercultural health in the Ucayali region.
Establish a technical commission for the systematization of ancestral knowledge related to traditional medicine.
Compile a regional list of plants with medicinal properties used in traditional medicine.
Declare an international day and week dedicated to the Ayahuasca Festival.
Promote training programs in intercultural health with the participation of the National Intercultural University of the Amazon.
Approve and implement the regional Indigenous health plan.
Convene the First National Congress on Traditional Medicine for November 2024.