Substances, relationships and the omnipresence of the body: an overview of Ashéninka ethnomedicine (Western Amazonia)

摘要: Indigenous Amazonian ethnomedicine usually relies on numerous forms of healing, exercised by both specialists and non-specialists. Such is the case among "Asheninka del Ucayali" (Arawak from Peru-Brazil border). This paper attempts to elicit underlying consistencies their manifold, often contradictory practices statements. It draws ethnographic data gathered between 1997 2000, essentially based my own interviews participant observation. Concerning some specific points these are also compared with ethnobotanical findings, highlight significant peculiarities Asheninka approach. The first question about nature a "good medicine". When borrow botanical knowledge another ethnic group comment fact, contrast indigenous self-assessments objective measurements out crucial difference: While Western approach focuses chemical effectiveness plants themselves, people pay much more attention relational aspects. The dimension involves as sort person. The point has implications in shamanism herbalism. A shaman does not necessarily need be good botanist. His main concern managing network personal relationships involving all kinds living beings. supposed mainspring illness – belief shared shamans ordinary people. However, most have detailed herbal knowledge. In this everyday herbalism amounts an alternative explanatory model. coexistence two contrasting systems frequent Amazonia. Among Asheninka, nevertheless, hierarchy clear: herbal, apparently materialistic, embedded shamanic, plainly relational,