NAVIGATION TIP:
Use
the Firefox
browser with the CoolPreviews add on. CoolPreviews will give a
magnifying glass icon at every link when you put your cursor on the
link. Click on the icon and it will open a separate, smaller window
with the definition of the term in it. You can either lock the window
by clicking the padlock icon in the top bar of the little window, or
move your cursor off the window and it will automatically close. This
is almost as good as mouseovers.
Bactris
(Pyrenoglyphis sp.):
(n) Elder payés
transmit their supernatural power to young initiates by putting a
number of splinters of this palm on the pupil's forearm and pressing
them firmly with the magic quartz crystal. These are also virotes
by means of which payés send sickness and death to distant enemies and
to all who have broken the moral code. AYV

balsam
of Peru, balsam of
Tolu: (n) Myroxylon
balsamum, also
known as quina or balsamo. Other names include tolu in
Colombia, quina
quina in
Argentina; in lumber trade, sometimes named santos
mahogany. Peru
Balsam aromatic resin is extracted from the variant Myroxylon
balsamum pereirae, native
from Central America farther north. The name is a misinterpretation of
its origin, since it was originally assembled and shipped to Europe
from the ports of Callao and Lima, in Peru, even though the species is
not indigenous to Peru. The indigenous use of Peru Balsam led to its
export to Europe in the seventeenth century, where it was first
documented in the German Pharmacopedia. Today El Salvador is
the main exporter of Peru Balsam where it is extracted under a plainly
handicraft process. Peru balsam has uses in medicine, pharmaceutical,
in the food industry and in perfumery. It has been used as a cough
suppressant, in the treatment of dry socket in dentistry, in
suppositories for hemorrhoids, the plants have been reported to inhibit
Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as the common
ulcer-causing bacteria, H. pylori in test-tube studies, so it
is used topically as a treatment of wounds and ulcers, as an antiseptic
and used as an anal muscle relaxant. Peru Balsam can be found in diaper
rash ointments, hair tonics, antidandruff preparations, and feminine
hygiene sprays and as a natural fragrance in soaps, detergents, creams,
lotions, and perfumes. WIKI It
happens to be a fairly good febrifuge when given by mouth. The tree was
given the name of quina-quina and appears with this name in the bills
of lading coming from Peru as early as 1609. In the Quechua language a
repeated voice frequently suggests a plant of medicinal or toxic
properties,
i.e.,
chancha-chancha, chullco-chullco, cilla-cilla, etc. DYE

Balsam
of Peru. WIKI
balsam
of copaiba, Jesuit's
balsam, copal, palo de aceite, capivi: (n) Copaefera
Officinalis.
Antibacterial, diuretic, disinfectant and stimulant properties. The
resin contains caryophyllene, a phytochemical with strong
anti-inflammatory, fungal and pain relieving properties. The
hydrocarbons in copaiba are terpenes, including pinene (commonly known
as turpentine). Copaiba is used topically to relieve inflammation and
help heal athlete's foot, eczema and psoriasis, and heals damaged skin
with minimal scarring. Shampoos containing copaiba are effective in
fighting dandruff. Copaiba balsam been found most beneficial in chronic
coughs, catarrh, colds, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems. ARC

Balsam
of copaiba, leaves, flowers, seeds.
bamba
(Span):
(n) The Spanish pronunciation and spelling for the Quechua pampa.
banco (Span),
bancu (sp.): (n) (1) One of the three levels of vegetalista,
a shaman
who masters the jungle realm and has contact with the sky spirits,
understand the secrets of the earth. The banco lies face down in the
mosquito net and the spirits descend and sit on him, giving correct
diagnoses and the cure. In some traditions, the banco is unable to
enter the underwater realm. In others (the Lamista), a sinchi runa
must live near a waterfall or the tributary of a large river to gain
direct contact with the underwater world. Bancos have the power
to immerse themselves for hours and days during which time they cease
to have relations with their wives in order to dedicate themselves to
their yaku warmi.
AYV
(2) A field of the curandero mesa. GOL
See, campo.
banco
curandero (Span): See, campo justiciero.
banco
de gloria (Span):
Right-hand field of the curandero mesa. GOL (See, campo justiciero.)
banco
ganadero: See, campo ganadero.
baraja (Span):
(n) From barajar, to
shuffle cards. SEES Tarot
cards or any deck of cards. GOL
bautisay:
(v) To baptize. PSL
(n) Baptism. RS
(sp.)
bautisakuy:
(v) To be baptized (sp.). PSL
bejuco
de las calenturas
(Span): (n) Literally, vine
for fevers
(Mascagnia
psilophylla),
its mama
is the boa,
but it also has other mamas: a dwarf dressed in red, needles and pins.
Fire, too, is its mother. Mixed with ayahuasca,
it is most powerful in curing extreme cases, patients with convulsions
or typhus. The root is used for curing high fevers. AYV
bejuco
de la estrella,
contrayerba: (n) The Cholone Indians use the root to cure rheumatic and
venereal pains, drinking a decoction of it at night. A few hours after
taking such a draught, the patient breaks out in a profuse sweat that
continues for three days. On the fourth day, he is fully recovered and
can leave his sick bed without any ill effects to hinder his work. I
have used this root in Peru for killing toothache. One might expect
that in time this root will find an important use in medicine, for its
aroma and taste bespeak excellent properties, making it valuable for a
number of therapeutic applications. REPC

Bejuco de la estrella.
bell (Eng):
When rung by the paq'o in
ceremony, it calls the Apus. IGMP (See, chanrara.)
bendición:
(n) Blessing (sp.). PSL
bendeciy:
(v) To bless (sp.). PSL
bestiality (Eng): A
sexual practice frequently found among the pre-Columbians of Peru. The
most common form was the sexual relations the shepherds had with the
female llamas, a custom
old enough to be recorded in the ancient ceramics and strong enough to
have survived more than four centuries of Western indoctrination. It is
said that the Incas strongly
penalized those who committed this act. The custom still appears
sporadically in the high plateaus of the Peruvian sierras. Bestiality
probably existed also among women as it is recorded in their mythology,
although ceramic representation is rare and dubious. It is possible,
however, that these representations (see picture below) are actually
religious symbolisms. Acts of love between a woman and an animal
frequently depict the totemic origin of a human group. DYE See, sexual activity for more
information and other links.

Partial
view of a Mochica ceramic piece showing a mythological
animal copulating with a woman. DYE
birth
control (Eng): An
increase in population was a very desired complement to the political
expansion of the empire; but the Inca were fully aware of the dangers
of family overgrowth and knew well the disturbing biological and social
effects of an undesired pregnancy. A pregnant woman, for example, was
forbidden normal sexual contact with her husband; and once she was
delivered, this prohibition continued for two more years until the
suckling baby was weaned. Since they never used animal milk to feed
their children and they knew that a new pregnancy would usually
interrupt the production of maternal milk, any woman with a suckling
baby was harshly penalized if she became pregnant during this period.
Therefore, to avoid pregnancy, they practiced anal and oral coitus, as
well as mutual masturbation, in order to satisfy their husbands. This
is well depicted in [pre-Columbian] ceramics, which often show very
clearly a recumbent woman holding a baby in arms and having anal
intercourse with a man; or a woman on all fours with signs of
pregnancy, practicing the same act. DYE See, sexual activity for more
information and other links.
birth
defects (Eng): (n)
Congenital anomalies were interpreted as acts of the gods leading to
the identification of those were considered of holy origin and usually
were led into activities connected with religion and divination. The
still-born or those who died because of a non-viable malformation --
like hydrocephaly or anencephaly -- were mummified and kept at home in
ceramic urns to be honored as evidence of the divine will. DYE See, pregnancy.
black
ayahuasca:
See,
ayahuasca trueno,
ayahuasca india.
bloodletting
(therapeutic) (Eng): See, circcacuy and surgical tools.
blowing
(Eng): (n) The exhalation of air by the shaman
is an expression of his/her power. Singing, chanting, naming are
variationof the act of creative and transformative blowing. Shamans can
blow spells. A manifestation of the soul or spirit, when done along
with the uttering of spells or prayers, the shaman can direct the power
of spirit toward a specific end. Blowing has curative and protective
power, imparts life force and can change the state of being of the
client. AYV
(See,
camay,
phukuy,
samay,
saminchaska)
boa:
(n) A large terrestrial and arboreal constrictor snake, the embodiment
of the sach'amama.
AYV
boa
negra (Span):
(n) The black anaconda which acts as a
bridge between the earth and the water. Can also be yakumama
or sach'amama.
AYV
(See,
yana puma,
k'uychi.)
boldu, boldo:
(n) Peumus
boldus. Its
leaves, which have a strong, woody and slightly bitter flavor and
camphor-like aroma, are used for culinary purposes, primarily in Latin
America. The leaves are used in a similar manner to bay leaves and also
used as a tea. Although not well known, boldo fruits, which appear
between December and February, are very tasty, nutritious, small,
green, edible spheres. WIKI The dry
leaves are used in infusion or decoction as a digestive and to improve
hepatic complaints. Preliminary assays showed free-radical scavenging
activity in hot water extracts of boldo leaves. NIH
Chileans employ the crushed leaves extensively to strengthen the
stomach and relieve pains. They cure earaches with the sap of the
leaves extracted with water. To treat running sores and colds in the
head, they apply the leaves, half roasted, bruised and sprayed with
wine. Warm baths prepared with the leaves are taken as unsurpassed
cures for rheumatism and dropsy [an old term for edema (swelling) --
Patt]. An infusion of the leaves can be taken daily. REPC

Boldu.
borrachero, yas, flor
de quinde, arbol de campanilla: (n) From Spanish borrachera
meaning a drinking binge. SEES Lachroma
fuchsioides. A member
of the nightshade family, Found in the high Andes of Columbia and
ecuador. The leaves and flowers are psychoactive. It is either smoked
or used as a tea. It is used as an ayahuasca additive; the shamans of the Columbian indigenous use this
nightshade when confronted with cases that are difficult to diagnose.
It is also used as a narcotic for difficult births and digestive
disorders. Curanderos use it as
a contrahechizo as an
additive to the San Pedro drink and as a purgative for treating
diseases caused by harmful magic. It is said to induce vomiting and
diarrhea, thereby cleansing the body of all poisons and negative
influences. It is also used as a bath additive for removing magic. EPP

The
inebriating nightshade borrachera is shown on this old
Indian drawing from Colombia. The bird shown hovering
above the tree is likely a transformed shaman or the
vision-inducing spirit of the plant. EPP

The
leaves and flowers of the psychoactive plant also
known as arbol de campanilla (tree of the little bell). EPP
breast
feeding (Eng): (n)
When suckling her baby, the Inca woman
would never put it in her lap or hold it in her arms, lest the child
should become accustomed to being carried in her arms and reject the
cradle. The quirao was placed
on the floor and the mother would recline to place her breast within
the baby's reach. This was done only three times a day, spaced like the
adult normal meals. “If the baby should already crawl,” said chronicler
Garcilaso, “he was placed on the ground and the mother would approach
him so that he could reach her breast … for the other breast, he was
signaled by his mother to come around and get it, but the mother would
never take him in her arms…” These rules were enforced probably only in
the rigidly educated families of the Inca nobility, since the ceramics
of practically all the other cultures show us much more tender
mother/child scenes. DYE
breech
birth (Eng): (n)
The birth of a baby from a breech presentation, in which the baby exits
the pelvis buttocks or feet first as opposed to the normal head first
presentation. WIKI Breech
presentations had such a mysterious significance that if the child
survived he was considered a holy man; and if he did not survive, his
body was desiccated and kept inside a clay urn in the house. It was
named Chacpa and it protected the household against illness. DYE See, pregnancy and midwives.
Brugmansia
suaveolens: (n)
Angel's trumpet, a datura shrub in
the nightshade family. Smoked or brewed by individuals in lone quests
within the spirit world. WCE [Caveat:
all daturas are very toxic, even deadly, when abused.] (See, toé.)
brujería: (n)
Refers to the practice of the brujo,
or to a magically induced illness. EMM
brujo / bruja
(Span): (n) Male/female wizard, sorcerer,
or witch. CEES
Generally associated to a sorcerer or witch-doctor whose practice is
focused on causing harm to his/her enemies, either for personal gain (i.e.,
paid by a client to induce illness or kill a person) or revenge. The
title is full of negative association in the Peruvian Amazon, almost
without exception, although in some areas of the Andes (Ecuador) it may
refer to a shaman
who is equally capable of causing harm or to heal. EMM
The brujos know how to prepare potions to cause love, hate, pity, or to
drive a man crazy. Impartial and disinterested practitioners, they
administer according to the needs of their clients. TAV

He
could be a sorcerer or a shaman, because
shamans are called brujos in Ecuador. Pictures of
known sorcerers at work are not surprisingly
almost impossible to find. -- Patt]
bubinzana
(Amaz):
(n) Also called an icaro;
a sacred song which is an invocation, a musical prayer. THIM
bufeo
colorado
(Span): (n) The pink river dolphin (Inia
geoffrensis)
which legend has given the powers of shapeshifting
into human form in order to have sex with humans (some pregnant women
attribute their condition to the bufeo); when they have shapeshifted,
then can often be spotted because they become ch'ullan chakis,
or wear hats to conceal their blowholes. Large dolphins are the
authorities of the river world; small dolphins are the police. They are
considered to be powerful shamans,
probably because of their behavior of whistling and blowing forcefully
from their blowholes, very much like a shaman blowing virotes
or whistling an icaro. AYV
Some sorcerers
are said to capture a female bufeo and cut a ring of tissue from around
her vagina to make a talisman to attract women. THIMTo
see two videos of the dolphins by National Geographic, click here and here.