Народна медицина и религиозни институции в югоизточната част на Перу в Амазония, Пуерто Малдонадо
Folk Medicine and Religious Institutions in Southeastern Peruvian Amazonia, Puerto Maldonado

Summary/Abstract: The study analyzes the personal and the social endeavors of this population concerning the use of traditional medicine and of the religious institutions. The most popular form of healing in the Amazon tropical forest – the shamanic ceremony and the drinking of ayahuasca, as well as the influence of the numerous recently settled Christian denominations – is also investigated. The Christian religion and Shamanism are revealed as two systems with healing and integrative character with an important meaning during the critical moments in human life. Despite of the substantial differences between the two systems, they are likely to fuse in certain aspects, thus exchanging symbols, terms and ritual practices. In the region of Puerto Maldonado the Christian Religion and traditional medicine today do not look like rivals, but rather complement each other and find their place in healing as well in the social life.

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