Kichwa Medicine

A very interesting experience today. I volunteered for a traditional Kichwa medical diagnosis to see if I have any illnesses. This is how it went.

We met the Shaman, Doña Juana, who has been practicing Kichwa medicine for many years. I was instructed to take off my shirt and wear only shorts. It was slightly odd being in front of my peers in this particular state of undress as we were not going to be swimming. Doña Juana stood no more than a few inches over 4 feet; I felt like a big, white giant towering over her. She selected a male guinea pig, or quy in Kichwa, and held him tightly by the neck. She closed her eyes for a moment to say a prayer, and then began rubbing the quy on my body. She started at my heart and worked outward. Sometimes she held the quy only by the neck and made a sort of whipping motion, other times she held the quy by the neck and feet, using him as if he were a rolling pin against my skin.

I experienced an extreme state of calmness. I felt very tranquil, not nervous at all, and I had no active thought process during this part of the process; it was as if no one else was in the room at all and my brain was void of all thoughts. Near the very end rubbing the quy against my skin, and in a slightly comical moment, I did began to notice a distinct wetness; the quy had peed. The Shaman said that this did not mean anything bad and not to worry about it.

After thouroughly being covered in quy hair, the Shaman told the quy was dead, which is normal, and said a short prayer and sat on a chair very low to the ground. She deftly skinned the quy while looking for abnormalities or spots. She moved into the interior of the quy examining the lungs, heart, kidneys, and other major organs. She pronounced me in excellent health and very strong, but noticed that I had minor back problems and recommended that I receive massages as a remedy, but to not be too worried. My chiropractor, who I see 3 times a week, would definitely concur.