THE SALIENCE OF MEDICAL CULTURE IN AMAZONIAN ECUADOR

This thesis explores the salience of medical culture in the Upper Amazon region of Ecuador. In particular, it will focus on the Quichua community of Venecia Derecha. The framework for this thesis is based on Murray Last's (1981,1992) concept of "medical culture," which he uses for all things medical that go on in a given society. Careful examination of a medical culture reveals aspects and domains that are more salient, that have a more systematic character. I argue that in the Venecia medical culture, shamans are central to the medical system because they are the creators of power (ushai) and knowledge (yachai). Within introduced medicine and religion, Evangelicalism does provide a system; whereas, biomedicine does not although it is available. Midwifery is not an organized system and constitutes fragmentary knowledge, while making no claim to power. Personal knowledge, though connected to the same sources as shamanism is fragmented and individualized.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Kansas

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Vanden Heuvel, Kerry

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Janzen, John M

• Medical and forensic anthropology
• Cultural anthropology
• Medical culture
• Amazonian ecuador
• Shamanism
• Power
• Knowledge

Statement dc:rights

• This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.

Language dc:language.iso

EN

Dc Identifier Other

http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:2360

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/4107