Editorial Unimagdalena

Description in English: This book presents an anthropological analysis of the medical culture of the Arhuacos. It explores a "system of ancestral knowledge" that illuminates the vital and symbolic relationship between humans and nature, facilitating the development of a "native science"—a repository of traditional knowledge regarded as the biocultural heritage of humanity. Both newcomers and connoisseurs will discover the vital role played by the Arhuacos in preserving botanical and medical knowledge. This knowledge extends beyond their immediate environment to influence the popular culture of mestizo peoples in the lower regions of the sierra. The beautifully illustrated text offers a symbolic interpretation of an indigenous culture whose importance has served to include it in the biocultural heritage of a rich and endangered region. The Arhuacos conception of plants is also a fertile myth about the origin of the plant kingdom.