Discover the use of medicinal plants of the Incas. For millennia, human civilization settled in the Andes, a geography that generates great challenges due to its climate and altitude. But this factor was not enough to stop the Incas from building their cities. To do this, the Incas organized a great advance in medical sciences, part of which is that they trained doctors and wise men with a deep knowledge of the phytopathological properties of plants in all states. Thus, to this day we can assimilate this great medical science on the use of some of the medicinal plants of the Incas.
The Inca civilization, which flourished in the South American Andes between the 13th and 16th centuries, developed an advanced medical system based on the use of medicinal plants. This knowledge, transmitted orally and perfected over generations, not only allowed them to treat diseases, but also to maintain a balance between body, mind and spirit. The Incas had a deep knowledge of nature and, in particular, of medicinal plants. The Incas developed a system of medicine based on the use of herbs and plants that still surprises today for its effectiveness and relevance.
Medicinal plants have been used by various cultures throughout history to treat diseases, relieve symptoms and promote well-being. In recent decades, scientific research has begun to validate many of these traditional practices, discovering the active compounds and mechanisms of action that explain their therapeutic effects. Below, we conduct an in-depth analysis of the most important medicinal plants used by the Incas, exploring their properties, traditional uses and their relevance today.
In the local markets of Peru, there are sellers specialized in the use and therapeutic properties of the medicinal plants of the Incas, many of the Andean inhabitants only treat their illnesses or diseases with the use of medicinal plants. It is recommended not to self-medicate. You should first do some research on the benefits and risks of each medicinal plant, since they do not produce the same healing symptoms in all people. Likewise, we do not recommend going to salons or offices of false shamans or healers who do not have the adequate pharmacological study of these plants.
The origins of traditional Inca medicine date back to ancient times, when indigenous communities in the Andes developed healing techniques based on the observation of nature and knowledge passed down from generation to generation. The Incas inherited this ancient wisdom and enriched it with their own practices, fusing empiricism with a deep spirituality. Inca medicine was characterized by its sacred respect for Pachamama (Mother Earth) and by the belief in the interconnection between all living beings. This worldview influenced the selection, preparation and administration of medicinal plants, considered gifts of nature for the balance and well-being of the community.
The medical knowledge of the Incas was transmitted orally and practically, from master to disciple, in a process of continuous learning that respected traditions. Shamans and healers, central figures in this practice, were revered for their wisdom and their ability to heal both the body and the spirit. Its legacy lives on today in traditional Andean medicine practices, which seek to preserve and honor this ancestral heritage.
The Inca doctors belonged to the class of scholars (amauta), who taught at the aristocratic school of Yachahuasi, in the monumental city of Cuzco, magnificently planned by Pachakuteq. Among the Inca laws was the provision that bloodletting surgeons (sircak) were very experienced in the use of medicinal herbs, that is, hampi-kamayok or ‘possessors of medicine’, whose knowledge was inherited from father to son. From the nomenclature of the diseases it can be deduced that the diagnosis hardly went beyond checking the symptoms in relation to their topography. Some names describe the external appearance, for example, ‘interrupted inspiration’ was pneumonia and ‘drying disease’ was probably tuberculosis.
Among the surgical procedures, bloodletting was commonly practiced. The lancet, made from a flint blade, fitted like a hammer into a wooden handle split at the top, was introduced into the vein by tapping it, if possible in the vicinity of the painful area. In the case of headaches, this point was between the eyebrows. Reducing dislocations, setting fractured bones, incising abscesses and suturing wounds were, of course, the tasks of the surgeon. Like the Araucanians, they may have used the nightshade Datura ferox (scopolamine) as an anaesthetic. Fractured areas were wrapped in seaweed or fresh huaripuri leaves (Valeriana coarctata).
Balms played an important role in the treatment of wounds and ulcers. Most were resins of legumes or benzoin (Java incense). The best-known so-called Peruvian balsam (from Myroxylon pereiræ) comes from Central America, while Myroxylon peruiferum supplies the true Andean remedy; the oil from its seeds was used for the same purpose. Applications of the still-bleeding flesh of the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) were used in inflammatory processes, and the fat of the American ostrich (Rhea strutio) or the condor (Vultur gryphus) was used for all kinds of sclerosis and compact tumors of the extremities. The wool of the llama (Auchenia) and the charred feathers of birds were used as haemostyptics.
The pepper tree was widely used: its leaves were decocted for skin diseases and chronic ulcers, and its dried resin was used as a healing poultice and to speed up wound healing. The crushed leaves of the small Chillca bush (Baccharis lanceolata) closed recent lesions. The milky, acrid juice of Carica papaya, still green, gave good results against stubborn dermatoses. Ulcers, wounds and scars were cauterized with copper sulphate (lipes stone); an ointment made of animal fats with sulphur was used to treat llama mange. A special kind of clay (chacco) was used to clean hair. So-called refractory ulcers, including Andean disease (American leishmaniasis-blastomycosis), were treated with arsenic sulphide, called huañuy hampi or ‘medicine for death’.
The Incas had a deep belief in the healing power of plants and the importance of preparing them correctly to ensure their effectiveness. They mainly used two preparation methods: infusions and decoctions. Infusions consisted of pouring hot water over medicinal herbs and letting them sit for a certain time, allowing the release of their active ingredients. Decoctions, on the other hand, involved boiling the herbs in water for a longer period, resulting in a more concentrated extraction of their medicinal properties. Both methods required precise knowledge of the proper timing and proportions to achieve the desired effects in the treatment of various ailments.
These techniques were not only medicinal practices, but also a cultural legacy that was carefully passed down from generation to generation. Through infusions and decoctions, the Incas treated everything from headaches and digestive problems to more complex illnesses, such as infections or general discomfort. Today, this ancestral wisdom is still valued and practiced in many indigenous communities in America, keeping alive the tradition and respect for the healing properties of plants.
In addition to infusions and decoctions, the Incas used medicinal herbs topically to treat skin, muscle and joint conditions. One of their most common techniques was the preparation of poultices, which consisted of crushed plants mixed with other natural ingredients, applied directly to the affected area. They also prepared ointments based on medicinal herbs and vegetable oils, creating natural remedies that relieved pain and accelerated wound healing.
These topical applications were an essential pillar of traditional Inca medicine, which not only focused on treating internal ailments, but also those that manifested externally on the skin and body. With a deep connection with nature and its resources, the Incas developed effective and sustainable methods to take advantage of the healing properties of plants, thus contributing to the well-being and overall health of their community.
The botanical wealth of the Andes has been of interest to the scientific community, which has conducted numerous studies on the Andean herbs used by the Incas in order to validate their therapeutic efficacy. Recent research has shown that many of these plants possess active compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial properties, which make them useful in the treatment of various diseases.
Among the most studied Andean herbs are maca, cat’s claw, quinoa and aloe, which have demonstrated health benefits ranging from increased energy and vitality to protecting the immune system and preventing chronic diseases. These scientific studies have helped to support the traditional use of these medicinal herbs and promote their integration into conventional medicine.
The combination of the ancestral wisdom of the Incas in the use of medicinal herbs with current scientific evidence has given rise to an integrative approach to phytotherapy, which seeks to take advantage of the best of both worlds to promote people’s health and well-being. Herbal medicine based on indigenous traditions of the Americas continues to gain followers around the world, recognizing the value of medicinal herbs as an invaluable source of healing and balance.
