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Espanto: a dialogue with the gods.

M Tousignant

    Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry
    |December 1, 1979
    PubMed
    Summary

    Espanto, a folk illness in Mexico, is not a medical syndrome but an indigenous theory. It links illness to supernatural forces like the Holy Earth and underworld spirits, often involving bodily openings and trembling.

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    Area of Science:

    • Medical Anthropology
    • Cultural Psychiatry
    • Folk Medicine

    Background:

    • Espanto (susto) is a culturally significant folk illness analyzed across various perspectives.
    • Previous research has explored its etiological factors and manifestations.
    • A comprehensive understanding of espanto within its cultural context is lacking.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze espanto (susto) from an indigenous theoretical framework.
    • To investigate the etiological role of the Holy Earth and underworld spirits in espanto.
    • To understand the semiological significance of trembling and bodily openings in espanto.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of 109 case studies from Nicolas Ruiz, Chiapas, Mexico.
    • Semiological analysis of espanto's symptoms and cultural interpretations.
    • Ethnographic data collection on indigenous beliefs and healing practices.

    Main Results:

    • Espanto is not a medical syndrome but an indigenous theory explaining illness.
    • The Holy Earth and chthonian spirits are central to espanto's etiology.
    • Earthly fissures (caves, rivers) are believed to be conduits for supernatural influence.
    • Trembling is a key manifestation across fright, illness, and diagnostic rituals.

    Conclusions:

    • Espanto represents a culturally specific explanatory model for illness.
    • It highlights the interconnectedness of illness, belief systems, and the natural environment.
    • The concept of bodily openings and trembling provides a unifying semiological interpretation.

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