Herbal curing by Qollahuaya andeans

This research report concerns herbal curing among the Qollahuaya (Callawaya) Andeans of Bolivia, who follow a tradition of more than 1000 years of medicinal expertise and who are the most renowned herbalists in South America. Qollahuaya herbalists live in Ayllus Chajaya and Curva. Natives of Chajaya and Curva complain that the number of herbalists have declined in recent years, but after analysis of occupational surveys in these communities, it was found that both areas had a considerable number of herbalists (Curva 37, Chajaya 28) with the same proportion (27%) of herbalists to non-herbalists. Although Chajaya and Curva adjusted differently to certain pressures against the herbal profession since 1930, they maintained the same percentage. This indicates a functional relationship between herbalists and nonherbalists. The decline in the number of herbalists reflects a decline in the rural populace of the Qollahuaya area. In this paper, the author discusses herbalists in Curva and in Chajaya. His primary concern is how each group of herbalists have adapted to certain pressures within the last 30 years: restrictions on travel, synthetic drugs, out-migration and oppression.