Traditional Medicine Among the Nahua: Contemporary and Ancient Medicinal Plants

List of Figures

Figure   1.  Map of Amatlán in northern Veracruz, México.

Figure   2.  Barrida during a maize ritual.

Figure   3.  Offering made to paper representations of ehecatl.

Figure   4.  Using medicinal plants in a healing ritual.

Figure   5.  Treatment for espanto by exhorting person's soul to return.

Figure   6.  Collecting medicinal plants along stream.

Figure   7.  Hamelia erecta Jacq. A medicinal plant identified by the shape of its leaves and flower. Classified as a xochitl.

Figure   8.  Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. A medicinal plant identified by the color and texture of its bark.

Figure   9.  Plumeria rubra L. A medicinal plant identified by the color of its flowers and the milky latex exuded when cut.

Figure 10.  Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck. A medicinal and edible plant grown in people's home gardens.

Figure 11.  Artemisia mexicana Willd. A medicinal plant identified by the color of its leaves; grown in people's home gardens.

Figure 12.  Achras zapota L. Edible and medicinal plant growing in a person's home garden.

Figure 13.  Musa sp. Edible and medicinal plant grown in the milpas and home gardens. Classified as a xilotl by the Nahua.

Figure 14.  Hybanthus attenuatus (Humb & Bonpl. Ex Schultes). Medicinal plant growing along paths and streams, encouraged in healer's home garden.

Figure 15.  Solanum nudum Kunth. Classified as a xihuitl by the Nahua.

Figure 16.  Muntingia calabura L. Classified as a cuahuitl.

Figure 17.  Jacobinia spicigera Schl. Classified as a xihuitl.

Figure 18.  Citrus sinensis Osbeck. Classified as xocotl.

Figure 19.  Hylocereus undatus (Haw) Britton & Rose. Classified as a cuamekatl.

Figure 20.  Tagetes erecta L.

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