Use
The sap is used to treat internal
infections. The sabedoresrecord it
as having hallucinogenic effects and
it is also known as ambil de monte.Albahaca(Ocimum micranthum
Willd. other species negraand
blanca)Also known as wild basil, wild
mosquito plant, Chaiwatu(Tikuna
language).Use
According toSabedorRene Moreno
Vaneo, Albahaca is a basic medicine
used to cure numerous illnesses in
both adults and children. It is cura-
tive for nervous conditions, high
blood pressure and for children in
the treatment of ‘mal aire’ and diar-
rhoea. This is a plant native to Amazonas and for them is an important
medicinal plant. It is also used as a condiment. In Cocama language they call
this plant ‘Sara taita.’.
In the Caquetá Media geographical area Albahacais known in the
Uitoto language as Jaibikie.
According to SabedorOscar Román, the plant is used to bathe children
to improve their mood and to lower fevers caused by influenza and cough.
It is used to treat madness or rage by taking the cooked preparation once.
To treat diarrhoea the plant is prepared in hot water with cinnamon and
lemon (see interview 3 in the addendum).
As a comparison, we include an example of use of the same plant, Alba-
haca(Ocimum micranthum), used by the Quichua ethnic group, Amazon
forest, Ecuador. In this case, SabedorGabriel Tapuy explains that the plant
can be used to treat ‘mal aire’. The plant is collected and passed over the
person repeatedly in the form of a cross in order to extract negative energies
or ‘clean’ them. According to SabedorGabriel, the person who carries out
the treatment will feel the arm become heavy if he or she is successful at
extracting the ‘mal aire’ (see interview 4 in the addendum).
76 |Traditional medicine
Figure 4.9 SabedorOscar Román
Enokayai- collecting sap of medicinal tree
Amorior Ambil de monteallowing the tree
sap to flow from the cut in the tree bark;
Araracuara, Caquéta medio, Amazonas,
Colombia, 26 June 1991.