Fundamental to the medicine of the Maya is the concept of "Life force" or ch'ulel and is the First of the Six Principles of Maya Medicine. This Life Energy is everywhere and permeates everything – mountains, rivers, houses, plants, and people – and is said to be from a divine, spiritual source. It has this in common with Eastern healing traditions where it is known as qi (or chi), ki and prana. Ch'ulel binds everyone and everything together. It is a main goal for the Maya healer to balance the flow of ch'ulel in the body. Maya healers also maintain that praying directs ch'ulel to where it is needed.
The Second Principle is that there is no separation between the Body and the Soul, between the physical and spiritual realms. Ch’ulel means everything is inter-woven and inter-connected; that the physical and spiritual are only different ends of a continuum. It means that medicine is actually all around us and within this continuum; there are spirits who can help in healing.
The Third Principle is the recognition of natural cycles and the reverence of plants. Maya healers talk with, as opposed to just talking to, plants, as do many herbalists in other traditions. Certain plants choose the healer and they develop a very special relationship. These particular plants then aid the healer in treating the sick.
The Fourth Principle recognizes that healing is an integrative, comprehensive approach, with everybody - the healer, the patient, spirits, and plants and prayer working together to bring about the healing. There is no single component more important than the other.
The Fifth Principle is the Status of the Blood. As in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the use of pulses to determine imbalance is a central factor in diagnosis and treatment. It also helps distinguish between illnesses that are of physical versus spiritual (emotional) in origin and determines the consequent direction of treatment.
The Sixth Principle is that of Hot and Cold, which applies equally to illnesses, foods and plants. Fevers, diarrhea and vomiting are example of “hot” diseases – while cramps, constipation and paralysis are examples of “cold” ones. Hot foods can be garlic, onions, pepper and ginger while cold foods would include cheese, for example. The concept of Hot and Cold is important in choosing plants to treat with, inasmuch as “hot” plants treat “cold” illnesses and vice-versa.
The formation of organizations like the Ix Chel Tropical Research Foundation run by Dr. Rosita Arvigo and the Traditional Healers Foundation bring Maya healers from many countries together to share their knowledge with one another and the world at large. The government of Belize is to be highly commended for its involvement and decision to not let the plants used by Maya healers be destroyed by urban growth. A 6,000-acre tract of rainforest known as the Terra Nova Forest Reserve was set aside with the express purpose of conserving medicinal plants.
Excerpted with gratitude from article by Dr. Lev G. Fedyniak, MD from Vitality Monthly Wellness Journal, Toronto 2007
The Maya, as with traditional cultures, recognize diseases of the soul as well as the body and are aware that there are both spiritual and physical causes of illness. There are four major spiritual illnesses according to the Maya:
Susto (Fear or Fright)
Susto best translates as fright or trauma and is universally experienced by each of us at some time in our lives. Susto is one of the manifestations of soul loss. It is believed that the life force or the ch'ulel is frightened out of the body by some traumatic event. Susto can happen to infants, children, or adults and has a plethora of causes.
Susto in infants can be caused by: loud noises, especially when sleeping, witnessing domestic violence, being dropped, sudden environmental changes such as moving homes, spanking, violent potty training, sexual abuse and incest, and abandonment. These infants are suddenly cranky, difficult to calm down or put to sleep, slap at their caregivers, and cannot interact with other children or enjoy playtime. They may have sudden changes in stool that may be loose and green to watery. Indigestion and colic are to be expected as well as skin rashes and cradle cap.
Susto in children can be caused by: witnessing a frightening event of any kind, violent movies, domestic violence, drunkards in the household, abandonment, sexual abuse and incest, being in a car, bus, or plane accident, loss of a loved one, fires, hurricanes, nightmares, or severe bullying by peers. Children with susto show a sudden disinterest in their previous hobbies, studies, and friends. They will not sleep or eat well. There may be constipation or diarrhea and bloating. Hair loss is a possibility and they take on a pale complexion with dull, stringy hair. They cry easily and cannot play happily.
Susto in adults can be caused by: accidents or nearly being in an accident, rape, incest, sexual abuse, domestic violence, witnessing a murder or violent death, violent movies, being mugged or robbed, sudden bad news, fires, explosions, tornadoes, hurricanes, war and its consequent events, bloodshed, sudden falls, excessive or extended fear of loss of income, property, job. This results in sleep disturbances, indigestion, bad complexion, pale color, and overall lack of interest in life. Fear will be their constant companion and they may be plagued by frightening nightmares.
The loss of ch'ulel affects the efficiency of the immune system, the circulation, digestion, elimination, and nervous systems. Patients are often told that they have "some kind of heart disease," ‘stress or are written off by their physicians as hysterical types and hypochondriacs.
Pesar (Grief or Loss)
Like susto, pesar can and probably will happen to everyone at some time because we will all experience loss of some sort during a lifetime. Pesar is caused by loss of what is dear to us due to death, fire, natural disasters, a broken heart, being fired from a job or losing a career position. Infants and children experience pesar when someone dear to them dies, a best friend or their own family moves away, loss of a favorite teacher or school, and sometimes weaning from the breast. Adults can have pesar due to loss of any kind. The most common symptom of pesar is a deep, mournful sigh that seems to come for no known reason and is rather constant. There may also be changes for the worse in personality, nightmares of abandonment, and a strong sense of hopelessness mixed with vague depression.
Tristeza (Sadness or Depression)
Trisetza is sadness or depression of the type that seems to linger for years, or has always been with the person for as long as they can remember. It seems that these people felt unwanted as babies, were unloved or abused in early life, or experienced a series of peer rejections at school. They cannot find their true path or passion in life, feel isolated, alienated, and have sense that life has been unfair to them. They have trouble getting started in the morning, sleep too late, drink too much, abuse drugs, and often have had decades of psychotherapy. They can use mood-altering drugs to little or no avail.
lnvidia (Envy or Jealousy)
lnvidia translates as envy or jealousy. This can be devastating to the object of another's envy, especially when it is ongoing and long term. The victims of envy feel that their present lifestyle must change in order for them to find happiness. They suddenly feel discontent with their spouse, job, home, and hobbies.
If the envy streams from companions at work, arriving at work can make them feel depressed and anxious, and as they leave, these emotions are somewhat relieved. When envy comes from someone in the household or a neighbor, the person who is envied suddenly wants to move away. When they leave home, they start to feel much better and relieved of their emotional burdens.
Envy is insidious and has a thousand manifestations on the emotional, physical, and spiritual plane. Those suffering from envy are dejected, pale, and depressed and cannot say why. A fast-beating heart is common, with sudden palpitations that can be quite frightening and mimic heart conditions. Physical symptoms of envy include skin conditions, indigestion, lack of appetite, sleeplessness, nightmares, hearing voices, and an array of unexplained health problems. They will usually say, "I've been everywhere and no one can find out what is wrong with me."
Excerpted from Traditional Healing Approaches to Modern Psychiatric Disorders
– Dr. Rosita Arvigo, DN
The Second Principle is that there is no separation between the Body and the Soul, between the physical and spiritual realms. Ch’ulel means everything is inter-woven and inter-connected; that the physical and spiritual are only different ends of a continuum. It means that medicine is actually all around us and within this continuum; there are spirits who can help in healing.
The Third Principle is the recognition of natural cycles and the reverence of plants. Maya healers talk with, as opposed to just talking to, plants, as do many herbalists in other traditions. Certain plants choose the healer and they develop a very special relationship. These particular plants then aid the healer in treating the sick.
The Fourth Principle recognizes that healing is an integrative, comprehensive approach, with everybody - the healer, the patient, spirits, and plants and prayer working together to bring about the healing. There is no single component more important than the other.
The Fifth Principle is the Status of the Blood. As in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the use of pulses to determine imbalance is a central factor in diagnosis and treatment. It also helps distinguish between illnesses that are of physical versus spiritual (emotional) in origin and determines the consequent direction of treatment.
The Sixth Principle is that of Hot and Cold, which applies equally to illnesses, foods and plants. Fevers, diarrhea and vomiting are example of “hot” diseases – while cramps, constipation and paralysis are examples of “cold” ones. Hot foods can be garlic, onions, pepper and ginger while cold foods would include cheese, for example. The concept of Hot and Cold is important in choosing plants to treat with, inasmuch as “hot” plants treat “cold” illnesses and vice-versa.
The formation of organizations like the Ix Chel Tropical Research Foundation run by Dr. Rosita Arvigo and the Traditional Healers Foundation bring Maya healers from many countries together to share their knowledge with one another and the world at large. The government of Belize is to be highly commended for its involvement and decision to not let the plants used by Maya healers be destroyed by urban growth. A 6,000-acre tract of rainforest known as the Terra Nova Forest Reserve was set aside with the express purpose of conserving medicinal plants.
Excerpted with gratitude from article by Dr. Lev G. Fedyniak, MD from Vitality Monthly Wellness Journal, Toronto 2007
The Maya, as with traditional cultures, recognize diseases of the soul as well as the body and are aware that there are both spiritual and physical causes of illness. There are four major spiritual illnesses according to the Maya:
Susto (Fear or Fright)
Susto best translates as fright or trauma and is universally experienced by each of us at some time in our lives. Susto is one of the manifestations of soul loss. It is believed that the life force or the ch'ulel is frightened out of the body by some traumatic event. Susto can happen to infants, children, or adults and has a plethora of causes.
Susto in infants can be caused by: loud noises, especially when sleeping, witnessing domestic violence, being dropped, sudden environmental changes such as moving homes, spanking, violent potty training, sexual abuse and incest, and abandonment. These infants are suddenly cranky, difficult to calm down or put to sleep, slap at their caregivers, and cannot interact with other children or enjoy playtime. They may have sudden changes in stool that may be loose and green to watery. Indigestion and colic are to be expected as well as skin rashes and cradle cap.
Susto in children can be caused by: witnessing a frightening event of any kind, violent movies, domestic violence, drunkards in the household, abandonment, sexual abuse and incest, being in a car, bus, or plane accident, loss of a loved one, fires, hurricanes, nightmares, or severe bullying by peers. Children with susto show a sudden disinterest in their previous hobbies, studies, and friends. They will not sleep or eat well. There may be constipation or diarrhea and bloating. Hair loss is a possibility and they take on a pale complexion with dull, stringy hair. They cry easily and cannot play happily.
Susto in adults can be caused by: accidents or nearly being in an accident, rape, incest, sexual abuse, domestic violence, witnessing a murder or violent death, violent movies, being mugged or robbed, sudden bad news, fires, explosions, tornadoes, hurricanes, war and its consequent events, bloodshed, sudden falls, excessive or extended fear of loss of income, property, job. This results in sleep disturbances, indigestion, bad complexion, pale color, and overall lack of interest in life. Fear will be their constant companion and they may be plagued by frightening nightmares.
The loss of ch'ulel affects the efficiency of the immune system, the circulation, digestion, elimination, and nervous systems. Patients are often told that they have "some kind of heart disease," ‘stress or are written off by their physicians as hysterical types and hypochondriacs.
Pesar (Grief or Loss)
Like susto, pesar can and probably will happen to everyone at some time because we will all experience loss of some sort during a lifetime. Pesar is caused by loss of what is dear to us due to death, fire, natural disasters, a broken heart, being fired from a job or losing a career position. Infants and children experience pesar when someone dear to them dies, a best friend or their own family moves away, loss of a favorite teacher or school, and sometimes weaning from the breast. Adults can have pesar due to loss of any kind. The most common symptom of pesar is a deep, mournful sigh that seems to come for no known reason and is rather constant. There may also be changes for the worse in personality, nightmares of abandonment, and a strong sense of hopelessness mixed with vague depression.
Tristeza (Sadness or Depression)
Trisetza is sadness or depression of the type that seems to linger for years, or has always been with the person for as long as they can remember. It seems that these people felt unwanted as babies, were unloved or abused in early life, or experienced a series of peer rejections at school. They cannot find their true path or passion in life, feel isolated, alienated, and have sense that life has been unfair to them. They have trouble getting started in the morning, sleep too late, drink too much, abuse drugs, and often have had decades of psychotherapy. They can use mood-altering drugs to little or no avail.
lnvidia (Envy or Jealousy)
lnvidia translates as envy or jealousy. This can be devastating to the object of another's envy, especially when it is ongoing and long term. The victims of envy feel that their present lifestyle must change in order for them to find happiness. They suddenly feel discontent with their spouse, job, home, and hobbies.
If the envy streams from companions at work, arriving at work can make them feel depressed and anxious, and as they leave, these emotions are somewhat relieved. When envy comes from someone in the household or a neighbor, the person who is envied suddenly wants to move away. When they leave home, they start to feel much better and relieved of their emotional burdens.
Envy is insidious and has a thousand manifestations on the emotional, physical, and spiritual plane. Those suffering from envy are dejected, pale, and depressed and cannot say why. A fast-beating heart is common, with sudden palpitations that can be quite frightening and mimic heart conditions. Physical symptoms of envy include skin conditions, indigestion, lack of appetite, sleeplessness, nightmares, hearing voices, and an array of unexplained health problems. They will usually say, "I've been everywhere and no one can find out what is wrong with me."
Excerpted from Traditional Healing Approaches to Modern Psychiatric Disorders
– Dr. Rosita Arvigo, DN
Maya medicine is an indigenous healing tradition, seeped in history and ritual that is returning in strength and finding acknowledgement as an effective treatment methodology by Western medical researchers. Generally, people associate the Maya with the stone pyramids, like those at Chichen Itza, Tikal, Palenque or even Tulum. But the classic period of Mayan civilization, which ran from about 300 to about 900 AD, included artistic and scientific advances in architecture, writing, mathematics, astronomy, art, engineering and medicine.
The Maya territories included present day Belize, Guatemala, the western parts of Honduras and El Salvador and the Yucatan, Tabasco and Chiapas regions of Mexico. Then, for some reason unknown to this very day, the Maya abandoned their great cities to the jungle. The healing tradition of the Maya was primarily an oral one, passed down from generation to generation, making it one of the richest traditions to have survived the Spanish destruction.
The Six Principles of Mayan Healing
Holistic by its very nature, Maya medicine is classified as a medico-religious healing tradition, taking into account not only the physical ills of the body but the effects of the spirit – attitudes toward life and living, emotions such as grief, depression, anger, fright, and recognizing how intertwined they are.
