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Revitalizing Kichwa Midwifery

Revitalizing Kichwa Midwifery

April 1, 2026

This post introduces the article “Revitalizing Kichwa Midwifery: Medicinal Plant Knowledge for Pregnant Women in San Martín, Peru” by Conzuelo Tapullima de Tuanama Tuanama and Laura Corradi. Centering the teachings of Kichwa midwife Mamá Conzuelo, the article explores ancestral plant knowledge, pregnancy care, and the enduring role of Indigenous midwives in sustaining community health and cultural continuity.

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Oral Testimonies of Traditional Medicine: A Kamëntša Woman’s Legacy

Oral Testimonies of Traditional Medicine: A Kamëntša Woman’s Legacy

March 27, 2026

This post introduces the article “Oral Testimonies of Traditional Medicine: A Kamëntša Woman’s Legacy”, which centers on the oral testimony of Kamëntša elder and healer Mamita Maria Dolores. The piece reflects on women’s healing knowledge, plant medicine, and cultural continuity in Colombia’s Sibundoy Valley. It offers a glimpse into the living traditions that sustain Kamëntša community life and memory.

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Wombs, Washes, and Wisdom

Wombs, Washes, and Wisdom

March 11, 2026

This post introduces “Wombs, Washes, and Wisdom: Translational Ethnobotany and the Plant Healing Practices of Haitian Women in the Diaspora.” The article highlights Haitian women as stewards of plant-based reproductive health knowledge and presents translational ethnobotany as a model for community-centered research and healing. It also reflects on how collaborative research can generate practical resources that benefit the communities involved.

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The Golden Root and Her Spicy Sister

The Golden Root and Her Spicy Sister

March 2, 2026

Turmeric and ginger are herbs with significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. Used for centuries in traditional medicine, they now have growing clinical research supporting their role in digestive health, metabolic balance and immune function, and mood regulation.

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Spirit Molecules, Part 2

Spirit Molecules, Part 2

January 29, 2026

Ibogaine, derived from the iboga plant, has been used for centuries in West African healing traditions. This post explores its cultural origins, therapeutic potential for addiction, trauma and TBI, and the importance of clinical safety and respect for Indigenous knowledge and traditions.

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Spirit Molecules, Part 1

Spirit Molecules, Part 1

January 16, 2026

Ayahuasca is an Amazonian sacred medicine with a long history of Indigenous use for healing and spiritual insight. This article explores its botanical origins, traditional practices, therapeutic research, ethical concerns, and the responsibilities surrounding its contemporary study.

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Grief and Mourning Across Cultures and Religions

Grief and Mourning Across Cultures and Religions

January 2, 2026

An exploration of how death, grief, and mourning are experienced across religions and cultures, examining customs, protocols, and healing practices, and highlighting the ways people find comfort and restoration through support and ceremonial rites that revere the cycle of life.

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The Power of Fermentation: Boost Nutrition, Reduce Toxins, and Enhance Herbs

The Power of Fermentation: Boost Nutrition, Reduce Toxins, and Enhance Herbs

December 30, 2025

Fermentation is a time-honored practice used across traditional medicine systems to enhance digestion, nutrient absorption, and therapeutic effects of foods and herbs. This article explores research evidence on fermented foods, probiotics, and psychobiotics, alongside cultural knowledge and a practical herbal tepache recipe.

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Artemisia ludoviciana (Estafiate) in Indigenous and Modern Medicine

Artemisia ludoviciana (Estafiate) in Indigenous and Modern Medicine

August 28, 2025

Estafiate has long been central to Indigenous medicine in Mexico, valued for treating digestive and respiratory ailments, while also playing a key role in ceremony and cosmology. Documented in early codices and still widely used today, estafiate reflects the resilience of Indigenous knowledge and its ongoing dialogue with modern science.

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