Medicina chamánica: su análisis desde una perspectiva científica

Shamanic activity appears in every known hunter-gatherer society. The shaman's role centers on dominating an ecstatic trance in which he believes his soul leaves his body to explore the spirit world, the basis of his healing power and control over nature. Modern science offers rational explanations for two core features of shamanic medicine: the ecstatic state arises from altered perception driven by personal factors (disease), environmental factors (inhospitable settings), or pharmacological agents (psychotropic substances); the shaman's healing effects may stem from the symbolic efficiency of rituals.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Shamanic activity has been documented in all hunter-gatherer societies past and present without exception. The role of the shaman is primarily characterized by dominating the ecstatic experience, a trance where the shaman believes make his soul leaves his body acquiring the ability to explore the level of spirits, which in his view is the basis of his power healing and control over the forces of nature. Modern sciece has proposed rational explanations about what would be the foundations on which two of the central features of shamanic medicine are based: the generation of ecstatic state by the shaman and his potential healing power. With regard to the ecstatic state it would be the development of a state of altered perception itself of the human mind led by personal factors (diseases), environmental (inhospitable environments) and / or pharmacological (psychotropic agents); while the shaman healing effects could be attributed to the symbolic efficiency of rituals