The use of the head louse as a remedy for jaundice in Spanish folk medicine: an overview

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

José Antonio González¹  José Ramón Vallejo² 

[1] Grupo de Investigación de Recursos Etnobiológicos del Duero-Douro (GRIRED), Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37071, Salamanca, Spain;Departamento de Terapéutica Médico-Quirúrgica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Extremadura, E-06006, Badajoz, Spain

关键词: Spain;    Traditional medicine;    Ingestion;    Jaundice;    Head louse;   

Others  :  862253
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-4269-9-52

 received in 2013-05-15, accepted in 2013-07-20,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

In Spain, head lice are considered a therapeutic resource for the treatment of jaundice. All folk remedies based on the ingestion of these insects meet in the present document, previously dispersed among a large number of references.

Methods

An overview of the Spanish literature has been carried out. The most important databases have been consulted. All related works have been examined.

Results

Although the method of preparation is diverse and the dose varies, the primary recommendation is a transference ritual consisting of taking nine live lice for nine days on an empty stomach without the patient’s knowledge. This traditional knowledge survives in Spanish society, and constitutes an example of the interrelation between Spanish and Latin American folk medicines.

Conclusions

The survival of this therapy in the worldview of certain rural communities suggests the need to take into account the beliefs, ideas and behaviour patterns of popular culture in relation to health and disease.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Vallejo and González; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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