Andean & Incan Medicine
Kallawaya healers and Incan medicine combined high-altitude plants — maca, muña, chanca piedra, and cat's claw — with ceremony and profound knowledge of the Andes.
Peru, Bolivia & the Andes
History & Philosophy
Origins
Andean and Incan medicine combines the practices of the Inca empire with those of the Kallawaya, an itinerant healer lineage from Bolivia whose traditional knowledge system is recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
Core philosophy
Healing integrates ceremony and cosmology with a highly developed practical pharmacology — archaeological evidence shows Incan medicine included surgical practices like trepanation alongside its extensive herbal knowledge.
Practiced today
Kallawaya healers continue to practice and travel through the Andean region today, and high-altitude botanicals like maca and cat's claw, once known only regionally, are now globally recognized supplements.
Herbs, foods & remedies
184 herbs traditionally used within Andean & Incan Medicine — most often for Digestive Issues, Fever, Wound Healing.
Achicoria Andina (Chicory)
Cichorium intybus
Achiote (Annatto)
Bixa orellana
Achira (Canna)
Canna indica
Aguaymanto (Cape Gooseberry)
Physalis peruviana
Ajara (Wild Quinoa)
Chenopodium hircinum
Amaro Herb (Andean Bitter)
Gentianella nitida
Amor Seco
Desmodium incanum
Añawaya (Andean Shrub)
Adesmia miraflorensis
Ancañuca (Andean Oxalis)
Oxalis corniculata var. atropurpurea
Andean Ash (Fresno Andino)
Fraxinus uhdei
Andean Bilberry (Macha Macha)
Pernettya prostrata
Andean Blackberry (Zarzamora)
Rubus bogotensis
Andean Broom (Retama)
Spartium junceum var. andinum
Andean Cactus (Ulala)
Echinopsis laganiformis
Andean Chamomile (Manzanilla)
Matricaria chamomilla
Andean Cress (Mastuerzo)
Tropaeolum majus
Andean Cushion Plant (Yareta)
Azorella compacta
Andean Dwarf Bamboo
Chusquea scandens
Andean Elder Flower (Sauco Andino)
Sambucus peruviana
Andean Elderberry (Sauco)
Sambucus nigra subsp.
Andean Fuchsia (Chilco)
Fuchsia boliviana
Andean Geranium (Pasuchaca)
Geranium sessiliforum
Andean Ginseng (Lepidium)
Lepidium peruvianum
Andean Jasmine (Jazmín Andino)
Mutisia viciaefolia
Andean Mint (Muña)
Minthostachys setosa
Andean Passionflower (Tumbo)
Passiflora tripartita
Andean Peppertree Leaf
Schinus areira
Andean Plantain (Llantén Andino)
Plantago tubulosa
Andean Sage (Salvia Roja)
Salvia haenkei
Andean Tree Fern (Helecho Arborescente)
Cyathea caracasana
Andean Wild Celery (Yurac Apio)
Arracacia moschata
Andean Wild Lupine (Yurac Chocho)
Lupinus ballianus
Andean Wild Mint (Poleo)
Mentha microphylla
Andean Wormwood (Ajenjo Andino)
Artemisia sodiroi
Anís Estrella (Star Anise)
Illicium verum
Arrayán (Myrtle)
Ugni molinae
Ayrampo
Opuntia soehrensii
Boldo (Andean)
Peumus boldus
Cactus Andino (Sanky)
Corryocactus brevistylus
Camu Camu
Myrciaria dubia
Showing the first 40 of 184 — use “See all” above for the full, filterable list.