Mapuche Medicine
Mapuche machi healers combine ritual, spiritual diagnosis, and the extraordinary plant diversity of Patagonia and the southern Andes — one of South America's most vibrantly alive healing traditions.
Chile & Argentina
History & Philosophy
Origins
Mapuche medicine developed among the Mapuche people of what is now Chile and Argentina, shaped by the exceptional plant diversity of Patagonia and the southern Andes.
Core philosophy
Machi — traditionally often female spiritual healers — combine ritual and spiritual diagnosis with extensive herbal knowledge, treating illness as connected to disturbance in a person's relationship with the natural and spiritual world.
Practiced today
Mapuche medicine remains an actively practiced tradition in southern Chile and Argentina today, with growing formal recognition within Chilean intercultural health policy that incorporates machi healers alongside conventional care in some regions.
Herbs, foods & remedies
95 herbs traditionally used within Mapuche Medicine — most often for Digestive Issues, Fever, Wound Healing.
Achiote (Annatto)
Bixa orellana
Algarrobillo (Balsamocarpon)
Balsamocarpon brevifolium
Amancay (Alstroemeria)
Alstroemeria aurea
Añañuca (Red Lily)
Rhodophiala bagnoldii
Añil (Indigofera)
Indigofera arrecta
Arrayán (Luma)
Luma apiculata
Bailahuén
Haplopappus baylahuen
Berro (Watercress)
Nasturtium officinale
Boldo
Peumus boldus
Caña Colihue
Chusquea quila
Canelo (Winter's Bark)
Drimys winteri
Changle (Lleuque)
Podocarpus nubigenus
Chépica (Couch Grass)
Cynodon dactylon
Chequén (Luma Chequen)
Luma chequen
Chilco (Fuchsia)
Fuchsia magellanica
Chillán (Prosopis)
Prosopis chilensis
Chucao Root
Sarcochilus bilobatus
Chupón (Greigia)
Greigia sphacelata
Coiron (Stippa)
Stipa speciosa
Colihue (Chusquea)
Chusquea culeou
Colliguay (Colliguaja)
Colliguaja odorifera
Copiwe (Philesia)
Philesia magellanica
Corcolén (Azara)
Azara dentata
Cortadera (Gynerium)
Cortaderia atacamensis
Cruceta (Minthostachys)
Minthostachys verticillata
Cúbano (Escallonia Pulverulenta)
Escallonia pulverulenta
Cula (Araucaria)
Araucaria araucana
Culantrillo (Adiantum)
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Culén (Otholobium)
Otholobium glandulosum
Espinillo (Acacia)
Acacia caven
Guillawe (Cortaderia)
Cortaderia selloana
Helecho (Fern)
Pteridium aquilinum
Hierba del Sapo (Calceolaria)
Calceolaria uniflora
Hinojo (Wild Fennel)
Foeniculum vulgare
Huahuan (Lobelia)
Lobelia tupa
Hualtata (Senecio)
Senecio chilensis
Huayu (Adenanthos)
Lobelia polyphylla
Huingo (Crescentia)
Crescentia cujete
Kiñe Lawen (Single Herb)
Gentianella magellanica
Kopiwe (Lapageria)
Lapageria rosea
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