GLOSSARY OF TRADITIONAL TERMINOLOGY

Vegetalista

Indigenous healer who employs plants for healing.  You can only become a good vegetalista by keeping a dieta with specific Teacher Plants over many years. The plants demand and require a rigorous committed and disciplined approach. One must abstain from sex, alcohol , drugs, sugar, pork and red Meat, spices, salt etc.

Some dietas for certain plants require one not to drink any water for the duration and or no fruits for 3 to 6 months afterwards.

Perfumero

a vegetalista who employs plant fragrances to use for healing. A vegetalista who has learned the way of the plants by dieting with a perfume extracted from several varieties of teacher plants.

Curandero

a folk healer or medicine man who uses herbs or hallucinogenic plants, magic, and spiritualism to treat illness, induce visions, impart traditional wisdom, etc.

Pusanga

In the spiritual traditions of the Amazon in Peru, a magical perfume called a Pusanga is made from flowers and plants which have the power to attract the people who wear the things they really want. For that reason, Pusanga has developed an impressive reputation as “the love medicine of the Amazon”’ 

Master Plants in PC perfumes - Used for traditional healing ceremonies.

Master/ teacher plants are so called for their amazing curative powers that work in a truly holistic way, addressing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels of our being. These plants contain powerful spirits that embody the wisdom of the Amazon jungle.

For those who approach them with open mind and heart, master plant teachers offer us spiritual healing, cleansing, communion, and knowledge.  

“Master Plant teachers have co existed with us for millenia and their powers have been passed down for healing ”

PIRI PIRI  (Cyperus Articulatus)

A Tropical Amazonian Sedge grass inhabits marshy areas along rivers and streams.

Women traditionally cultivate the plant in their jungle gardens, making healing infusions for eyedrops for infants after birth, to enhance visions that will inform their designs known as ‘Kene’ or ‘Kenebo’. Grandmothers tell stories that get passed down through their embroidery onto textiles, ceramics and painted on faces for ritual and ceremony. 

The geometric designs and symbols and colours communicate the cosmology of the tribe.

Piri is used as a potent ally for balancing all cycles of women's lives and is used in potions to enhance good luck and love.

HUACHUMA - San Pedro Cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi) 

Native to the Andean mountain ranges of South America, San Pedro (Saint Peter) is respected as a powerful “Grandfather” Medicine. 

With its potential to catalyze deep healing for individuals and societies, it is known as a “teacher plant” and is considered the key that opens the gates of heaven. 

The spirit of San Pedro gives an increased ability to see and feel more deeply enhancing ones’ capacity to feel unconditional love for all earthly creatures and to perceive and connect with many forms of energy, animate and inanimate. Its ceremonial use has been traced back to pre Inca times to the Chavin culture.

AYAHUASCA  (Banasteriopsis Caapi)

A sacred shamanic plant medicine brewed from two plants – Ayahuasca vine with leaves of Chacruna (Psychotria Viridis): Ayahuasca is revered throughout the Amazon region as a Master Teacher and facilitates physical, emotional -spiritual healing with strong cleansing & visionary effects. The vines and leaves are ritually gathered, prayed sung to over the fire for many hours, creating a potent medicinal brew, ceremonially administered by Shamans and Curanderos only under a strict diet. Sacred healing songs called Ikaros to call on the spirits of the plants, animals, and celestial helpers who assist the shaman to heal and cure the patient. Referred to as “Grandmother” for her ancient knowledge and wisdom imparted with a nurturing, loving yet somewhat stern energy. Limiting beliefs held for lifetimes may be challenged and released.