Practices and health care among the Karipuna of Uaçá

Abstract

This article analizes the therapeutic practices of Karipuna indians who live in Uaga indigenous area, the representations tied up to the diseases, the health, as well as the contexts in that these representations are produced. The goal is to understand the notions of health and disease this indigenous population whose elements which form its therapeutic practices include biomedic knowledges, catholic, evangelical and shamanic beliefs. The analysis undertook here considers the concrete episodes of disease, recognized by own Karipuna, and follows the patient’s different therapeutics choices, from family treatment with homemade medicines based on herbs, going by the consultation to the members of the family or community, until the different specialists.