  ReviewThe use of magical plants by curanderos in the Ecuador highlandsAnthony P Cavender1  and Manuel Albán2  1
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee 37604, USA 2
Decano, Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Estatal de Bolivar, Guaranda, Ecuador  author email corresponding author email
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2009,
5:3doi:10.1186/1746-4269-5-3
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| Published: |
22 January 2009 |
Abstract
Although the use of plants for treating supernaturally caused illnesses (e.g., soul loss, evil wind, witchcraft) has been documented in the Ecuador highlands, so-called magical plants have received much less focused attention than plants used for treating naturalistic disorders. Drawing on interviews done in 2002 and 2003 with 116 curanderos residing in the Ecuador highlands, this paper examines the characteristics of plants identified as magical, how they are used, and how the study of magical plants provides insights into the mindscape of residents of the highlands. | 
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