The ancient Mayans believed
that any healing process was extremely intricate and encompassed the belief
that any ailment was treatable as long as the individual achieved a sound
balance between the mind and the body. Therefore six principles were used as a
guideline when conducting medicinal/healing procedures...
The 1st Principle: The concept of the Ch’ulel
The Ch’ulel can be roughly
translated as the “Life force.” The Mayans believed that this Life force was
present everywhere as it permeated everything that existed. The Life force was
present not only in living organisms but inanimate objects as well: people,
bodies of water, houses, animals, etc.
The purpose of the Life force was to bind
everything and everyone together in a manner of perfect harmony. This chief
principle of Mayan medicine emphasized the notion that the Mayan healer’s
primary goal was to achieve a healthy balance of the Ch’ulel.
The efficacy of a Mayan healer would reflect his ability to restore
balance of the Ch’ulel in his patients.
Several of Mayan ancient scripts including Ch'ulel: the holy life force that is responsible for the spiritual homeostasis of all individuals.
The 2nd Principle: No divide between Soul and Body
The soul and the body can be considered the
spiritual and physical realms respectively. In the first principle, the Ch’ulel is
established as ubiquitous and able to connect everything together. Therefore
the spiritual and physical realms (the soul and the body) are on different ends
of this continuum established by the Ch’ulel. Because the ubiquity
of the Ch’ulel in everything and everyone, medicine and
remedies required for healing was considered to be all around as well.
 |
| A pendant displaying the balance of spiritual and physical forces. |
The 3rd Principle: Recognition of natural cycles
Mayan healers utilized nature for remedies and
treatment options especially the surrounding flora. The Mayans believed that
the Mayan healer and certain plants would choose each other and work with each
other to bring healing. As the healer interacts with the plants and creates the
treatment there is a very special relationship that is established.
The 4th Principle: Healing is a comprehensive approach
The Mayans also acknowledged that the healing
and treatment of all ailments was a process. It required the participation and
cooperation of several parties including but not limited to the healer himself,
the patient, herbs/flora, and spirits. The harmony of all these factors would
be vital to ensure that a sick individual’s recovery was quick and efficient.
The 5th Principle: Status of the Blood
Mayan healers often utilized a sick individual’s
pulse/heart’s beat per minute to determine where the imbalance was responsible
for an ailment. Also, a pulse could help a healer to distinguish which
illnesses were of a physical or spiritual nature and what remedies could be
conjured up to counter them. The bloodstream was considered the primary flow of spirits therefore releasing blood was believed to filter the detrimental spirits from the beneficial ones. This practice of cutting oneself or others is referred to as bloodletting which was a medicinal practice as well as a ritual one.
Two elites are depicted partaking in bloodletting rituals with the individual on the left piercing his own tongue.
The 6th Principle: The Hot and the Cold
The hot and the cold concept is one that is
especially applied to a variety of ailments. Diseases that are categorized as
hot in Mayan culture include fevers, indigestion, diarrhea, and vomiting while
cold diseases include cramps, constipation, paralysis, and asthma attacks.
Foods and plants that are utilized in remedies
and forms of treatment are also categorized as hot and cold. It’s important for
Mayan healers to use hot plants to treat cold illnesses and vice versa. Again
this reinforces that the Ch’ulel must be balanced in a sick
individual.
