In Peru, traditional healing practices address a range of health issues, from physical illnesses to psychological and spiritual ones. During our health clinics and campaigns in remote river communities, Amazon Promise offers treatments to patients that combine these traditional approaches with Western medicine.

Upon arrival in a village, an Amazon Promise volunteer and a local community healthcare worker (or “promoter of health”) seek out the knowledge holder of the medicinal plants in the area. This person is often an elder and may also be a known healer. The group then collects samples of the medicinal plants and brings them to our clinic for patient use and education.

Amazon Promise integrates shaman and traditional healers into our clinical settings whenever possible. Sadly, in many communities, they no longer exist or keep a low profile.

Watch our short film, “Where Western and Traditional Medicine Meet.”