Traditional Use of the Andean Flicker as a Galactagogue in the Peruvian Andes
Author Information
Author(s): Steve Froemming
Hypothesis
The study investigates the use of the Andean flicker (Colaptes rupicola) as a galactagogue for nursing women and domestic animals in the Andes.
Conclusion
The Andean flicker is used as a galactagogue based on both metaphorical associations and perceived efficacy.
Supporting Evidence
- The Andean flicker is believed to stimulate milk production in both women and animals.
- Traditional practices in the Andes often blend human and animal healthcare.
- Ethnographic research highlights the cultural significance of the Andean flicker in local medicine.
Takeaway
People in the Andes use the Andean flicker bird to help nursing mothers and animals produce more milk, believing it works because of its special qualities.
Methodology
Ethnographic research conducted over a twenty-eight-month period from 1989–1992, with follow-up fieldwork in 1998.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the author's close association with the community studied.
Limitations
The study is based on ethnographic observations and may not account for all variables affecting milk production.
Participant Demographics
The study involved women and families from the agropastoral community of Ccachín in the southern Peruvian highlands.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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