Ancient Chamorro Ancient Chamorro Society of GuamSociety of GuamBy Thelma DevlinBy Thelma Devlin

SURUHANASSURUHANASMedicine men/women of GuamMedicine men/women of Guam

Ben TanapagBen TanapagBen harvests leaves used Ben harvests leaves used for traditional medicinefor traditional medicine..

Where is Guam?Where is Guam?

Who are the suruhanas?Who are the suruhanas? Highly respected older Chamorro men and women Highly respected older Chamorro men and women

who practice traditional medicinewho practice traditional medicine Use herbs, magic, massage, and personal power to Use herbs, magic, massage, and personal power to

cure the sickcure the sick Purpose in today’s community is to promote good Purpose in today’s community is to promote good

healthhealth Most of the healers are women who specialize – Most of the healers are women who specialize –

broken limbs, fevers, child birthingbroken limbs, fevers, child birthing Special calling for healing and usually passed on to Special calling for healing and usually passed on to

relative – breached babies believed to have aptituderelative – breached babies believed to have aptitude Believe illness is caused by spiritual means or natural Believe illness is caused by spiritual means or natural

causescauses Categorized illness as hot or cold – disease is hot, Categorized illness as hot or cold – disease is hot,

cold medicine prescribed “cold medicine prescribed “gaso’sogaso’so” (soap plant)” (soap plant)

What did the suruhanas believe?What did the suruhanas believe?““My mom was a suruhana. She could heal My mom was a suruhana. She could heal

people just by praying. But when my people just by praying. But when my mother applied the power of the suruhana, mother applied the power of the suruhana, the spirit or ghost eventually separated the spirit or ghost eventually separated from that person." from that person."

What do suruhanas use?What do suruhanas use? ““NunuNunu” (banyan tree or ” (banyan tree or Ficus prolixa)Ficus prolixa) root root

sap stopped blood flow when placed on a sap stopped blood flow when placed on a woundwound

Tea made of crushed “Tea made of crushed “hagon”hagon” (leaf), “ (leaf), “hale”hale” (root), and “(root), and “lasas”lasas” (bark) (bark)

Magical ashes made of human sweat, Magical ashes made of human sweat, white chicken feathers, palm frondswhite chicken feathers, palm fronds

Urine of first-born maleUrine of first-born male Mystical body lotionsMystical body lotions

Herbal medicineHerbal medicine

Pharmacists were aware of medicinal Pharmacists were aware of medicinal plantsplants

Most plants on Guam have not been Most plants on Guam have not been studied by scientistsstudied by scientists

Experts say plants used in herbal Experts say plants used in herbal medicine contain important vitmainsmedicine contain important vitmains

Examples of herbal medicineExamples of herbal medicine Nunu (banyan Nunu (banyan

tree)tree) stop blood stop blood flow of a woundflow of a wound

Hagon (leaf), Hagon (leaf), hale (root), lasas hale (root), lasas (bark)(bark) make a make a tea to cool hot tea to cool hot illnessillness

Headache RemedyHeadache Remedy Massage the person's head with Massage the person's head with

warm, blessed coconut oil. warm, blessed coconut oil. Gently pull at the roots of the Gently pull at the roots of the persons hair (be careful not to persons hair (be careful not to pull hair out!) in small amounts, pull hair out!) in small amounts, pinching the hair and pulling pinching the hair and pulling upwards. If this is a sinus or upwards. If this is a sinus or allergy headache, use the allergy headache, use the coconut oil to massage the coconut oil to massage the eyelids, pressing lightly but firmly eyelids, pressing lightly but firmly between the eyes and working between the eyes and working out towards the cheeks, stopping out towards the cheeks, stopping at the temples. at the temples.

Yetban Santa Maria –Yetban Santa Maria –Indian ChrysanthemumIndian Chrysanthemum

Yetban Santa MariaYetban Santa MariaIndian ChrysanthemumIndian ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum IndicumChrysanthemum Indicum

Used for various medical Used for various medical conditions including recovery from conditions including recovery from influenza. Allows for expulsion of influenza. Allows for expulsion of pathogenic wind.pathogenic wind.

IndicationsIndications: influenza, sore throat, : influenza, sore throat, fever, conjunctivitis, tuberculosis, fever, conjunctivitis, tuberculosis, varicose veins and atherosclerosis, varicose veins and atherosclerosis, gout.gout.

EucalytpusEucalytpus EucalyptusEucalyptus

Eucalyptus globulusEucalyptus globulus

UsesUses: Stimulant, antiseptic, aromatic.: Stimulant, antiseptic, aromatic.

Eucalyptus Oil is one of the more Eucalyptus Oil is one of the more powerful antiseptics of its class and is powerful antiseptics of its class and is used as a disinfectant, stimulant, and used as a disinfectant, stimulant, and antiseptic. gargle. It is known to increase antiseptic. gargle. It is known to increase cariac action as well as its anti-malarial cariac action as well as its anti-malarial qualities.qualities.

IndicationsIndications: Allergies, sinusitis, : Allergies, sinusitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, microbic pulmonary tuberculosis, microbic diseases of the lungs, bronchitis, diseases of the lungs, bronchitis, spasmodic throat troubles, and parasitic spasmodic throat troubles, and parasitic skin affections.skin affections.

Recipe for curing colds or pneumoniaRecipe for curing colds or pneumonia 3 leaves – “3 leaves – “gaso’sogaso’so”” 3 leaves – “3 leaves – “lodigaolodigao” ” 3 leaves – “3 leaves – “amot tumagaamot tumaga” ” 2 ½ leaves “agao” 2 ½ leaves “agao” Pinch of saltPinch of salt Boil 1 “Boil 1 “latandudu”latandudu” (pint) of water (pint) of water If necessary, add “If necessary, add “dadangsi ahgagadadangsi ahgaga” root” root

Gaso’so’Gaso’so’ leaves leaves Buckthorn familyBuckthorn family Columbrina asiatica. Columbrina asiatica. Asian snakewoodAsian snakewood Higher plants & ferns of National Park of American Higher plants & ferns of National Park of American

SamoaSamoa

LodigaoLodigaoClerodendrum inerme - Seaside clerodendrum Clerodendrum inerme - Seaside clerodendrum From: Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk projectFrom: Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project

Amot tumagaAmot tumaga Cassia sp. or Senna leavesCassia sp. or Senna leaves

AgaoAgao Premna obtusifoliaPremna obtusifolia Headache tree/ false elderHeadache tree/ false elder Found in PohnpeiFound in Pohnpei

Dadangsi ahgagaDadangsi ahgaga Urena lobataUrena lobata Ceasar’s weedCeasar’s weed

Suruhana feeding Suruhana feeding a sick baby with a sick baby with herbal medicine.herbal medicine.

Maria is a suruhana on Guam. Her knowledge of medicine and ability to see spirits was passed on through family traditions.

ReferencesReferences http://www.pacificworlds.com/cnmi/land/forest.cfmhttp://www.pacificworlds.com/cnmi/land/forest.cfm http://books.google.com/books?id=9r0a2ww8KLcC&dq=ancient+Chamorro+Society&pg=PP1&ots=6i1_GrgpLk&sig=y9uaKIkNVigHN_Tf151duIWqLoI&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=resulthttp://books.google.com/books?id=9r0a2ww8KLcC&dq=ancient+Chamorro+Society&pg=PP1&ots=6i1_GrgpLk&sig=y9uaKIkNVigHN_Tf151duIWqLoI&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result