Kallawayas: herbalists of sacred land. Itinerant physicians and community integration in Villa Celina, La Matanza

Abstract

This paper is part of an investigation into the Bolivian community of Villa Celina, La Matanza. It aims to understand the phenomenon of identity construction of the migrant society and its subjects, based on their relationship with traditional socio - religious cultural root system. In this sense, medical herbalists, traditionally known as Kallawayas, display their traditional craft to a new urban form important part of an adaptive and reconstructive phenomenon of identity. The methodology is mainly based on observation, interviews, along with an evaluation methodology based on role play techniques. We conclude, as a hypothesis, that there would be a strong link between migration and building social networks and / or consolidation of such networks based on the contribution of these "healers" traditional and adaptive response to reality.