Reclaiming Traditional Medicine and Healing Forests in Peru

The Traditional Medicine Encyclopaedia was created entirely by the Matsés people - there were no outsiders coming in to document their knowledge, no ethno-botanical expeditions, and no translations. The entire encyclopaedia was written by the Matsés in their own villages, in their own words, and in their own language. All photographs and illustrations were also completed by the Matsés themselves. This incredible accomplishment is all the more remarkable considering sustained contact with the outside world occurred less than a half-century ago.

This wealth of knowledge and techniques of treatment had been passed on through oral tradition for millennia. The Matsés people realised that what they had was a method to thrive in one of the most biodiverse yet difficult ecosystems on the planet.

History and Background

Traditional Medicine Initiative in 2013, the Matsés rich