Unearth Perú
in my boots
natural curing & superfoods
Marciano Tapia
Also known as, "Profe" is a father of 6 and a well-known healer of different types of injuries ranging from sprains, dislocations, fractures, and much more. So far, there hasn't been something that he couldn't cure. Most people visit Marciano after an unsuccessful trip to the doctors office. He has been using natural forms of healing since he was at least 5, he learned most of his practices from his grandparents.
Marciano heals people nearly everyday with the help of his medical team that includes his daughters, nephews, and even his adorable 2 year old granddaughter. Most of his curing is done within the adobe walls of his small home, but that will change at the end at the end of August of 2015. He is currently working on building a 4-story facility for his practices.
First step:
Each patient is treated with a warm mixture of "plantas maestras" to warm up the injured area and to try to get the circulation going.
The man on the left had been suffering from a spinal injury that has been bothering him for months.
The woman on the right was suffering from an elbow dislocation that happened the night before. Her entire arm was extremely swollen and she could not extend nor bend her arm.
Next step:
In this picture Mariano is working on fixing this man's back problems. He is using his hands to find the misplaced vertebrae that is causing the pain and discomfort. Mariano is using his homemade ointment that he plans on getting patented. This particular step of the entire process tends to be the most painful, but most helpful.
He uses this white table for most of his patients and rehabilitation. With the help of a few others, Mariano is attempting to relocate this woman's arm. This type of treatment seems to be pretty common, everyone knew their place. I heard lots of "pops" and "snaps" when he was treating her. I almost fainted!
Final steps:
The containers you see below are filled with the commonly used healing products that are made by Marciano himself. He uses a mixture of plants that are grown on a hillside behind his house. He was not willing to share the key and apparently secret ingredients!
The products are then applied to the affected area. The first liquid is applied to calm any inflammation, then the second is a calcium based paste. This process is extremely important in the healing process, these pastes cannot be wasted.
The affected area is then protected by brown-bag-like paper to assure that the liquids stay in place and have plenty of time/space to soak into the skin. With time it begins to harden to act as a cast.
Finally, the injured area is wrapped tightly to stay in a comfortable but stable position. The material used to wrap the wound is then sewn shut to keep it's place until the next doctor visit (~3 days).
peruvian superfoods!
 Cusco MercadoYou can find a variety of affordable superfoods at every local market. Here you can see that quinoa, chia seeds, habas, and maca can be found easily and normally sold by the kilogram. This is merely an example of many stands that sell these types of products. |  Quinoa GaloreQuinoa continues to be a growing facet to the peruvian cuisine and I see it more and more everyday. At the Cusco market I spotted at least 7 different types and varieties of quinoa. I learned that most types of quinoa have the same nutritional value (in general), but black quinoa contains more lithium which is a regulator of depression. Quinoa has higher protein content than brown rice and more amino acids than wheat! |  Harina de Coca"Coma Coca" = Eat coca. Although coca seems to be looked upon as a taboo in the US, Peru takes advantage of this very nutritious natural resource. This powder form of coca can have a very different effect as opposed to chewing the leaves or drinking it in a tea. With a small teaspoon of this powder and some water, this drink can provide more calcium than a glass of regular whole milk. I wish I could bring more back with me, but of course I have a weight limit for my bags!! |
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 Powder formMost superfoods found in Peru can also be found in a powder form to use for cooking. Habas are a lime green bean that is grown in many parts of the Sacred Valley. Maca can help better the immune system, reduce stress/fatigue, contains amino acids, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. They often use the powder form in soups as a thickening agent, and its healthier! |  Ch-Ch-Ch-ChiaNo chia-pets found here in Peru! Unlike the ridiculous chia hair gag gift sold in the US, chia seeds have a different use here in the Sacred Valley. I can confidently say that I've consumed chia seeds every single day during my time here thus far. I've seen them mostly used as a meal topper, but I eaten them also over fruit, desserts, an in smoothies. These white chia seeds can lower cholesterol, fight obesity, and make one feel more full when consumed. |  Cusco MastersI was able to learn about these super duper foods thanks to my mentors, Max and Nicole. Max is a local of Peru, and Nicole is well on her way to becoming an official Peruvian, despite her golden locks ;). Couldn't have had half as many learning opportunities without these two. |