[Neurological aspects described in The treasure of medicines for all illnesses by Gregorio López].

Introduction: Latin American medicine in the 16th century produced the first collections of herbs with native plants from the New World. Treatises on popular therapies appeared, which included gallenic remedies as well as incorporating autochthonous plants. We review the main neurological diseases and their treatments described in The Treasure of Medicines for All Illnesses by Gregorio Lopez (1542-1596).

[Treatment of headaches among the Aborigines of Tierra de Fuego. A comparison with other anthropological studies].

Summary Introduction: Several different indigenous groups (Yamana, Selk'nam, Alacaluf, Haush) used to inhabit the Patagonian region of Tierra de Fuego, but are now extinct.

Aim: To analyse the healing practices that these prehistoric aborigines used to treat headaches and to compare them with those observed in other anthropological studies.

Development: The article reviews the most important manuscripts from the end of the 19th century written by anthropologists and missionaries who were in contact with these peoples (Bridges, Hyades, Gusinde).

[Ritual use of Anadenanthera seeds among South America natives].

Introduction: Several South-American native societies snuff psychoactive seeds in magic-religious rituals since ancient times.

Objectives: To describe archeological, historical and ethnographical evidences regarding the ritual use of vilca or yopo (Anadenanthera sp).

Development: Anadenanthera seeds were used in South America 3,000 years ago.

An anthropological study about headache and migraine in native cultures from Central and South America.

Objective: To describe the ritual and ethnobotanical treatments about migraine performed by shamans from several native cultures.

Methods: Anthropological field study conducted with Tzeltal Maya (Mexico), Kamayurá (Brazil), and Uru-Chipaya (Bolivia) American Indians.

Results: Migraine is called yaxti-wanjol chawaj by Tzeltal shamans.

An anthropological study about epilepsy in native tribes from Central and South America.

Purpose: Epilepsy was a well-recognized disease in pre-Columbian cultures. However, anthropological studies about epilepsy in native cultures living at the present time are scarce. The objective of this paper was to study native perception and myths about epilepsy, their magic-religious healing rites and ceremonies, and the natural treatments that archaic cultures used.

[Sacred psychoactive seeds and ritual sacrifices in the Moche culture].

Introduction: Archaeological findings have confirmed the existence of representations of ritual human sacrifices on pottery belonging to the Moche culture (100-750 AD) in northern Peru; until recently these images were thought to be mythological narrations. We review the archaeological and ethno-historical data concerning Moche sacrifices and we attempt to identify the psychoactive seeds and plants used during such rites.

Development: Ethno-historical data from different chronicles of the New World written in the 16th century state that hamala seeds (belonging to the species Nectandra) were used for their analgesic, sedative, narcotic and anticoagulating properties, and that chamico, or stramonium, had an intoxicating effect on those who took it.

[Evidence of facial palsy and facial malformations in pottery from Peruvian Moche and Lambayeque pre-Columbian cultures].

Introduction: Moche (100-700 AD) and Lambayeque-Sicán (750-1100 AD) are pre-Columbian cultures from Regional States Period, developed in Northern Peru. Information about daily life, religion and medicine has been obtained through the study of Moche ceramics found in lords and priests tombs, pyramids and temples.

Objective: To analyze archeological evidences of Moche Medicine and neurological diseases through ceramics.

[Mescaline and the San Pedro cactus ritual: archaeological and ethnographic evidence in northern Peru].

Introduction: The San Pedro cactus contains the alkaloid mescaline and other derivates of phenethylamine with hallucinogenic properties. This cactus was used throughout history by a number of different pre-Columbine cultures and civilisations that settled in northern Peru. In this article we review the ethno-archaeological and ethno-historical evidence of the ritual use of the San Pedro cactus in the pre-Columbine cultures, and these findings are compared with the information provided by current ethnographical studies.

[Ethnographic study of neurological and mental diseases among the Uru-Chipaya peoples of the Andean Altiplano].

Introduction: The Uru-Chipaya people are an ethnic group of about 2,500 people, descendants of primitive Andean cultures. Their isolation (they live at an altitude of 4,000 metres in southern Bolivia), their non-written language (Chipaya-Puquina) and their traditional way of life, clothing and customs, which are similar to those used for thousands of years, make this an unusual culture. The aim of our work was to carry out an ethnographic study of the neurological diseases experienced by these people, the way they conceive such disorders and their therapeutic approaches to them.

Lateralization of cerebral blood flow velocity changes during auditory stimulation: a functional transcranial Doppler study.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) permits the assessment of cognitively induced cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV) changes. We sought to investigate the lateralization of BFV acceleration induced by auditory stimulation and speech in a normal population. TCD monitoring of BFV in the middle cerebral arteries (MCA) was performed in 30 normal right-handed volunteers (average age = 31.

[Neurological paleopathology in the pre-Columbine cultures of the coast and the Andean plateau (II). The history of cranial trepanations].

Introduction And Aims: Trepanation is one of the earliest examples of a surgical procedure being carried out by human beings and was performed from the Neolithic period onwards in a large number of primitive cultures throughout the five continents. Trepanation and cranial deformation were both common in the pre-Columbine cultures. The aim of this work was to study the trepanations carried out by the ancient Paraca, Nazca, Huari, Tiahuanaco and Inca cultures.

[Neurological paleopathology in the pre-Columbian cultures of the coast and the Andean plateau (I). Artificial cranial deformation].

Aims: The aim of this work was to study the cranial trepanations and deformations carried out by the ancient Paraca, Huari, Tiahuanaco and Inca cultures. To do so, we conducted a field study involving visits to archaeological remains and anthropological museums on the Andean plateau and the Peruvian coast.

Development: Cranial deformation was more common in the Andean regions and was performed by putting little pieces of wood or compressive bandages on newborn infants' heads in order to modify the growth axis of the cranial cavity.

Unusual early-onset Huntingtons disease.

Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by involuntary movements, cognitive decline, and behavioral disorders leading to functional disability. In contrast to patients with adult onset, in which chorea is the major motor abnormality, children often present with spasticity, rigidity, and significant intellectual decline associated with a more rapidly progressive course. An unusual early-onset Huntington's disease case of an 11-year-old boy with severe hypokinetic/rigid syndrome appearing at the age of 2.

[Neurological anthropology among the Kamayura Indians of the Alto Xingu].

Introduction: The Kamayura tribe is made up of 300 persons living in the Alto Xingu in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Their traditional system of health care is based on the pajé, a witch doctor who uses plants and prayers for treatment.

Material And Methods: Field work was done in the Kamayura village holding successive interviews with the chief and the pajé Takumá to obtain information regarding the neurological disorders found there, the indigenous beliefs regarding illness (natural or based on witch-craft), their classification and traditional treatment based on plants.

[Magical thinking and epilepsy in traditional indigenous medicine].

Introduction: Witchcraft with regard to epilepsy in ancestral indigenous cultures has been modified by the presence of white doctors so that traditional and scientific-western treatments coexist.

Objective: To analyze traditional anti-epileptic treatment and the basis of the relevant magic in diverse indigenous cultures in Central Africa and in Central and South America.

Material And Methods: Transcultural analysis of the Bassá, Fufulve and Bambiliké tribes (Log-bikoy, Camerun), Wangoni (Songea, Tanzania), Guarani (Paraguay) and Maya Tzeltal (Chiapas).

[A transcultural view of neurological and mental pathology in a Tzeltal Maya community of the Altos Chiapas].

Objectives: This anthropological study forms part of field-work undertaken in Mahosik, a Tzeltal Maya community of 250 inhabitants in the Altos de Chiapas, to obtain insight into the neurological and psychosomatic pathology in an ethnic and cultural setting different to ours.

Material And Method: Accompanied by a Tzeltal translator we interviewed various witch-doctors and faith healers of the Tzeltal Maya tribe to find out their ideas about neurological and mental diseases and the treatments used.

Results: Headache or "k'ux jolol' is the fourth most common cause of consultation after acute respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders and fevers.