Ethnobotanical Explorations - Shaman in Belize

On a cruise with Oceania Cruises (855/327-9575, www.oceaniacruises.com) in December 2018, I took a shore trip in Belize. On the tour, which had a title something like “Jungle Walk With a Shaman,” we met Aurora Garcia-Saqui, who has a store selling herbal medicines.

She had learned how to use medicinal herbs from her uncle, who was a local healer. She gave us a demonstration of how to actually prepare herbs. We then took a walk through the jungle and were shown how to prepare several plants.

Ms. Garcia-Saqui has written three books, two of which are available on Amazon. One, “Ix Hmen U Tzaco Ah Maya: Maya Herbal Medicine” (174 pgs., $40), has excellent color photos.

CAROL PEIM
Hendersonville, NC