Resumen

DIAZ MUJICA, ALEJANDRO; PEREZ VILLALOBOS, Mª VICTORIA; GONZALEZ PARRA, CLAUDIO  y  SIMON, JEANNE W.. CONCEPTS OF SICKNESS AND HEALING IN THE MAPUCHE COSMOLOGY AND THE IMPACT OF OCCIDENTAL CULTURE. Cienc. enferm. [online]. 2004, vol.10, n.1, pp. 9-16. ISSN 0717-9553.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95532004000100002.

This article presents the central aspects of the Mapuche cosmology related with sickness and healing. Words used in Mapudugún, the native language of the Mapuche, the concepts of equilibrium, disequilibrium, negative energy, and positive energy are discussed. The activities and roles of the Mapuche healing agents as well as those of the individual, are described. The function of the person who is "machi" is presented. Finally, the impact of occidental culture over the customs, culture, curative system, and health of the Mapuche and Pehuenche are evaluated.

Palabras llave : Mapuche; sickness; healing; machi; health.