Von Martius hermeneutics on diseases and indigenous healing practices in the work “nature, diseases, medicine and remedies of the Brazilian Indians” (1844)

Abstract

This article seeks to problematize the descriptions of indigenous diseases and healing practices contained in the work NATURE, DISEASES, MEDICINE AND REMEDIES OF THE BRAZILIAN INDIANS (1844)This is a historiographical study through ethnographic data. After analyzing the material, we observed that traditional peoples have their own cosmology to deal with the processes of illness and healing. The naturalist Martius, when faced with a different culture, in his writings, uses a hermeneutic process making descriptions about the natives, from their cultural universe. Establishing power and ethnocentric relationships in this way, there is no relativity of cultures, notably the indigenous healing arts are disqualified by the gaze of the other. Finally, we note that Martius, when exercising his hermeneutics, provides us with a means of understanding the other, but we must always be aware of such constructions, as they reflect different cultural systems that must be problematized.