Abstract

ALVAREZ, MATÍAS. American Psychotropic Plants in Juan de Cardenas Work. New Spain, 1591. Front. hist. [online]. 2014, vol.19, n.2, pp.14-36. ISSN 2027-4688.

The purpose of this article is the analysis of medical discourse in relation to the "New World" in the work of the doctor Juan de Cárdenas, Problemas y secretos maravillosos de las Indias, published around 1591 in New Spain. We propose that the new American natural and cultural, resulted fertile ground for the application of different European discursive devices. The written of Juan de Cárdenas, shows an attempt at synthesis and spreading in this direction. The main goal of this article is to interpret a chapter of Cardenas work, referred to witchcraft and uses of American psychotropic plants. This section represents an effort to organize and classify, from the medical discourse, practices and beliefs related to the use of psychotropic plants in New Spain's colonial society.

Keywords : Discourses; Juan de Cárdenas; medicine; psychotropic plants; witchcraft.

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