These beings have substances and energies in their bodies that help cure and prevent illnesses, both physical and spiritual illnesses. Animals and insects play an important role in ceremonies as well.

Almost all animals have important healing properties, but there are some animals that are more important than others, due to the ease at which they can be obtained.

Chickens

This animal, for the indigenous society, represents everything, and according to Don Juan Sanchez, it should be made the national bird for indigenous people.

It is used in daily life for meat and eggs, and its body and feathers are used in ceremonies.

For example, the feathers are used in ceremonies to transport messages to the supreme beings. The feathers are thrown into the air as prayers are said. The body is considered to be an element of purification when the body is sacrificed. As the dying animal flaps its wings, the Shaman, holding it by the feet, passes the bird over and around the body of the person he is healing in order to initiate the cleansing process. Additionally, the eggs play an important role in the detection of illnesses.

Don Juan also mentioned a tradition that the non-indigenous people of the central valley have with eggs. On June 24th some people put an egg in a glass of water overnight, and the next day they can look at the egg and read what the year to come has to offer.

Some other parts of the chicken are also symbolic. For example, chicken feet are used in the ceremony that promotes good business decisions, because chickens use their feet to dig through the litter looking for food. They leave trash and useless material behind as they discover and utilize the good material.

One type of hen, in particular, is used for different medicinal purposes. This dark hen is called Lempa. Lard from this hen, called Indundia, is used to treat fevers and asthma, to reduce inflammation where babies lose their umbilical cords, and to help woman who have problems while giving birth.

Chickens’ social behavior is well observed by indigenous people, because chickens demonstrate a social spirituality with complex forms of communication that hold the social nucleus together. During the dry season, the wet season, and the different lunar phases, chickens demonstrate interesting behavior. During the waning crescent moon, chickens take roost at night in the lowest branches of trees, and during the waxing moon they move further up the tree to roost. It’s said they do this because they know in which lunar phase they are more likely to be preyed upon.

Chickens also help by telling time. During the day, they tell us when it’s 6 a.m. and 12 p.m., and at night they announce each hour from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. It’s also said that their crow keeps bad spirits away at night.

Chickens are considered to be communal breeders because, in addition to her own eggs, a hen will take care of eggs from ducks, turkeys, and Cornish hens. But for the Huetar, it’s better if she just cares for her own young. The Huetar also influence the sex of the chicks by conducting a ceremony related to lunar movements.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are considered to be an ancient insect, adapted throughout all ages. They are used to treat epilepsy and asthma. Ten cockroaches are steeped in boiling water for five minutes. Then, the water is consumed. Thereafter, a teaspoon is taken in the mornings before eating, and at night before bed.

Ants

Of the many species of ants, the Huetar use two species to treat lung problems. Handfuls of the ants are boiled and passed through a sieve; half a cup of the liquid is drunk three times per day.

Ants’ Nest

The Ants in the Cecropia Trees

This ant specie, that lives throughout the core of the cecropia tree, is used to treat asthma. Part of the nest is boiled in three liters of water, which is passed through a sieve. Half a cup is drunk in the mornings before eating.

Cornizuelo Ants

These ants are used to treat pain and herpes. The water boiled with the ants is drunk one or two times per day.

Wasps

Wasps also play an important role in curing illnesses. For example, the white winged wasps that make nests in Laurel trees are used to treat fevers. It’s the vemom that’s used; a person is allowed to be stung by the wasp.

Wasps’ Nest

Mud builder wasps are characterized by building tunnels from a mixture of mud and saliva. These tunnels can be ground, and the powder used to heal burns and treat fungus problems.

The Jogoto

This is a white, C-shaped beetle larva. There are two types, those found in soil and those found in wood. A black secretion, removed from the posterior end of the larva is used externally to treat mumps. The secretion jogoto that lives in wood is also used for skin problems.

Armadillos

The Huetar recognize two types of armadillo: the yellow armadillo and the black one that they call zopilote, or the vulture armadillo. Lard from the armadillo is used externally to treat malaria and bronchitis. The black armadillo is used for skin problems, such as cracked skin. The meat of the yellow armadillo is consumed, but the black one is not eaten.

Armadillo Skins: left is the yellow armadillo, right is the zopilote armadillo.

The Chicken Possum

This marsupial is used for bronchial infections; the lard is rubbed in externally. The lard is ingested to relieve fevers.

The Bécquer Snake

The lard from this non-venomous snake is applied locally to treat skin ulcers.

A Bécquer Snake’s Skin

River Crab

A yellow substance taken from under the river crab’s shell heals skin problems associated with the lips.