Traditional medicine incorporates the concept that all things that surround us are beings which contain energy. This energy, which can be used to heal, is available to people who understand it and know how to use it.

In these few pages we’ve seen many different natural elements the the Huetar people use to cure afflictions, and the role of stones and clay cannot go unmentioned because in them we can find new concepts of spirituality for our health.

Stones

The stone is a symbol of power because it represents water and the past, present, and future. In ceremonies, stones take on various meaning. For example, some stones called grandparent stones represent the ancestors. These stones are porous and are located by ritual. And stones called the children stones are used to see the future.

With respect to healing, stones are powerful agents against stomach cancer. The stones are placed in a glass of water for a day. Then the stones are rubbed together until they release a liquid, which is then drunk to treat problems associated with the stomach and the ovaries.

Stones of the Grandmothers and Grandfathers

HOW ARE THE STONES OBTAINED?

The process for finding these stones should begin during the waxing crescent moon. A hole is dug along a river, ten kernels of purple corn are placed in the hole and left until the following new moon; returning to the hole, under each kernel, one should dig and find a sacred stone. Then the stones are heated in an intense fire until they glow red from the high temperatures. It’s at this point that the stones lose their own material and the spirits enter them.

A Healing Stone in Its Material Form

A Stone at the Beginning of the Spiritual Process

A Stone That Has Transformed From Its Material State to Its Spiritual State

More Healing with Stones

The chili peppers are used with the stones to treat migraines and head aches. A dried pepper is placed on a fire hot stone and the smoke released is inhaled, provoking sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose. Honey, instead of peppers, is used to treat asthma.

In a similar process aromatic herbs such as eucalyptus, or any other plant use for venereal problems, cancer or vaginal secretions, are heated over the stones. The patient stands over the smoke, allowing it to pass over his or her private parts.

Healing Stones with Eucalyptus Bark and Honey

Sacred Stones

Some sacred stones are passed down from generation to generation. These stones symbolize different abilities and knowledge of a healer, like diplomas or certificates. There are many different sacred stones: for killing the devil, for calling upon the creator, for stopping thunder, for stopping time, for stopping wind, for killing snakes, for overcoming enemies, for personal protection, etc. The name of the spirit in these stones is Jax. When a healer dies, his most sacred stone is placed in his mouth.

Clay

For the Huetar, there are two types of curative clays, white clay and black clay. The white clay is known as sour clay, and is used to remove the bitter flavor of some things, as well as to treat stomach cancer. A teaspoon of the dry clay is ground, passed through a sieve, and mixed in a glass of water to drink. The black clay, called blue earth, is used to treat stomach cancer and as a laxative. Another clay, red clay, has healing properties for the skin.

Red clay                                                                        Black clay