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Codex Chapman

ChapBook 3

With no access to modern medicinal substances and more diseases that were untreatable, the question arises of how indigenous people were able to heal and assist others medically. In traditional Nahua culture, there was heavy practice of medicines made entirely from plants. Mexica healers would educate fellow indigenous people about newfound sources of plant-based medicine (Mexicolore, 2023). This was heavily important in Nahua culture and is shown through their passion for ways to heal not just physical but mental diseases as well. The term yollopatli translates to “medicine of the heart” and highlights the idea of connecting the heart and mind regarding the healing of others (Mexicolore, 2023). This is especially shown through the use of teonanacatl, translated as “little mushrooms ', that had both psychedelic and physical healing purposes amongst other plants that were meant to provide both physical and mental healing properties.

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In our modern day and age, scientists have created artificial medications that help treat a variety of diseases, ranging from the common cold to lethal diagnoses. However, few herbal remedies such as melatonin or tea remain. For centuries, people have found that the grinding of herbs and natural organisms that grow from the ground were used to heal numerous ailments. One particular organism that's medicinal usage was popular in Mexicana culture was the Nahuatle term teonanacatl, more commonly known today as psychedelic mushrooms. Frequently displayed throughout the Florentine Codex, they are a fascinating organism to examine with their traditional usages.
The Nahua civilization were expert on the plants and herbs in the surrounding area. Although there were religious and spiritual components to their healing, there also was a deductive and methodical approach to treatment. Specific plants and herbs were recognized for their abilities in healing, and regimented treatments were passed down, some ending up cataloged in the Florentine Codex for us to analyze. Some of their vast understanding of thousands of plants and herbs and healing teqniques was lost and not all archived. The majority of names for plants only exist once in the Florentine codex and lack context as to what they were and where they came from. With the information we have from the Codex, we are going to start to analyze their medicinal practices in the images depicted, and the way they conducted treatment.