Spiritual and Psychological Medicine
In this image derived from the Digital Florentine Codex, we are presented with the teonanacatl plant, a term that is defined both as “little mushrooms” and “flesh of the gods” (Guzmán, 2008), lying atop a hill. Its artistic framework appears easily approachable, with little yellow buds, lush greenery alongside the river, and soft painterly display. It may appear as a harmless plant, however they have the power to alter your visions and cognitive state. These mushrooms can grow in hay, fields, or on the plains as displayed. As described in the Spanish-English translation of the Florentine Codex, these mushrooms alter people's visions to range from frightful to funny, and create feelings of high anxiety in their heart. While these are the psychedelic symptoms of teonanacatl, its traditional medicinal purpose was to treat those with fevers and gout. What is interesting to unpack, is the Spanish vs Nahuatl English translation of their significance. Both descriptions explain how they are used to treat fevers and gout, however the Nahuatl translation further explains the hallucinagenic effects, explaining that it makes one feel troubled, deranged, and depressed. It goes on to say that more symptoms include hurling yourself off a cliff, screaming in fear, and taking fright. Given that this is the Nahuatl translation for this particular strain of mushrooms, it suggests that these descriptions are a more accurate representation of the psychological effects teonanacatl had on those who took them, having heavier mental symptoms rather than physical and medicinal ones.
With 53 hallucinogenic species of teonanacatl noted in Mexico, it is considered to be one of the most important and diverse organisms that is considered to be sacred in the indigenous cultures. Researchers and historians continue to remain unsure on the details, but have hypothesized that there are particular ceremonial-used teonanacatl, showing that they served a variety of purposes (Guzmán, 2008). Several indigenous groups have been revealed practicing the ceremonial and medicinal practice of mushrooms in Mexico, including the Nahuatls, the Matlazincs, and the Totonacs.
In this set of images from the Digital Florentine Codex, viewers are presented with different strains of teonanacatl mushrooms and their purposes. The lower-left image depicts the classic mushroom, used to treat fevers through eating or drinking it, and grounded and rubbed on to treat gout or swollen flesh, taking away the pain. The Nauhtl-English translation does not explain the significance of the human-like bird dancing atop the mushrooms, disproportional in size. This suggests that artists might have been giving the viewers an idea of what visions you may see if you took the psychedelic organism. As described in other texts in the Codex, visions might be funny or not make sense, as displayed in this image. The upper-right image depicts how humans engaged with teonanacatl to assist them how they saw fit. The image depicts a man figure who appears to have cut off the tops of the teonanacatl and has taken its supplements to drink. Given his dark colored eyes and slumped appearance, it suggests he is suffering from a fever and using teonanacatl or as described in thai section of the Codex as peyote for its medincal purposes. The lower-left image shows the toloatzin strain of mushroom, described and depicted as tall and blossoms with upward facing foliage. All of these images combined show not only the visual structure and usage of teonanacatl, but also relationship between the psychedelic and medicinal usages they provide.
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