Notes on herb medicine in Guam

Abstract

The Island of Guam, westernmost U.S. possession, is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands. It is approximately 212 square miles in area and is located 130 28" N. latitude, 1440 E. longitude. Of the approximately 100,000 Americans in Guam, roughly half are native Guamanians. A "typical" North American community complete with traffic jams and television, the Island boasts approximately 25,000 school children, two modern hospitals, as well as numerous medical clinics and private physicians. Under Spanish rule from 1565 to 1898, when it was ceded to the United States following the Spanish-American War, Guam has lost most of its pre-Spanish culture. The art of using plants for medicine (Chamorro-amot) is one of the few indigenous cultural habits surviving. Padre Sanvitores, arriving in 1668 as one of the first priests in Guam, stated, in reference to the use of herbs to treat illness: "Since they have few ailments, they know few medicines and treat themselves with few herbs, of which experience and necessity have taught them the uses and virtues." (4.197). Probably many of the plants now used for medicine have been introduced since then. Both natural and supernatural illnesses were treated (1,2,3,4). There was a sorcerer class, Mahkana, later called Kakahna, which apparently possessed the power of both causing and curing illness. This power was thought to be passed on to their children. Thompson, writing in 1947, stated: "Under the pressure from the American administration, the Kakahna have practically disappeared." (4.197). However, the natural illness healers are practicing today in many of the villages. These herb doctors, called suruhanas