The Kamaiura Wisdom about Body Health

Kamaiura are a Tupi language people that, together with people of the linguistic families Aruak, Karib, Tupi & of the isolated language Trumai, inhabits High Xingu (MT). The cultural homogeneity among those peoples is evidenced in multiple aspects, such as shape & disposition of the villages, type of housing, alimentary habits, pubertary seclusion, paintings & corporal decorations, use of uluri by women, parties & ceremonies, such as Kwaryp. This common cultural pattern results of the long occupation of a same geographical area & of the frequency of interethnic marriages. The present work shows how the knowledge about body health is built from elements that compose the Kamaiura world vision, in which observation, experimentation & mythology unite. The paper describes the cares given to the body & the cultural & spiritual rules regarding the different stages of the vital cycle. Adapted from the source document.