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What is Trepanation?
Trepanation is a practice that involves piercing the skull. Formerly it was realized with the aim of eliminating considered diseases of cerebral origin, whereas at present one is used like surgical access in some operations of neurosurgery, such as brain tumors or to treat subdural hematoma (accumulation of blood in the brain’s surface) or when present with intracranial hypertension (medical term for an increase in hydrostatic pressure inside the cranial cavity).

Trepanation has been carried out both for medical and mystical reasons , and practice have evidence from the Neolithic era, as trepanned skulls have been discovered. It is believed, paintings found in caves, Neolithic man thought that this type of surgery could cure epilepsy, migraine and mental disorders. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates explained the procedure for performing a trepanation. This is also practiced in Paracas (Peru), where at the end of the operation is placed a sheet of gold for the closure of the wound.In the same way it was practiced by the Inca civilization in order to remove bone fragments or weapons, which were embedded in his skull after an accident or warfare. One of the instruments used in surgery Inca was the “Tumi” or knife-shaped metal “T”.As anesthesia is used coca and chicha in large quantities and are known to also know the use of bandages.
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¿Qué es una trepanación?
La trepanación es una práctica médica que consiste en agujerear el cráneo. Antiguamente se realizaba con el objetivo de eliminar enfermedades consideradas de origen cerebral, mientras que en la actualidad se emplea como acceso quirúrgico en algunas operaciones de neurocirugía, como es el caso de tumores cerebrales o para tratar el hematoma subdural (acumulación de sangre en la superficie del cerebro)  o cuando cursan con hipertensión intracraneal(término médico que define a un incremento en la presión hidrostática del interior de la cavidad craneal).
La trepanación ha sido llevada a cabo tanto por razones médicas como místicas, y de su práctica tenemos indicios desde la era neolítica, pues se han descubierto cráneos trepanados. Se cree, por pinturas encontradas en cuevas, que el hombre neolítico creía que este tipo de cirugía podía curar ataques de epilepsia, migrañas y desórdenes mentales. En la antigua Grecia, Hipócrates explicó el procedimiento para realizar una trepanación. Esto también se practicó en la Cultura Paracas (Perú), donde al finalizar la operación se colocaba una lámina de oro para que se cerrara la herida. De la misma forma fue practicado por la civilización Inca con el propósito de eliminar fragmentos de huesos o armas, que quedaban incrustadas en el cráneo, luego de accidentes o enfrentamientos bélicos. Uno de los instrumentos utilizados en la cirugía inca, fue el “Tumi” o cuchillo de metal en forma de “T”. Como anestesia se usaba la coca y la chicha en grandes cantidades y se sabe que también conocieron el uso de vendas.
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El hallazgo esta ubicado en la Amazonia peruana, comprende más de 150 casas circulares e imprecionantes murallas enclavadas en una montaña; pertenecientes a la cultura chachapoyas. Estos vestigios fueron hallados en un cerro de nombre Atumpucrosituado en el distrito de San Juan de Lopecancha, en la provincia de Luya.

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Ayer, en nuestra plaza de armas de cusco se llevó a cabo la festividad del Corpus Christi, donde nuestro Arzobispo Monseñor Juan Antonio Ugarte Pérez, dirigió esta gran fiesta en honor al Cuerpo de Cristo. Continue reading

By Ellen R. Gordon

Coca Leaves

Colorfully-dressed Incas greet us with cups of hot tea as we enter the airport terminal. “¡Bienvenidos a Cusco!” A delightful welcome to the two-mile high Andean city, but the tea also serves an important purpose—the prevention of altitude sickness.

The tea we are offered at the airport, and again in our hotel lobby, is mate de coca—brewed from leaves of the coca plant. Coca is best known to North Americans as the source of the drug cocaine, which is actually a highly processed derivative of the coca leaves. Because of its association with the drug, coca is banned in the U.S. Continue reading

Potatoes

What is your first thought when you hear the word “empire?” The Roman Empire? The British Empire, on which the sun never sets? “Star Wars?”

At the time Europeans arrived in South America the Incas had the largest empire in the world, covering as much territory as had the Romans, five centuries earlier. From Ecuador to the center of Chile, the dominion of the Incas stretched almost 3,400 miles.

Like the Romans, the Incas had an extensive network of highways. Although they never developed the wheel, the Incas built 25,000 miles of roads. These highways, many of which were stone-paved and up to 24 feet wide, carried couriers, armies and cargo-laden llamas throughout the sprawling territories. Their use was restricted to those on official government business.

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