[Depression in Precolumbian Mesoamerican medicine].
OBJECTIVE
To review the concept of depression and its treatment in the context of Precolumbian Mesoamerican medicine.


METHODS
The origins of Precolumbian Mesoamerican medicine (ticiotl) are imprecise, since the theoretical and disease-healing concepts of the times were doubtlessly influenced by magic and religious beliefs. However, the ticiotl was constructed on a 'theory' based on structured information integrated to the world philosophy, which included the social, religious and cultural behavior of the Aztec people. Health was considered a result of the balance between cold-hot polarity. Imbalance caused disease, which in turn produced a dynamic impairment of the body and its relation to the cosmos. Disease could be originated by multiple factors, e.g., by god-sent punishment, or caused by man's evil or by a destiny marked since birth. Depression, among other diseases, was identified in the ticiotl, and was attributed to alterations in the yollotl (heart). It was treated with plants such as quauhyayual, itzauhyatl and xoxocoatl, with animals such as hare, chicken and fish, and with some minerals. Also, recommendations were given to the individual on his life style in a magic-religious context.


CONCLUSIONS
In Precolumbian Mesoamerican medicine, depression was identified, and therapeutic methods were developed which may be far from the modern medical concept, but at the time fulfilled the function of understanding and recovering the individual's health.
Rodriguez-Landa
J F
JF
Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. jfrlanda@prodigy.net.mx
Pulido-Criollo
F
F
Saavedra
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002489:Central America; D003469:Culture; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007197:Indians, Central American / Q000523:psychology; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D012068:Religion and Medicine