Herbs, Elixirs & Other Amazonian Charms
The scent of roots, bark, and living memory.
It is impossible to imagine Belen without the Paquito Passage - just like Iquitos it is not possible to conceive it without Belen -, the center of the medicinal and magical world of Iquitos.
In the early 1960s, locals began selling homemade drinks crafted from Amazonian tree barks and spirits distilled along the Itaya River. “Those little shots that awaken stories long dead from use or disuse,” joked María Chu Vela Yap, one of the early pioneers of what would become the iconic Pasaje Paquito.
From these humble stalls emerged a vibrant fusion of medicinal, spiritual, and festive offerings. Among them were the pusangas—potent love potions rooted in Amazonian folklore, believed to help win over hearts, keep lovers close, or summon good fortune.
🧪 Paquito: The People’s Pharmacy and a Place of Enchantment
Here, remedies go beyond aches and fevers—they reach into the realms of love, desire, and ancestral knowledge:
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Pingacuysacha – a root used to “soften a man’s heart.”
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Warmi Piri Piri – a tiny wild tuber used by young women looking for a partner, or to prevent having many children.
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Motelito – with ginger-like roots, this plant helps “shield couples from gossip,” just as the motelo turtle retreats into its shell.
And then there are the famous tonics whose names say it all:
“Seven Roots,” “Seven Barks,” “Clavo Huasca,” “Chuchuwasha,” “Murure,” “Fierro Caspi,” “Icoja,” and “Azúcar Huayo”—remedies for colds, anemia, and inflammation.
Some others are more daring: “Rise, Lazarus” and “Seven Times Without Stopping” promise effects that need no further explanation.
🌿 Healing Plants, Magical Remedies
In Pasaje Paquito, ancient wisdom meets everyday needs:
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For prostate health: red achiote.
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For fever and digestive heat: soft, hairy green mallow.
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For purging children: castor bean (piñón), a grandmother’s favorite.
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For joint pain: copaiba oil.
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For malaria and ulcers: tahuari bark.
And always on hand: dragon’s blood, said to heal even cancer, and stonebreaker (chanca piedra), trusted for kidney stones.
Inspired by the stories of @JuliaGrandes, a wise woman who, years ago, crossed to the other side of life with her herbs and songs.
Adapted from the article “Interculturalidad Belén: The Rebel Magic of a People,” by @MartínReáteguiBartra.
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