Karwa Jayntilla el retorno del grito de la llama

Abstract

In the Bolivian highlands, bezoar stones are called jayntilla, jayuntilla or jarintilla. These are gastric stones from ruminant animals, mainly llamas, with important medicinal powers, especially for curing "susto" (fright). The use of these stones is of pre-Hispanic origin, but during the colony they were ingested (dissolved in liquid) as a panacea used against poisons and used as a jewel/amulet to remove melancholy, attend to the passions of the heart or to become rich. This paper addresses the political and ideological differences between the current use of these stones and the colonial use.