16 medicinal herbs popular in old Argentina and their uses today

The tradition of the "yuyero," a traveling herbalist who offered medicinal plants and their remedies, is explored through historical accounts and cultural references. These individuals, often traveling with baskets or saddlebags filled with leaves, seeds, roots, and fruits, possessed profound knowledge of each species' properties and applications.

Argentine folklore and academic writings shed light on these figures. Singer Atahualpa Yupanqui, in a 1965 magazine article, recounted the story of Don Pancho Ormeño, a man from La Rioja who, despite never leaving his province, was said to possess encyclopedic knowledge of the world's herbs and their healing effects. Yupanqui also immortalized the "yuyero" in song, lamenting the disappearance of their calls offering remedies for both good and ill.

Dr. León Tenenbaum, in a 1997 publication by the National Academy of Medicine, described the "yuyero's" practice as more than just dispensing herbs. He emphasized the personal touch: the accompanying voice, contagious faith, and sincere recommendations that offered comfort and well-being, akin to daily rituals like tea or mate. These remedies addressed common ailments such as stomach issues, digestive problems, coughs, colic, and nervousness, often accompanied by specific instructions regarding preparation and consumption, sometimes tied to lunar cycles.

The article traces the origins of this knowledge, noting that many properties of American medicinal herbs were applied through indigenous wisdom prior to Spanish colonization. Early documented efforts to record this knowledge include Nicolás Monardes' 1574 work, "Historia medicinal que trata de las cosas que se traen de nuestras Indias Occidentales," and Father Pedro Montenegro's 1710 "Materia médica misionera," which detailed collection and application methods based on Guaraní culture. The enduring legacy of empirical knowledge is further illustrated by Florencio Molina Campos' 1955 depiction of "El yuyero de las sierras."