Traditional Peruvian Medicine: An Insight in Geophagy and Machu Rumi Intake

Abstract:

Geophagists are generally defined by culture, social status and gender, and this paper is to identify the chemical elements of the geophagic material called Machu Rumi. The sample was extracted from the center of the geophagic material. Two micrographs were observed, the 1c micrograph contains: O (8.63%), Al (14.85%), SiO2 (33.07%), Fe (5.93%), K (5.36%), Mg (1.37 %) and Ca (0.81%), these elements are characteristics of the clay minerals, the 1d micrograph, contains: oxygen 62.14%, Silicon 37.80% and Aluminum 0.06%, these elements are present in the clay minerals soils. The results of elemental composition and micromorphology reveals the presence of phyllosilicates, SiO2, Fe, K, Mg, Ca, and Al so the consumption of Machu Rumi would contribute to the benefic geophagy.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1048)
• Pages: 423-428
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.1048.423
• Online since: January 2022
• Authors: Heber Nehemias Chui-Betancur, Dwight R. Acosta, German Belizario-Quispe, Roberto Alfaro-Alejo*
• Keywords: Benefic Geophagy, Clay, Cultural Habit, Machu Rumi, Micrograph

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