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Considered an “Immunity Island”, Vilcabamba has been visited by a great number of doctors, scientist and researchers from everywhere, looking for the secret of the “Eternal Youth”. The beauty and peacefulness of this place have been kept alive, seducing to stay. Those who left miss the valley and dream of coming back to “the land of the oldest of the old people in the world”.
Medical testing practiced on some elders has revealed amazing results. For example, their retina has no difference from a 45 year-old man, their hearts and arteries are in perfect conditions, the flexibility and muscular strength may be compared to young athletes, and the integrity of bones and spine is surprising. With these results, many people have dug into the secrets of the valley to determinate what is the reason of such a “miracle”. It seems that the water of the area, rich in minerals like magnesium, is the fountain of the “Eternal Youth”.
The Water
Different investigations have been done to discover the secret of longevity of the inhabitants, most of them a little elusive to be checked. They accused different factors such as genetic heritage, weather or food. But a study done by Doctor Morton Walter mentioned water as “THE” factor. He states the following theory: the water from the lakes in the Podocarpus, naturally mineralized by Vilcabamba’s rivers, easily transport the minerals to the human body, cleaning it from heavy minerals.
Recent studies by scientist Patrick Flanagan proved that the water of Vilcabamba has active hydrogen that contains two negative electrodes instead of one. These electrodes fight naturally the free-radicals. . Another subject of investigation: the bones, strong as young people ones. There aren’t any bone illnesses or weakness as old people from other places in the world. This has attracted gerontologist doctor Richard Mazes, from Wisconsin University, who concluded that the water consumption in Vilcabamba was the most relevant factor for keeping strong and healthy bones at advanced age.
For locals, the secret of the eternal youth is simply in the privilege of living in Vilcabamba, breath its clean pure air, fresh water from the springs, medicinal herbs and plants and a peaceful non-polluted environment. This is the reason why people from all over the world come to the village looking for youth and prolongation of life.
The Sacred Tree
Vilcabamba name comes from the quechua word “Huilcopamba” meaning “sacred valley or field of the Wilco”, a tree introduced by the Incas considered sacred for its unique medicinal benefits.
The wilco (Anadenanthera columbrina), a reddish strong and hard wood tree, was used mostly in construction and could be easily found in large groups in Vilcabamba, and the neighbor community of San Pedro.
Its psicotropic properties have also been described on a 1571 report, where it is said that the Incas used the seed to reanimate sick people.
The Iron Water
Just five minutes from town by car or 20 min. walking, by the Guaranga hill, you can find the “miracle waters” springing up from the rocks and carrying minerals with healing properties.
Some visitors expecting to heal themselves from diseases drink this “iron” waters to treat cardiovascular or kidneys problems. The mud from the fountain is also good for facial and body cleansing, treating skin illnesses and beauty purposes as well.
Cinchona or Cascarilla
From the bark of the Cascarilla Plant, it’s obtained the ”quina” or “quinine” which may be the greatest contribution from Loja and Ecuador to world health. Found in Cajanuma, this plant has saved millions of human lives since its discovery and therapeutic application.
In the early XVII, malaria was expanding as a plague without any treatment or solution from the medical world that could control it. In Cajanuma, the ancestral knowledge of the people had the answer.
In 1630, Indian chief Pedro Leiva from the Malacatos tribe begins successful treatments against malaria, applying the “cara-chuccho” or cold peel obtained from the “yara-chuccho” or cold tree. This world wide famous Loja’s fine peel or “cascarilla” has saved countless of people from dead used by mixing the dust of the cascarilla with “chicha”, a typical drink from the Andes.
In 1968? a terrible malaria epidemic appeared in Peru. The Countess Francisca Henriquez de Ribera, wife of the Virrey Fernandez, the King delegate, was infected with the mortal decease. soon as the news arrived to Loja, the city Corregidor and the Father Juan López, looked for help in an herb doctor, as he had done with them before. Pedro Leiva revealed the name of the miracle plant from which the healing dust is obtained. After the Countess of Chichón got better, the cascarilla was called Cinchona, in honoring the lady and her cure. |
