For example, painful menstrual periods are referred to as 'tapir sickness,' because of the similarity that the Indians see between a heavy menstrual flow and the powerful jet of urine that characterizes the tapir.
For centuries the Amazonian forest has been a nourishing mother for the Kayapo, who survive mostly on hunting, fishing, and gathering. In this incredibly rich natural environment, magic and medicine have always been directly related, stimulating the interest of many scientists to conduct closer studies on the relationship between the natural remedies provided by the forest and its inhabitants.
In my research, I have found the Kayapo have mastered the art of healing, including the art of curing sex-related problems, such as a man's virility or woman's fertility, as well as alleviating menstrual or labour pains, surpassing the discoveries of Western pharmacological laboratories!
Such medicinal practices are for the Kayapo more precious than the gold mined in the nearby Sierra Pelada and a well kept secret of a few
shamans, the wayanga, the true shamans, who
are able to cure physical as well as spiritual diseases, and the kute pidja mari, literally 'the
ones who know medicines', who are capable of administering cures for physically related illnesses only.
Sexual activity is regarded among the Kayapo as a natural and desired part of life. Already at an early age children engage in sexual games and often paint their bodies with designs of enlarged sexual organs. Rules regarding sexual activities are complex and vary between different sex and age groups; sexual faithfulness is a matter of individual choice rather than a common rule. "There are those men who do not like their women to be with someone else; there are others who do not mind" says Kwyra Ka. "Those who do not mind stay together, those who mind separate". It is a normal custom for Kayapo Indians to marry, split up and remarry several times – and, as a rule, chiefs have several sexual partners at the same time.
During the last months of pregnancy, women cease having sexual relations and during this time husbands are allowed to look for another woman, pron kaak, or 'false wife'.
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Kayapo village, Amazon.