When Matthew ran across the street to get fabric softener from the Mercado, he noticed a cup full of something writhing in a cup. The Mercado owner, Valdir, held up the cup and Matthew took a closer look. “The first thing I saw was red peanuts pods and then black beetles swarming the nuts.” Matthew reported to me. They were small, pea-sized, beetles, (ulomoides dermestoides) munching on peanuts. “It’s a remedy“, Valdir explained, “throw seven in the blender with Nescau (powdered chocolate ) and it will cure asthma”. You can’t buy these “Magic Beetles”, they have to be given to you in order for their magic to work. After doing a simple Google search I found that the beetle’s excretions are said to strengthen body defenses against cancer, asthma, diabetes and even AIDS, as well as, increase sex drive. This sounds too good to be true, but, in a region where money is scarce, and trips to the doctor are even scarcer, hope looms large.
In 2003 Wall Street Journal writer, Matt Moffett, traveled down to Argentina to see about this, as he puts it, “Beetlemania“. He found testimony after testimony regarding the magical properties of these tiny six legged creatures. He traveled to the northern city of Parana where he heard of a church that was distributing the beetles to its parishioners. Pastor Antonio Orlando Mattiassi, of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, became interested in the beetle in 2001 after hearing about a man cured of esophageal cancer. The church bulletin noted the beetles as “a gift from God…especially for the poorest who can’t afford expensive medicines”. Here in Rio Branco, magical forces are often said to be behind ailments and remedies to cure such ailments are often given out freely. I’ve been told on numerous occasions that we have contracted “evil eye” from jealous onlookers. And after battling cold after cold, the girls and I have taken to wearing a red ribbon around our wrists to ward off this evil.
As many of you know, or don’t know, I suffer from mild asthma. So when remedies are presented I am eager to be unchained from my inhalers once and for all. I’m not really excited about the prospect of munching these little critters, especially when I’m supposed to munch about a dozen or so a day ( some eat as many as 70 a day!). But hey, I am living in the Amazon right? That guarantees eating a beetle or two or ten.
In 2003 Wall Street Journal writer, Matt Moffett, traveled down to Argentina to see about this, as he puts it, “Beetlemania“. He found testimony after testimony regarding the magical properties of these tiny six legged creatures. He traveled to the northern city of Parana where he heard of a church that was distributing the beetles to its parishioners. Pastor Antonio Orlando Mattiassi, of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, became interested in the beetle in 2001 after hearing about a man cured of esophageal cancer. The church bulletin noted the beetles as “a gift from God…especially for the poorest who can’t afford expensive medicines”. Here in Rio Branco, magical forces are often said to be behind ailments and remedies to cure such ailments are often given out freely. I’ve been told on numerous occasions that we have contracted “evil eye” from jealous onlookers. And after battling cold after cold, the girls and I have taken to wearing a red ribbon around our wrists to ward off this evil.
As many of you know, or don’t know, I suffer from mild asthma. So when remedies are presented I am eager to be unchained from my inhalers once and for all. I’m not really excited about the prospect of munching these little critters, especially when I’m supposed to munch about a dozen or so a day ( some eat as many as 70 a day!). But hey, I am living in the Amazon right? That guarantees eating a beetle or two or ten.
2 comments:
In Costa Rica we have been told several times that this will cure my son's asthma. Did it help you?
Hi Molly,
Well, to tell the truth, i could never bring myself to eat them! Before we left to move back to the US, i ran them back across the street to Valjir... So, i'll never know--what a whimp i am! good luck with your son asthma.
Marlo
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