Bidspirit auction | Guna Botanical Aids for Nursing

Guna Botanical Aids for Nursing Mothers: ”Nai-Igua, Nai-Par & Mama-Suar Tuba” - 3 botanical specimens used by Inaduledi (medicine men) to help women with milk production.  Guna (Kuna/Cuna) culture, Anachucuna and Corbis-Qui Tupu, Guna Yala, Panama, collected in the Kapp-Darien Expedition era (circa 1969), each with handwritten field tag. * ”Nai-Igua”, an 8-inch long natural palm segment shaped like a thin fan with an attached stalk. Features an original field tag reading: NAI-IGUA from Ina Tuledi ALBERTO LOPEZ of ANACHUCUNA. For nursing mothers to increase milk. * ”Nai-Par”, an 8-inch long natural palm cutting. With a partially torn field tag reading: NAI-PAR from Ina Tuledi ALBERTO LOPEZ of ANACHUCUNA. Taken by nursing mothers to... milk supply. *  ”Mama-Suar Tuba”, a 6-inch long wooden branch/vine section with bark. Interestingly, the cut ends show a beautiful, naturally occurring star-like flower pattern rather than standard rings, and this visual feature is likely tied to its shamanic purpose of blossoming. The original field tag reads: ”MAMA-SUAR TUBA from Ina Tuledi SANI ARIAS at CORBIS-QUI TUPU. To help nursing mother produce more milk. 3-9-69.” Provenance:  From the collection of researcher, explorer, and cartographer Captain Kit S. Kapp.