varillas
f. fontanelle; “Se le cayó las varillas” is an expression meaning a child’s fontanelle is sunken. In folk medicine, this situation can be caused by sitting a baby up when he is too young and is treated by holding him upside down and patting the soles of his feet or by pressing on his palate. Also treated by “palaguear” with “Miel de Chicoria” (Chicorium intybus) on the gauze.
uñero
m. ingrown toenail
tirar el caite
v. to die; lit. “to throw the sandal”; “caite” is used commonly in Guatemala and El Salvador to mean “sandal”.
tapar
v. to cover; “Me tapa la respiración,” means “I can’t breathe.”
susto
m. a fright; as a folk illness it is sometimes treated with a ritual (see ensalmar) or salty water; thought to cause diabetes
sajumar/sahumar
v. ritual treatment of passing children through smoke by a curandero; see desahumar
riñones
m. kidneys, commonly thought to be the cause of lumbar pain
quedar privado
v. to become unconscious [slang usage]
ojito de pescado
m. wart [lit. little fish eye]
ñañeras
f. chills
Understanding the Guatemalan Patient 