Definition: medicine, medicinal herbs, drugs
Pronunciation: ah-moot
Part of Speech: noun
Other Words Used:
- Dagga’ – aggravate, to inflame
- Pronunciation: dah-ga (glottal stop)
- Part of Speech: verb
- Gapotulu – hair
- Pronunciation: gah-po-too-loo
- Part of Speech: noun
- Måkpong – bed wetting
- Pronunciation: mahk-pohng
- Part of Speech: noun
- Maigo’ – sleep
- Pronunciation: my-go (glottal stop)
- Part of Speech: verb
** Please note that the glottal stop (denounced by the English known symbol: apostrophe ‘), is to notate a stop done by using the back of your throat. The best way to describe how this is done is by making an abrupt pause where the glotta (apostrophe) is placed.
The practice of medicine use is not one that is strictly for CHamoru culture. Medicine has been around for thousands of years in the primary form of herbs. Herbal medicine remains a popular staple form of treatment on island through the help of suruhånu/a (male/female notation, respectively) which translates to herb doctor or healers. Special note, it is disrespectful to consider the masters of this profession as witch doctors: a misconception from the popular idea of Western ideology. Ancient CHamoru medicine has been passed down through generations. Some of which your own grandparents may even be familiar with! Ask, you may be surprised to find out your own family’s experience with the help of these medicinal experts.
Åmot, is the general word in the CHamoru language used for medicine. With every generic term, there are divisions for specifics. In this case, there are different remedies and names for other medicine used for a variety of symptoms. Below is a list of some of these as well as their common uses.:
- åmot dagga’ – used for inflammation or swelling of the body
- åmot gapotulu – used to remedy hair
- åmot måkpong – used for urinary problems, bed wetting, incontinence
- åmot muna’maigo’ – used for the induction of sleep, sleeping problems
For the making or proper use of these types of herbal medicine, please refer to the link below for more information regarding this ancient practice. For the generalization of modern prescription drugs, it would be safe to simply use the root word of this lesson: åmot.