Basque ethnography at a glance

Zantiratua ritual in Zeanuri (Bizkaia), c. 1915. Felipe Manterola Collection. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.

In Gernika (Bizkaia) and environs a sprain or strain, typically in the ankle, is known as zantiratua, from zan ‘vein, nerve, tendon, ligament’ and tiratu ‘pull, stretch’. Other denominations such as bihortua or trokatua are likewise common to refer to a sprained foot, thus differing it from a dislocation, in which case the bone is said to ‘come out of the joint’, hazurrak urten.

Menstruating women were believed to be prone to sprains and strains, so it was not uncommon that they would wrap their ankles. And conversely, wrapped ankles were generally interpreted as a precaution during the menstrual period.

Traditional practices to treat sprains exhibited two components: empiric treatment consisting of massages and poultices; and magic-religious elements, for the tendon was symbolically repaired by sewing a cloth or a sock placed over the injury while reciting a particular formula and making crosses.

Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica. Salamanca, 1563. Eukal Biblioteka. Labayru Fundazioa.

Before, after or during the procedure the injured limb was massaged. The medicinal use of plantain, a herbaceous plant, known as zanbedarra ‘veined herb’, whose leaves have conspicuous veins, was also commonplace. Its name and presumed sprain-healing properties might well have derived from reasonable similarities between the veins of its leaves and human tendons and ligaments.

Having poured some hot oil over them, the plantain leaves were placed on the damaged limb in the shape of a cross. Broadleaf plantain is said to have been used for males and narrow-leaved plantain for females.

The healer, often a woman, ‘sewed’ the torn ends of the tendon back together with needle and thread. With minor variations from location to location, the most widespread spell against sprains went like this: Zantiratu, zan urrutu, zana bere lekuan sartu (Pulled tendon, torn tendon, join the tendon back together).

The traditional ritual was over time mostly lost or replaced by empiric therapy. Such is the case of the treatment administered by one of our respondents in Gautegiz Arteaga (Bizkaia) described below.

Once diagnosed, the practitioner proceeds to treat the sprain. Using the tip of her thumb, she rubs and kneads the injured tendon with a blend of oil and vinegar. The affected area is finally dressed, not too tight, and so should be kept for eight days. Two sessions, three at the most, are usually required for the sprain to heal.

Segundo Oar-Arteta – Etniker Bizkaia – Etniker Euskalerria Groups

Translated by Jaione Bilbao – Ethnography Department – Labayru Fundazioa

Reference for further information: Popular Medicine, part of the Ethnographic Atlas of the Basque Country collection.