The shaman must take great care not to swallow the object or she may suffer the same illness as the patient. However in Peru for example, the shaman deliberately swallows the object in order to develop immunity to the illness and become more powerful. Rather like an immunization. The intrusion may take any number of forms including that of an insect, a piece of rope, feathers or hair. In treating illness, shamanic extraction is not a substitute for allopathic medicine and should be used as an adjunct to a western orthodox approach.
Shamans everywhere are concerned with the spiritual aspects of illness and disease.