1. { Curanderismo Laura Garcia & Renee Hinojosa STEER October 13, 2011

2. Define curanderismo Define curanderismo Historical roots of curanderismo Historical roots of curanderismo Specialties and levels of knowledge Specialties and levels of knowledge Describe examples of different treatments Describe examples of different treatments Future thoughts on curanderismo Future thoughts on curanderismo Objectives:

3. Curanderism, from the Spanish verb curar (to heal), is a complex healing tradition found in Mexican American communities found throughout the U.S. Curanderism, from the Spanish verb curar (to heal), is a complex healing tradition found in Mexican American communities found throughout the U.S. Has a history that is shared with other Latin American cultures, while containing unique elements from Mexican history and the Mexican- American experience in the U.S. Has a history that is shared with other Latin American cultures, while containing unique elements from Mexican history and the Mexican- American experience in the U.S. Curanderismo uses an holistic approach to healing- treating body, mind, and spirit Curanderismo uses an holistic approach to healing- treating body, mind, and spirit What is Curanderismo?

4. Beliefs originating in Greek humoral medicine Beliefs originating in Greek humoral medicine Ideas of balance and hot & cold on the body. Ideas of balance and hot & cold on the body. Judeo-Christian healing traditions Judeo-Christian healing traditions Europe in the middle ages Europe in the middle ages Mid-evil witchcraft Mid-evil witchcraft Moorish from the conquest of Southern Europe Moorish from the conquest of Southern Europe “Mal-de ojo” or the “evil-eye,” & homeopathic concepts “Mal-de ojo” or the “evil-eye,” & homeopathic concepts Native American treatments from pre-Columbus times Native American treatments from pre-Columbus times Parapsychology & New Age spirituality Parapsychology & New Age spirituality Eastern healing traditions Eastern healing traditions Historical Roots:

5. {{ Specialties of practice: Yerbero/as- herbalists Parteras- midwives Sobadoro/as- specialize in massage Espiritualisto/as- psychic mediums Senor/as- read tarot cards Three Levels of Knowledge 1) Material 2) Spiritual 3) Mental

6. Physical practices Physical practices Midwifery Midwifery Herbal treatments Herbal treatments Teas, herbs, plants, oils Teas, herbs, plants, oils Aloe vera, cats claw Aloe vera, cats claw Folk massage Folk massage Home remedies (remedios caseros) Home remedies (remedios caseros) Candle Rituals Candle Rituals Material

7. Shamanistic healing Shamanistic healing Altered state of consciousness Altered state of consciousness Contact with the spirit world by: Contact with the spirit world by: Opening their mind to spirit voices Opening their mind to spirit voices Gaining knowledge from a distance Gaining knowledge from a distance Allow spirits to use the body to communicate with the world Allow spirits to use the body to communicate with the world Supernatural healing Supernatural healing Cures common Mexican-American folk illnesses Cures common Mexican-American folk illnesses Susto, empacho, caida de mollera, espanto, and mal de ojo. Susto, empacho, caida de mollera, espanto, and mal de ojo. Spiritual

8. Ability to transmit, channel, and focus mental vibrations (vibraciones mentales) Ability to transmit, channel, and focus mental vibrations (vibraciones mentales) Curandero/a need not be present Curandero/a need not be present Mental

9. Digestive Blockage Digestive Blockage Eating something you don’t want to eat Eating something you don’t want to eat Eating spoiled food Eating spoiled food Eating too much Eating too much Food getting stuck in the stomach (mold) Food getting stuck in the stomach (mold) Treatment Treatment Massage in abdomen, calves, feet, and legs Massage in abdomen, calves, feet, and legs Spine snapping Spine snapping Tea (or other clear liquids) for two days Tea (or other clear liquids) for two days Gradual return to a soft diet then solid foods Gradual return to a soft diet then solid foods Empacho

10. Illness caused by staring (evil eye) Illness caused by staring (evil eye) Believed to affect babies; resulting from adults smiling or paying too much attention to them. Believed to affect babies; resulting from adults smiling or paying too much attention to them. Caused unintentionally Caused unintentionally Treatment Treatment Touch the admired Touch the admired Passing an uncooked egg over patients body, then breaking it into a glass of water. Passing an uncooked egg over patients body, then breaking it into a glass of water. Can be diagnosed in three conditions Can be diagnosed in three conditions Small black eye on yolk Small black eye on yolk Cooked yolk Cooked yolk Spiritual swirl of the egg Spiritual swirl of the egg Comes out of water a ½ inch Comes out of water a ½ inch Mal de Ojo

11. The fall of the fontanelle The fall of the fontanelle Shaken baby syndrome Shaken baby syndrome Occurs when a child is shaken too hard or falls Occurs when a child is shaken too hard or falls Crying, fever, diarrhea Crying, fever, diarrhea Treatment Treatment Sucking on the soft spot Sucking on the soft spot Pushing upward on the roof of the mouth Pushing upward on the roof of the mouth Holding the child upside down and patting the feet Holding the child upside down and patting the feet Warm compress Warm compress Caída de Mollera

12. Scared/ has a “fright” Scared/ has a “fright” Traumatic experience Traumatic experience Loss of the soul Loss of the soul Soul does not feel safe in the body Soul does not feel safe in the body Results in mental illness Results in mental illness Treatment Treatment Lemon or vinegar tea Lemon or vinegar tea Spiritual healing with prayer from curandero/a Spiritual healing with prayer from curandero/a Susto

13. Practice has endured hundreds of years Practice has endured hundreds of years As of 2007 (National Health Interview Survey), $33.9 billion has been spent on complimentary alternative medicine. As of 2007 (National Health Interview Survey), $33.9 billion has been spent on complimentary alternative medicine. Hispanics are known to use remedies Hispanics are known to use remedies Peace of mind - Faith Peace of mind - Faith Curanderismo Today

14. Castro, Rafaela. Chicano Folklore: a Guide to the Folktales, Traditions, Rituals and Religious Practices of Mexican Americans. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2001. 160 DeBellonia, Renato R., Steven Marcus, Richard Shih, John Kashani, Joseph G. Rella, and Bruce Ruck. "Curanderismo Consequences of Folk Medicine." Pediatric Emergency Care 2.4 (2008): 228-29. PubMed. Web. 10 Oct. 2011 Maduro, Reynaldo. "Curanderismo and Latino Views of Disease and Curing." The Western Journal of Medicine 139.6 (1983): 868-74. Mull, Dennis J., and Dorothy S. Mull. "A Visit With a Curandero." The Western Journal of Medicine 139.5 (1983): 730-36. Padilla, Ricardo, Veronica Gomez, Stacy L. Biggerstaff, and Philip S. Mehler. "Use of Curanderismo in a Public Health Care System." Archives of Internal Medicine 161 (2001): 1336-340. PubMed. Web. 10 Oct. 2011 Tafur, Maritza M., Terry K. Crowe, and Eliseo Torres. "A Review of Curanderismo and Healing Practices among Mexicans and Mexican Americans." Occupational Therapy International 82-88 16.1 (2009): 82- 88. PubMed. Web. 10 Oct. 2011 Trotter, Robert T. "Curanderismo: A Picture of Mexican-American Folk Healing." Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 7.2 (2001): 129-31. PubMed. Web. 10 Oct. 2011 http://www.unm.edu/~cheo/LONG.pdf www.nah.southtexascollege.edu/.../Curandero%20short%20presentation%2www.nah.southtexascollege.edu/.../Curandero%20short%20presentation%2... References

15. Any Questions? Preguntas? Thank you! Gracias!