Curanderismo is the art of folk healing native to Mexico, Latin America, and the Southwest U.S. The word curanderismo comes from the word curar, to cure or heal, in Spanish. Curanderismo is a wholistic, mind/body/soul, healing approach with deep roots in tradition and ritual. What I find so amazing about curanderismo is that it has survived centuries through the assimilation of the healing practices of other cultures, in some cases by necessity.
A curandero's altar
In the early 1500s the Spanish, a Catholic nation, conquered the Aztec Empire and did not approve of the practices that have evolved into curanderismo. In order to keep their traditions alive the curanderos/as adapted changes to fool the Catholic Church. For example, some anthropologist suggest that that the Virgin of Guadalupe, used frequently in curanderismo rituals, is a Christianized version of the Aztec lunar mother goddess Tonantzin.
Tonantzin (statue) and Virgin of Guadalupe (painting) comparison
The changes did not end with renaming of Gods and Goddesses. The curanderos/as began studying Spanish medicine too. Spanish medicine has its roots in Arabic medicine, practiced by the Moors, and was considered the best at its time. The medicine of the Moors was as diversely influenced as the lands they contacted. Arabic medicine's influenced go back to Ancient Greece, Egypt, and even oriental principles of Asia. In addition, the cultures of the African slaves and Native American Indians made its way into what has become modern day curanderismo.
Like the medicine we have today there are specialty fields within curanderismo. These specialists have a don, or God given gift, in one or more area. Some of these dons include: yerbero, a specialist in herbs and plants; partera, basically a midwife; sobador, a sort of massage therapist.
A Curandera performing a smudging or blessing
Christopher Howard
&
Holistic Heathers
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