A Culture of Healing

Healing system dedicated to healing

illnesses of body, mind, and spirit

Curandero (male) or curandera

(female) is the practitioner of

curanderismo

Balance between human and nature

Union of the soul and spirit

How humans fit into the natural

world

Harmony of the "self"

Estimated five hundred years ago

6 different influences

Influences: Judeo-Christianity

Altar in a curandero’s workroom

Patient being given a barridawith a crucifix

Influences: European Medicine

Early Arabic medicineGreek Humoral medicine

Influences: Medieval European Witchcraft

This type of candle is used to dominate a person under another person's power

Wax figure of a person with hand written petition witchcraft spell brought to the healer to break spell.

Influences: Indigenous Herbal Lore

Above images from Codex Badiano, first book about Aztec medicinal herbs, composed in 1552

Influences: Psychic Phenomena

Spiritualist healing session

Influences: Contemporary Western Medicine

Elena Avila, working curandera and registered nurse

Material Curandera works with ritual

objects: eggs, crosses and pictures of

saints, herbs, incense, candles, oils,

and dolls

Spiritual Curandera can read cards or

is a medium

Curandera working on mental level is a

psychic healer

Material Level Curanderismo

Candles, eggs and garlic-- some objects used by curanderos working on the material level

Spiritual Level Curanderismo

Curandera working as a card reader

Psychic Level Curanderismo

Utilizing the power of the mind to treat patients

Psychological issues

Traumatic events

Natural illness

Mal Ojo, “evil eye”

Susto, “magical fright”

Mal de Ojo

Amulet worn to preventMal ojo

Susto

Client being swept with basil to cleanse off negative energy and retrieve “lost soul”

Exists alone as folk medicine or

alongside Western medicine

Continues to thrive as a health

care option primarily in Central

/South America, Mexico, and

Southwest United States

Curanderismo’s primary strength comes

from its practice of always

incorporating whatever is useful

and available into its treatments,

in an intuitive and creative way