Curanderismo, or indigenous medicine, is the broad healing tradition found in Mexico and Mexican American communities throughout the United States. It has many historical roots in common with traditional healing practices in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Latin American communities. It has a history and a set of traditional healing practices that are unique to Mexican culture and to the experience of Mexican Americans in the United States (National Center for Farmworker Health [NCFH], 2011; Trotter & Micozzi, 2015). For example, the Mayas of Central America and Southern and Central Mexico (2000 BCE to 250 AD) had a very holistic view of illness and healing. Health was viewed as a balance between one’s physical condition, nature, the cosmos, etc., and various practices (such as medicinal plants, spiritual ceremonies, and spiritual guides) were used to improve health (NCFH, 2011).
Curanderismo uses many of these ancient techniques today including prayer, herbal medicine, manipulation of body parts, healing rituals, spiritualism, massage, and psychic healing (NCFH, 2011).
The term curanderismo and the term curandero (a male healer) or curandera (a female healer) come from the Spanish verb curar, which means “to heal” (Trotter & Micozzi, 2015; Trotter & Chavira, 1997). Individual healers can be either male or female and can vary widely in their knowledge of the practices and the overall system of curanderismo. This healing system is complex since it maintains cultural links to the past as well as accommodates the future of healing (Graham, 2010; Trotter & Micozzi, 2015).
Curanderismo combines aspects of both Catholicism and the traditional folk medicine of the natives of Latin America (Salazar & Levin, 2013). Spirituality and maintaining a balance and harmony with nature are at the core of curanderismo today (Tafur, Crowe, & Torres, 2009).
Historically, curanderos/as are important members of Mexican society and are held to the same standards as modern-day healthcare professionals. Many become healers after long apprenticeships but a great emphasis is placed on the person’s innate talent for healing which is typically referred to as a spiritual calling, or el don, a gift (Tafur, Crowe, & Torres, 2009; Torres & Sawyer, 2005; Trotter & Micozzi, 2015; Valdez, 2014).
Many curandero/as do not pursue their profession for profit because they believe it is a gift from a higher power. Healers refer to this concept as “developed abilities” (Trotter & Micozzi, 2015). Commonly, they use religious paraphernalia (such as pictures of saints, holy water, crosses, and altars) when healing. Most live humble lives at a subsistence level, refusing payments for their services but at times accepting small gifts or offerings (Tafur, Crowe, & Torres, 2009; Torres & Sawyer, 2005).
Curandero/as have specialties of practice (Graham, 2010; Tafur, Crowe, & Torres, 2009):
- Yerberos/as are herbalists specializing in botanical remedies
- Parteras are midwives
- Sobadoros/as specialize in massage
- Espiritualistos/as are psychic mediums
- Senores/as read tarot cards
Many curandero/as have multiple specialties and work on many levels, including the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realms in order to diagnose and cure illnesses (Tafur, Crowe, & Torres, 2009)