1. Curanderismo
A Culture of Healing

2. What is Curanderismo?
Healing system dedicated to healing illnesses of body, mind, and spirit
Curandero (male) or curandera (female) is the practitioner of curanderismo

3. Philosophy Balance between human and nature
Union of the soul and spirit
How humans fit into the natural world
Harmony of the "self"

4. Evolution of curanderismo
Estimated five hundred years ago
6 different influences

5. Influences: Judeo-Christianity
Patient being given a barrida
with a crucifix
Altar in a curandero’s workroom

6. Influences: European Medicine
Greek Humoral medicine
Early Arabic medicine

7. 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.

8. Influences: Indigenous Herbal Lore
Above images from Codex Badiano, first book about Aztec medicinal herbs, composed in 1552

9. Influences: Psychic Phenomena
Spiritualist healing session

10. Influences: Contemporary Western Medicine
Elena Avila, working curandera and registered nurse

11. Treatment Modalities
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

12. Material Level Curanderismo
Candles, eggs and garlic-- some objects used by curanderos working on the material level

13. Spiritual Level Curanderismo
Curandera working as a card reader

14. Psychic Level Curanderismo
Utilizing the power of the mind to treat patients

15. Types of illnesses treated
Psychological issues
Traumatic events
Natural illness
Mal Ojo, “evil eye”
Susto, “magical fright”

16. Mal de Ojo
Amulet worn to prevent
Mal ojo

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

18. Herbs for Natural Illnesses

19. Modern Curanderismo
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

20. Continual Existence
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