Mexican Culture Curanderismo

Running head. MEXICAN CULTURE: CURANDERISMO 1

Mexican Culture: Curanderismo

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MEXICAN CULTURE: CURANDERISMO 2

Mexican Culture: Curanderismo

Curanderismo is the practice of conventional medicine in South America, predominantly

in Mexico. The cultural healers, also known as curanderas, believe in the spiritual ability to heal.

This skill is passed from one generation to another in one family line (Olguin, n.d.). Curanderas

apply a variety of procedures using herbs and religious cleansing rituals to cure folk and spirit

illnesses, which are prevalent in the Mexican culture (Olguin, n.d.). Curanderismo has eight

philosophical healing premises, which include a strong emotional state, imbalance with one's

environment, diseases that result from malevolent forces, ability of the soul and body to separate,

family participation necessary for curing, natural and supernatural worlds that are not

distinguishable, sickness that serves a social function, and a believe that the Latinos respond

better to an open interaction with their healers (Smith, 2000). These expectations of the patient-

healer relationship have severe implications to the medical practice. The history of Curanderismo

and Curanderas dates back to the 16

century (Olguin, n.d.). Curanderismo was passed through

hands-on apprenticeships by women in Mexico and Central America in the mid 1th century.

After Mexico won independence from Spain, curanderas continued to serve the people. This

tradition has continued to date where families believed to possess healing powers pass this

culture to the next generation.

Mexican Culture and Health

Mexicans have a higher rate of certain chronic diseases. For instance, diabetes is twice

more common among Mexicans in comparison to Anglo-Americans, which has been linked to

the high prevalence of obesity among the Mexicans (Reyes-Ortiz, Rodriguez, & Markides,

2009). While there are many factors determining how the Mexicans address their health issues,

such factors as education, social-economic status, and religious beliefs have also played a

MEXICAN CULTURE: CURANDERISMO 3

significant role (Reyes-Ortiz et al., 2009). In an age where technology driven and highly

specialized medicine has taken over the health management, traditional practices such as

Curanderismo, which is also associated with spiritual healing, are critical cultural determinants

of health care provision.

Curanderismo Rituals

Curanderismo is derived from a Spanish word curar, which means to cure. This

conventional practise is older than the modern medicine and it was introduced by Spanish

Conquistadores fro treating the body, mind and soul. The foundations of this practice are defined

in the Greek health restoration, Christian beliefs, traditional American practices, western

medicine and medieval witchcraft (Reyes-Ortiz et al., 2009). Curanderismo si preffered as a

healing method against natural and supernatural sufferings. These solutions are performed to

eliminate the disease ailing the people using conventional strategies such as plants, eggs and

spiritual interventions as well as other practices deemed effective to clean the body and restore

norm.Furthermore, ceremonial prayers and burning of incense are used to cleanse the

environment where Curanderismo is to be carried out. Altars are placed strategically to invite the

client's ancestors to balance the mind, body, and spirit to do the healing (World Culture

Encyclopedia, 2017). The curandero conducts the placticas to call for the healing. The placticas

helps the curanderos to understand the intervention required to heal (Reyes-Ortiz et al., 2009).

Plant interventions include the hot tea for drinking or cleansing the body. Afterwards, the

cleansing act and an egg is swept over the patient to remove the negative energies causing the

diseases. When these processes are complete, the eggs are disposed off as described by

curanderos to remove the disease causing spirits (Smith, 2000). At times when the additional

MEXICAN CULTURE: CURANDERISMO 4

interventions are required, additional rituals such as soul retrievals are conducted by curanderos

to restore the glory lost due to the diseases.

Factors Affecting the Use of Curanderos Mexico

Conventional medicine and curanderos are popular among the older Mexicans, and more

specifically those with chronic ailments, those who have economic constraints, and those who

seek the medical services regularly. Users of herbal medicine are more likely to be women over

the age of 75 years who were also facing financial challenges (Trotter, 2001). In the neighboring

countries such as the US, Mexican immigrants do not shy away from using the curandero's

medical interventions to manage the sustained medical conditions. Arthritis, urinary

incontinence, and asthma patients widely use traditional medicine, while patients with acute and

life-threatening conditions prefer hospitalization, which also leads to changes in lifestyle and

close therapeutic supervisions (Smith, 2000). Mexican-Americans are more likely to rely on

herbal medicines and allopathic interventions due to the limited access to the modern health care

(Trotter, 2001).

Other than the financial constraints and the nature of ailments, Mexicans also use the

curanderos due to the cultural importance the practice has and for many years. Curanderos are

believed to have a spiritual gift of healing, and many Mexicans seek their services for spiritual

reasons, which cannot be addressed by the conventional remedies (World Culture Encyclopedia,

2017). Patients with financial challenges prefer the services of curanderos since they are

affordable to people without insurance policies or alternatives to medical treatments. In addition,

some patients turn to curanderos when the conventional medicine fails to cure them (Trotter,

2001). In the US, Mexican Americans prefer Curanderismo due to various challenges n the US

such as language barrier and inability to afford the modern medical care services. Most of the

MEXICAN CULTURE: CURANDERISMO 5

illnesses treated by curanderos are the empacho and mal de ojo among other chronic and

stubborn diseases such as fatigue and infertility. Physical ailments are treated through herbs and

massage (Mull & Mull, 1983). The mind-body dichotomy, which is common in conventional

medicine, is absent in Curanderismo. 33% of the Mexicans visits curanderos for various reasons

such as mal puesto, (bewitchment), susto (fright sickness), empacho, chest pains and chronic

problems such as measles and marital issues (Mull & Mull, 1983). It is evident that curanderos

have a wide range of powers and possess solid medical knowledge. In fact, curanderos can

recognize the diseases and use their experience to advise their patients.

Conclusion

Curanderismo remains one of the most significant cultures in Mexico. Over the years, the

practice has been used to treat severe health complications. Even at times when technology-

driven treatment interventions have taken center stage of care provision, Mexicans have

continued to use Curanderismo. The high cost of modern medical care, spiritual beliefs, and

language barriers in accessing the contemporary health care among the reasons Mexicans have

led to the continued use of this practice. It is therefore essential for the government and other

health stakeholders to continue supporting Curanderismo as a strategic initiative to complement

the existing health care infrastructure in Mexico.

MEXICAN CULTURE: CURANDERISMO 6

References

Mull, D., & Mull, D. S. (1983). Cross-cultural medicine. A visit with a Curandero. The Western

Jornal of Medicine. Retrieved from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1010994/pdf/westjmed00195-0134.pdf

Olguin, D. L. (n.d.). Curanderismo: Folk healing practice and child abuse and neglect

allegations. Retrieved from http://jsc.montana.edu/articles/v6n5.pdf

Reyes-Ortiz, A. A., Rodriguez, M., & Markides, K. S. (2009). The role of spirituality healing

with perceptions of the medical encounter among Latinos. Society of General Internal

Medicine, 24(3), 542-547. doi:10.1007/s11606-009-1067-9

Smith, A. B. (2000). Mexican cultural profile. Mexico. EthnoMed. Retrieved from

https://ethnomed.org/culture/hispanic-latino/mexican-cultural-profile

Trotter, R. T. (2001). Curanderismo: A picture of Mexican-American folk healing. The Journal

of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 7(2), 129 –131. Retrieved from

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/542c/7d4c829a6b185409b09cde59e88ec66122df.pdf

World Culture Encyclopedia. (2017). Culture of Mexico - history, people, clothing, traditions,

women, beliefs, food, customs, family. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-

Ni/Mexico.html

MEXICAN CULTURE: CURANDERISMO 7

Annotated Bibliography

Mull, D., & Mull, D. S. (1983). Cross-cultural medicine. Retrieved from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1010994/pdf/westjmed00195-0134.pdf

This article is a review of cross-cultural medicine with a particular focus on Curanderismo in

Mexico. The author conducts interviews with renowned folk healers in Mexico and discusses the

findings and the existing literature of Mexican Curanderismo. This source is essential in this

paper since it outlines the history, the practice, and the factors affecting Curanderismo and the

Mexican culture.

Olguin, D. L. (n.d.). Curanderismo: Folk healing practice and child abuse and neglect

allegations. Retrieved from http://jsc.montana.edu/articles/v6n5.pdf

This paper outlines the allegations of Curanderismo in child neglect. Although the paper seems

out of context in this assignment, the source has sufficient and reliable information regarding the

history, practice, and challenges such as a family’s folk healing practices associated with child

abuse. The history and practice of Curanderismo are well-documented in this paper.

Reyes-Ortiz, A. A., Rodriguez, M., & Markides, K. S. (2009). The role of spirituality healing

with perceptions of the medical encounter among Latinos. Society of General Internal

Medicine, 24(3), 542-547. doi:10.1007/s11606-009-1067-9

This source outlines the relationship between spirituality healing and the perceptions about the

Curanderismo. As one of the most religious nations in the world, the paper outlines the

interaction between cultural practices such as Curanderismo and religion in Mexico.

MEXICAN CULTURE: CURANDERISMO 8

Smith, A. B. (2000). Mexican cultural profile. Mexico. EthnoMed. Retrieved from

https://ethnomed.org/culture/hispanic-latino/mexican-cultural-profile

This source discusses the culture of Mexico in general. The paper helps to understand the

relationship between Curanderismo and other aspects of culture. This article is essential in

establishing the interrelationships between different components of Mexican culture.

Trotter, R. T. (2001). Curanderismo: A picture of Mexican-American folk healing. The Journal

of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 7(2), 129 –131. Retrieved from

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/542c/7d4c829a6b185409b09cde59e88ec66122df.pdf

This journal article discusses the history, practices, and the levels of healing associated with

Curanderismo:

World Culture Encyclopedia. (2017). Culture of Mexico - history, people, clothing, traditions,

women, beliefs, food, customs, family. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-

Ni/Mexico.html

This source discusses the impact of the Mexican culture on the people. Culture a collection of

day to day life practices and this article outlines how each aspect of culture affects the lives of

people.

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