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A ''curandero'' (, healer; f. , also spelled , , f. ) is a traditional
native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...
healer Healer may refer to: Conventional medicine *Doctor of Medicine *Health professional Alternative medicine * Faith healer * Folk healer * Healer (alternative medicine), someone who purports to aid recovery from ill health * Spiritual healer F ...
or shaman found primarily in Latin America and also in the United States. A curandero is a specialist in traditional medicine whose practice can either contrast with or supplement that of a practitioner of Western medicine. A curandero is claimed to administer shamanistic and spiritistic remedies for mental, emotional, physical and "spiritual" illnesses. Some curanderos, such as Don Pedrito, the Healer of Los Olmos, make use of simple herbs, waters, or mud to allegedly affect their cures. Others add Catholic elements, such as holy water and pictures of
saints In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual res ...
; San Martin de Porres for example is heavily employed within Peruvian curanderismo. The use of Catholic prayers and other borrowings and lendings is often found alongside native religious elements. Still others, such as
Maria Sabina Maria may refer to: People * Mary, mother of Jesus * Maria (given name), a popular given name in many languages Place names Extraterrestrial *170 Maria, a Main belt S-type asteroid discovered in 1877 *Lunar maria (plural of ''mare''), large, da ...
, employ hallucinogenic media. Many curanderos emphasize their native spirituality in healing while being practicing Catholics. Most of the concepts related to ''curanderismo'' (the practice of curanderos) are words in Spanish language, often with Medieval, vernacular definitions.


History in Latin America

The term ''curanderos'' can be traced back to the Spanish colonization of Latin America. Curanderos in this part of the world are the result of the mixture of traditional Indigenous medicinal practices and Catholic rituals. There was also an influence from African rituals brought to Latin America by slaves. Curandero/a comes from the root ''curar'' in Spanish which literally translates to cure. Thus, a curandero/a is one who heals. Curanderos go beyond Western medicine, linking illness with evil spirits. This extends a curandero's duties to cover not only physical ailments but also psychological and interpersonal issues. Among the illnesses that Curandero/a's help with range from the mundane stomach ache to certain spiritual illnesses such as ''
susto Susto (, ) is a cultural illness primarily among Latin American cultures. It is described as a condition of "chronic somatic suffering stemming from emotional trauma or from witnessing traumatic experiences lived by others". Symptoms Among the ...
, mal de ojo,'' and even reversing black magic. Traditional communities see all of these issues as a loss of spirit. They believe that the curanderos can enter different dimensions where they are able to find the solutions to a person's illness or problem. Furthermore, they believe that God or the Higher Creator gives curanderos difficult and painful experiences so that they are better able to assist their patients. In Colonial Latin America, female folk healers, or curanderas, were often conflated with ''brujas'' (witches), which refers to those who cast spells; although curanderas were persecuted during such times, it is likely because they were females in positions of authority, not because of their healing methods. Today many women and men continue the curandero tradition in Mexico and the southwestern United States.


History in the United States

Historically, in the United States, curanderos were only found in concentrated Amerindian populations. It was largely thought that curanderos mainly practiced along the Mexico–United States border. However, recent historical research shows that the practice of ''curanderismo'' (traditional healing) was not restricted to the American Southwest. The practice of ''curanderismo'' was prevalent in the 1880s in Northeastern Tennessee. In the mid- to late 1970s the rise in ethnic minority and immigrant populations grew in tandem with the public presence of curanderos in areas outside of the historical geographic regions of the United States which had large Indigenous populations. Since the 1990s, it has become more commonplace to see curanderos in northern-tier cities in the United States.


Types of Curanderos

There are many different types of curanderos. ''Yerberos'' are primarily herbalists. ''Hueseros'' are bone and muscle therapists who emphasize physical ailments. ''Parteras'' are midwives. '' oracionistas'' work primarily through the
power of prayer The efficacy of prayer has been studied since at least 1872, generally through experiments to determine whether prayer or intercessory prayer has a measurable effect on the health of the person for whom prayer is offered. A study in 2006 indicates ...
. Other types include ''sobadors,'' who are masseurs, and '' brujos'' or ''brujas'', who are witch doctors. Among these broader terms, there are several subspecialties. For instance, ''yerberos'' who work primarily with tobacco to heal patients are known as ''tabaqueros''. Healers who work primarily with ayahuasca are known as ''ayahuasqueros''. Healers who work with
peyote The peyote (; ''Lophophora williamsii'' ) is a small, spineless cactus which contains psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. ''Peyote'' is a Spanish word derived from the Nahuatl (), meaning "caterpillar cocoon", from a root , "to gl ...
are known as ''peyoteros''. Although many curanderos do have a specialty and may identify with it, that does not mean that these healing modalities are necessarily strict and do not overlap. As an example, an oracionista may also be a yerbera, and so on.


Practices of Curanderos

Hispanics The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties former ...
might seek out curanderos if the properties of their bodies are "hot" and "cold". Most of these practicing curanderos do not have formal medical training and inherit their gift or learn through being an apprentice. Often these
faith healers Faith healing is the practice of prayer and gestures (such as laying on of hands) that are believed by some to elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing, especially the Christian practice. Believers assert that the healing ...
have no office and work out of their homes. A significant factor why Hispanics seek out help from a curandero is because it is more affordable. Western medicine can often be more expensive, and some Hispanic families do not have the resources needed to be able to pay for them. Depending on the curandero, they might not charge for their services or just ask for a small offering or fee. You can find them in Hispanic communities to allow the members more accessibility to their services. Other reasons these communities might seek out services offered by curanderos are the language barrier and their immigration status. Curanderos are found in Spanish communities and can communicate better about their diagnoses and treatment. Unlike hospitals or healthcare workers that might have difficulty with a language barrier and complex
medical terminology Medical terminology is a language used to precisely describe the human body including all its components, processes, conditions affecting it, and procedures performed upon it. Medical terminology is used in the field of medicine Medical terminolog ...
. Communicating correctly to your patients is essential, but it is even more challenging if you do not speak the language or do not have an interpreter. As for their immigration status, it can be challenging to get health care from government support, especially for undocumented. Many of these Latinos will pay in cash for health care services they do receive out of fear of getting their immigration status reported. Curanderos and at-home remedies come as an advantage to these individuals if they cannot pay cash but will do so if things get severe and do not better with other remedies first. Considering that these practices align more with Hispanic cultural views and beliefs, many of these individuals used curanderos and traditional medicine or
alternative medicine Alternative medicine is any practice that aims to achieve the healing effects of medicine despite lacking biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or evidence from clinical trials. Complementary medicine (CM), complementary and alt ...
in their home country. It can also be seen as a way of preserving these cultural views. Spiritual healing is another reason why curanderos might be seeking out, and Hispanics feel that medical providers cannot help heal spiritual issues that the body might deal with. Clients find that curanderos are healers of both the body and spirit. If needed, a curandero can cast out the evil spirits that might reside in someone's body and do a full spiritual cleanse. This is stuff that you will not find your medical provider doing or trying to achieve. It is found that most Hispanics who seek curanderos for their services are born in their home country as opposed to Hispanics born in the United States. Hispanics who are less integrated into life in the United States seek these healers to connect and feel familiar with their home countries' traditionalism. These Hispanic community members can be dissatisfied with diagnoses or Western medicine practices. They feel that their provider does not believe in their folk illnesses, much less know how to approach and treat them.


Traditional Illnesses and Maladies

Among some of the illnesses that curanderos treat are: ''espanto'' ("scare") or ''
susto Susto (, ) is a cultural illness primarily among Latin American cultures. It is described as a condition of "chronic somatic suffering stemming from emotional trauma or from witnessing traumatic experiences lived by others". Symptoms Among the ...
'' ("fright"); detaching or warding off vampiric ''espiritus'' (spirits); defending against or negating '' brujeria'' ("witchcraft" or "sorcery"), such as ''mal de ojo'' (" evil eye") or other ill intent; clearing illnesses associated with ''mal aire'' or ''mal viento'' ("evil air" or "evil wind"); treating ''mal projimo'' ("bad neighbor"), an illness caused by having negative thoughts or feelings towards another individual, or conversely, a group of people feeling negatively towards the patient being treated, both of which can lead to harm to the individual.


Consequences of Encounters with ''Duendes''

A curandero can treat the negative consequences of encounters a person has had had with a '' duende'' (a "spirit creature" such as a pixie, imp,
fairy A fairy (also fay, fae, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Celtic, Slavic, Germanic, English, and French folklore), a form of spirit, ...
, leprechaun, brownie,
dwarf Dwarf or dwarves may refer to: Common uses *Dwarf (folklore), a being from Germanic mythology and folklore * Dwarf, a person or animal with dwarfism Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * Dwarf (''Dungeons & Dragons''), a humanoid ...
,
gnome A gnome is a mythological creature and diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, first introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and later adopted by more recent authors including those of modern fantasy literature. Its characte ...
, or troll. A ''duende'' can be a beneficial, neutral, or malicious spirit. ''Duendes'' are believed to live in the countryside of Latin American countries.


Effects of ''Mal aire'' or ''mal viento''

''Mal aire'' or ''mal viento'' is something invisible movements of the air are believed to cause. These can be defined as the result of "bad" or "evil" air or an illness caused by hot or cold air. For example, if a person is outside on a hot day but enters a much cooler building, they can catch an ''aire''. This can also be caused by supernatural forces carried through the wind. Something can be caught by walking around or encountering places with bad energy. Examples of such places can be graveyards, abandoned houses, and other places where these "bad" forces reside. The harmful energy attaches itself to a person when such forces are encountered and can quickly takes over their entire body. It is believed that this harmful energy can also result in the decaying of a person's internal organs and can be fatal if left untreated. Many other common symptoms of ''mal aire'' include headaches, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, and paleness.


Soul Loss

A person can "lose their soul" (also known as soul loss) when being frightened or experiencing a frightening experience. This is called ''espanto'' or ''susto''. Usually, susto has much milder symptoms, and children and babies are more prone to getting in regarding this illness. Examples of such experiences that can cause this is having scary dreams, receiving devastating news, facing a wild animal, etc. Symptoms associated with this disease can be nausea, crying, bad dreams, and insomnia. For all of the illnesses mentioned above, a curandero can perform a ''mal limpieza'' ("purge of evil" or "cleansing of evil") in order to get rid of the "bad" and restore the client to health. Examples of materials used in these limpizas are sugar, liquor, holy water, perfume, eggs, chickens, and Guinea pigs. Others include a dog's skull, a dove's blood, and a head from a doll, or some other power object. Limpieza can also be performed with plants. These magical plants can be helpful in cleaning houses as well. If a house has been abandoned or something terrible has happened in it, such as a sudden death or act of violence, a curandero will do a ritual that cleanses the home from all the ''mal'' ("evil"). Once a limpieza has occurred, the materials used in it are disposed of. Given that the ''mal'' has been transferred to them, the must be disposed of far from human inhabitants in order to prevent others being harmed.


Further information

In the 21st century as the popularity of alternative medicines grow, some curanderos are concerned about the appropriation of these practices. The Moche people of ancient Peru often depicted curanderos in their art. In the Andes, one of the instruments of the ''curandero'' is the ''chonta'', a lance carved from the chonta palm, '' Bactris gasipaes'', thought to be imbued with magical powers. The palm grows only in the
Amazon basin The Amazon basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries. The Amazon drainage basin covers an area of about , or about 35.5 percent of the South American continent. It is located in the countries of Bolivi ...
and is the object of a brisk commerce. The
Jivaro people The Shuar are an Indigenous people of Ecuador and Peru. They are members of the Jivaroan peoples, who are Amazonian tribes living at the headwaters of the Marañón River. Name Shuar, in the Shuar language, means "people". The people who speak ...
of the
Amazon Rainforest The Amazon rainforest, Amazon jungle or ; es, Selva amazónica, , or usually ; french: Forêt amazonienne; nl, Amazoneregenwoud. In English, the names are sometimes capitalized further, as Amazon Rainforest, Amazon Forest, or Amazon Jungle. ...
use the hardwood of the chonta to carve their spears. The shaman is also known as ''chonteador'', and his most important wand is the ''chonta defensa''; if he dies without disciples, the ''chonta'' is thrown, wrapped in rubands and weighted with stones, to the bottom of a lake with the belief that its power will reemerge when a new shaman will take office. The shamans also use wands of ''huatulco'' wood, ''
Loxopterygium huasango ''Loxopterygium'' is a genus of plants in the family Anacardiaceae. Taxonomy Species , ''Plants of the World online'' has 4 accepted species: * ''Loxopterygium gardneri ''Loxopterygium'' is a genus of plants in the family Anacardiaceae ...
''.


In fiction

Curanderos, probably because of the mystery and intrigue that surrounds them, are frequently included in fictional works: * ''
César Calvo César Calvo Soriano (26 July 1940 – 18 August 2000) was a Peruvian poet, journalist, and author. Calvo was part of the "Generación del Sesenta" ("Generation of Sixty"), a group of prominent Peruvian poets that came of age in the 1960s. Conside ...
'', ''Las Tres Mitades de Ino Moxo y otros brujos de la Amazonías'' (Iquitos 1981), translated as ''The Three Halves of Ino Moxo. Teachings of the Wizard of the Upper Amazon''. A novel by the Peruvian author based on the life of
Manuel Córdova-Rios Manuel Córdova-Rios (November 22, 1887 – November 22, 1978) was a vegetalista (herbalist) of the Peruvian Amazon, upper Amazon, and the subject of several popular books. As a teenage mestizo of Iquitos he joined a company's work party to set ...
. * ''
Bless Me, Ultima ''Bless Me, Ultima'' is a coming-of-age novel by Rudolfo Anaya centering on Antonio Márez y Luna and his mentorship under his '' curandera'' and protector, Ultima. It has become the most widely read and critically acclaimed novel in the Chicano ...
'', by the Chicano author Rudolfo Anaya. * The original screenplay for the film '' Viva Zapata!'' involved a curandera predicting the birth and death of
Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
revolutionary A revolutionary is a person who either participates in, or advocates a revolution. The term ''revolutionary'' can also be used as an adjective, to refer to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor. ...
Emiliano Zapata. The original played much more heavily on the supernatural than the chosen script. * ''
Curandero A ''curandero'' (, healer; f. , also spelled , , f. ) is a traditional native healer or shaman found primarily in Latin America and also in the United States. A curandero is a specialist in traditional medicine whose practice can either contra ...
'', a 2005 film by Eduardo Rodríguez. * ''
Changes for Josefina Changes may refer to: Books * ''Changes'', the 12th novel in Jim Butcher's ''The Dresden Files'' Series * ''Changes'', a novel by Danielle Steel * ''Changes'', a trilogy of novels on which the BBC TV series was based, written by Peter Dickinson ...
'', one of the
American Girl American Girl is an American line of dolls released on May 5, 1986, by Pleasant Company. The dolls portray eight- to fourteen-year-old boys and girls of a variety of ethnicities, faiths, and social classes from different time periods throughou ...
series of books about 10-year-old Maria Josefina Montoya set outside Santa Fe in the mid-1820s, features Tía Magdalena as a curandera and the most respected woman in the protagonist's village. She is also featured in the
American Girl novel American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
Secrets in the Hills Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controvers ...
. * ''Forests of the Heart'' by Charles de Lint features a curandera protagonist. * ''
So Far from God ''So Far from God'' is a novel written by Ana Castillo, first published in 1993 by W. W. Norton & Company. It is set in a town in New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Sant ...
'', by
Chicana Chicano or Chicana is a chosen identity for many Mexican Americans in the United States. The label ''Chicano'' is sometimes used interchangeably with ''Mexican American'', although the terms have different meanings. While Mexican-American iden ...
author Ana Castillo, features the curandera character Doña Felicia. * ''(Notes from the Trial of) La Curandera'', a song by the band
Clutch A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a drive shaft to a driven shaft. In the simplest application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts). ...
off their 2004 album
Blast Tyrant ''Blast Tyrant'' is the sixth full-length studio album by American rock band Clutch and was released March 23, 2004, but has since had a reissue on May 10, 2011. It was the first release with DRT Entertainment by the band. Album information ...
. It features a fictional trial of a curandera for curing a demon. * ''Nightmare'' by
Joan Lowery Nixon Joan Lowery Nixon (February 3, 1927 – June 28, 2003) was an American journalist and author, specializing in historical fiction and mysteries for children and young adults. Biography Joan Lowery was born on February 3, 1927, in Los Angeles, ...
* ''The Hummingbird's Daughter'' by
Luis Alberto Urrea Luis Alberto Urrea (born August 20, 1955 in Tijuana, Mexico) is a Mexican-American poet, novelist, and essayist. Life Luis Urrea is the son of Alberto Urrea Murray, of Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico and Phyllis Dashiell, born in Staten Island, New Yor ...
tells the story of Teresita Urrea, a curandera at the end of the 1800s. * ''
The House of the Scorpion ''The House of the Scorpion'' is a 2002 science fiction young adult novel by Nancy Farmer. It is set in the future and mostly takes place in Opium, a country which separates Aztlán (formerly Mexico) and the United States. The main character Matteo ...
'' by Nancy Farmer features a character named Celia who is a curandera. * ''Dark Obsession'' by
Terri Molina Terri is an alternative spelling of Terry. It is a common feminine given name and is also a diminutive for Teresa. Notable people with the name include: *Terri Allard (born 1962), American country/folk singer/songwriter *Terri S. Armstrong, Amer ...
features a character named Ramon Chavez who is warned of danger by the spirit of a curandera, and contains a healing experience based on real life.Terri Molina. Dark Obsession, published by Crimson Romance 2012 * '' The Codex'' by
Douglas Preston Douglas Jerome Preston (born May 31, 1956) is an American journalist and author. Although he is best known for his thrillers in collaboration with Lincoln Child (including the ''Agent Pendergast'' series and ''Gideon Crew'' series), he has also ...
features two curanderos: Don Alfonso Boswas and Borabay. A North American character, Sally Colorado, is also honoured with the nickname Curandera. * In the Medical Center (TV series) episode 'Tio Taco', Dr. Joe Gannon confronts Mondragon, a curandero who tries to treat a woman with an internal hemorrhage. * ''Marta's Ride'' by Gordon Rottman mentions curanderas attempting to save a possessed man. * " La Bruja" , a short story by Derek Hawke, tells the story of a good Curandera who is betrayed by the town she serves and condemned as a bruja. She makes a dark pact to take revenge on the townspeople who sentenced her to death. *'' The Terror: Infamy'' features a curandera during segments set in New Mexico in the 1940s. *''
The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump ''The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump'' is a fantasy novel by American writer Harry Turtledove, published by Baen Books in 1993. Premise and setting While having some aspects of an alternate history, it is mainly a work of science fantasy depicti ...
'' by Harry Turtledove includes a curandero named Cuauhtémoc Hernandez. *'' The Curse of La Llorona'' (2019 film) features a curandero (played by Raymond Cruz) who fights the titular spirit of the " weeping woman".


In other works

* ''Woman Who Glows in the Dark: A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets of Physical and Spiritual Health'' (2000), by Elena Avila * ''Eduardo The Healer'' is a documentary that follows the life of a Peruvian curandero. * The life and writing of
Don Miguel Ruiz Miguel Ángel Ruiz Macías (born August 27, 1952), better known as Don Miguel Ruiz, is a Mexican author of Toltec spiritualist and neoshamanistic texts. His work is best-received among members of the New Thought movement that focuses on ancie ...
has been also influenced by curanderismo; his mother was a curandera. * ''Women who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype'' (1992), by
Clarissa Pinkola Estés Clarissa Pinkola Estés (born January 27, 1945) is a first-generation American writer and Jungian psychoanalyst. She is the author of '' Women Who Run with the Wolves'' (1992), which remained on the ''New York Times'' bestseller list for 145 wee ...


See also

*
Aztec medicine Aztec medicine concerns the body of knowledge, belief and ritual surrounding human health and sickness, as observed among the Nahuatl-speaking people in the Aztec realm of central Mexico. The Aztecs knew of and used an extensive inventory consis ...
*
Guillermo Arévalo Guillermo Arévalo Valera (born 1952) is a Shipibo ''vegetalista'' and businessperson from the Maynas Province of Peru. His Shipibo name is Kestenbetsa. In 1982, Arévalo co-founded Aplicación de Medicina Tradicional (AMETRA), an organization ...
*
Pablo Amaringo Pablo Cesar Amaringo Shuña (January 21, 1938 – November 16, 2009) was a Peruvian artist, renowned for his intricate, colourful depictions of his visions from drinking the entheogenic plant brew ayahuasca. He was first brought to the West ...
*
Benedicaria Benedicaria, which means "''Way of Blessing''," is a relatively new term for a number of loosely related family-based folk traditions found throughout Italy, most notably in Southern Italy and Sicily. Though referred to by some as "Folk Magic" ...
* Carlos Castaneda *
Folk healer A folk healer is an unlicensed person who practices the art of healing using traditional practices, herbal remedies and the power of suggestion. The healer may be a highly trained person who pursues their specialties, learning by study, observat ...
* Kalku * Machi (shaman) *
Maya medicine Maya medicine concerns health and medicine among the ancient Maya civilization. It was a complex blend of mind, body, religion, ritual and science. Important to all, medicine was practiced only by a select few, who generally inherited their positi ...
* Medicine man * Nganga * María Sabina * Plastic shaman *
Santería Santería (), also known as Regla de Ocha, Regla Lucumí, or Lucumí, is an African diaspora religions, African diasporic religion that developed in Cuba during the late 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between the tradit ...
*
Shamanism Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a Spirit world (Spiritualism), spirit world through Altered state of consciousness, altered states of consciousness, such as tranc ...
*
Shipibo-Conibo people The Shipibo-Conibo are an indigenous people along the Ucayali River in the Amazon rainforest in Peru. Formerly two groups, the Shipibo and the Conibo, they eventually became one distinct tribe through intermarriage and communal ritual and are cu ...
* Witch doctor


Notes


References

* Karsten, Rafael
''Blood, Revenge, War and Victory Feasts Among the Jibara Indians of Eastern Ecuador.''
Kessinger Publishing, LLC, 2004. . * Beyer, Stephan V. (2009). ''Singing to the Plants: A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon''. University of New Mexico Press *Favazza Titus, Sharon K. "Seeking and Utilizing a Curandero in the United States." Journal of Holistic Nursing, vol. 32, no. 3, 2014, pp. 189–201.


Further reading

* Riding, Alan. ''Distant Neighbors: A Portrait of the Mexicans''. New York: Vintage, 2000. * Trotter, Robert T. II, and Juan Antonio Chavira. ''Curanderismo: Mexican American Folk Healing'' (Second ed.). University of Georgia Press, October 1997. *Cavender, Anthony P, and Manuel Albán. "The Use of Magical Plants by Curanderos in the Ecuador Highlands." Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2009, p. 9. *Avila, Elena, and Joy Parker. “Woman Who Glows In The Dark. A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets of Physical and Spiritual Health” ISBN 0-87477-958-8 1999. {{DEFAULTSORT:Curandero Catholic culture Christianity and religious syncretism Latin American folklore Mexican Spanish Shamanism of the Americas Supernatural healing Traditional healthcare occupations