Curanderismo, the Ancient Holistic Healing Art of Mexico Griselda Alvarez Sesma - Curanderismo.org
go to original February 10, 2022

Curanderismo (Crusade for Aid)

Curanderismo sessions may combine prayer, pláticas, limpias, sound, breath, indigenous massage, hands-on healing and the use of sacred tools that can help bring about internal and external balance.

What is Curanderismo? It is a holistic approach to wellness that has been used in the Americas for hundreds of years. In Mexico, it is also known as Mexican Traditional Medicine, "medicina del campo," and traditional folk medicine. Curanderismo is a natural and powerful way to treat ailments from back pain to depression, helping remove obstacles to stable employment, and other problems of a spiritual nature.

Combining the use of one, or a combination, of the following: prayer, medicinal plants, eggs, floral waters, spiritual cleansings known as Limpias, along with massage, indigenous acupuncture, and/or ceremony bring about internal and external balance. Limpias can be done alone or prior to hands-on healing.

Curanderismo is often considered to be a Mestizo, or syncretic, system of healing. Depending on the curandera’s religious, cultural and/or tribal background - if any, it may, or may not, also have Catholic, Sephardic, African and/or magico-religious influences.

In some instances, curanderas may be referred to as mujer de conocimiento (woman of knowledge) or mujer de medicina (medicine woman) - the same applies to male practitioners (curanderos). Each curandera has a distinctive practice that is most often learned within the context of her family, community or tribe.

In this Mesoamerican healing system it is believed that disease is caused by social, psychological, physical, environmental and spiritual factors; a disharmony of body, mind, and spirit. Curanderismo as Grace practices it, is rooted in Aztec and Mayan native medicine ways.

Today it continues to be used by people from all walks of life: health care professionals, physicians, educators, students and homemakers, as an adjunct to conventional medical interventions.

Learn more at Curanderismo.org