Who is a curandero

Curanderismo predates the arrival of Europeans to the Americas and incorporates elements of Catholicism, such as prayer and the use of holy water, as well as practices brought by African slaves. Curanderos are considered to be skilled healers and are not generally viewed disparagingly, as witch doctors sometimes are. The Spanish terms hechicero or brujo are typically used to distinguish the latter from the former. Often highly respected community members and spiritual leaders, curanderos can have a strong religious faith.

Their powers to heal may be viewed as supernatural in origin or as a divine gift. For example, in some countries, including Peru, some people believe that the most powerful curanderos are first struck by lightning. These healers may be the only option for ailing people lacking financial resources or who are isolated in rural areas. However, Mexico, in particular, has a rich and fascinating history of curandero healers, who employ herbs and an impressive amount of optimism in their work.

Despite having a high social standing within their community, the believed-to-be supernatural powers of the curanderos are typically assumed to be illnesses or a curse from a higher being. Nowadays, the lower classes are the principal users of curanderos, either due to rural locations and lack of access to modern medicine or because of the low price charged by most spiritual shamans. In fact, many accept no cash payment at all; instead, many prefer offerings.

They often solve these maladies through the careful use of spiritual cleansings, essential oils, herbs, incense, eggs and even just good old-fashioned prayer.

While few people visit curanderos for illnesses such as diabetes and cancer, those who do will be gently reminded to visit a Western doctor. However, this is by no means an extensive introduction to the various subsets of Mexican healers, boundaries which are blurred by some multi-talented chamanes.

He uses a trance-like state to cure his patients and is also a skilled exorcist. Moving further south, in Morelos, you can find Don Lucio, who descends from a long line of curanderos known as the graniceros.

Some say he can control the weather, helping to avoid natural disasters. Another famed curandero is Don Fidencio , who despite being deceased for some time, still maintains a loyal following of fidencistas to this day. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements.

This article was first published in Saludify. Hope Gillette is an award winning author and novelist. She has been active in the veterinary industry for over 10 years, and her experience extends from exotic animal care to equine sports massage. Welcome to the Latino daily! Welcome to the latino daily. Health Mary Mata September 26, By Hope Gillette, Saludify D espite the push to visit Western doctors, receive preventative care and become knowledgeable about common ailments in the community, many Hispanics living in the United States still prefer the advice and remedies obtained from curanderos, traditional folk healers carrying on generations of ancient healing practices.

Curanderismo Curanderos practice what is called curanderismo, or a holistic form of healing, which combines prayer, herbal remedies, rituals, psychic healing, spiritualism, and massage. What does a curandero do? Depending on the ailment, aid from a specialized curandero may be sought, and these individuals are referred to as: Yerberos: Individuals who specialize in the use of medicinal plants and herbs; considered the equivalent of a pharmacist in Western medicine.

Why do curanderos remain so popular?