Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Healing through herbs and rituals

Overview of Mexican folk healing brought to the heritage center

Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

Dr. Eliseo "Cheo" Torres brought his expertise in curanderismo to El Camino Real International Heritage Center on June 9.

Torres gave an informative presentation of stories, slides, and information about curanderismo as it is historically and currently in Mexico and in the southwestern United States.

A curandero or curandera is a man or woman who practices healing using herbs and rituals in a holistic approach to healing the body, mind and spirit.

This Mexican folk healing includes practices influenced by various beliefs.

"You might think of acupuncture as an Oriental technique. The Aztecs did the same thing only they used thorns," he said.

It incorporates the Judeo-Christian belief that healing is a gift from God.

It includes the Greek belief that the body must maintain a balance of hot and cold to be healthy.

The curandero is trained to direct psychic energy as is prevalent in some Arabic beliefs. He or she is also versed in the use of supernatural forces attributed to health and healing by European witchcraft practices.

The African influence brought to Spain by the Moors provides a blend of the Catholic Santeria and the African Orichas to the healing process.

A curandero may include the spiritual trances and communication with spirits as practiced by spiritualists and psychics.

Folk healing also incorporates the scientific principals of germ theory, psychology and biomedicine. Among other things, practitioners use massage therapy, acupressure, acupuncture, the Mexican sweat lodge, or temezcal, and rituals ranging from common sense to bordering on superstition.

"I've used a temezcal once," said Torres. "I went through a cleaning ceremony before entering the sweat lodge, used the sweat lodge, then I had a massage. I had probably the best night's sleep I ever had after that."

Torres said, for example, a curandero is most likely to prescribe a weight-loss herb to be mixed in water and taken every morning to be followed by a mile-long walk. At the end of a month, a patient should expect to lose a pound.

Torres said snake medicine is back in vogue. The National Institute of Health is doing research using venom to destroy cancer and tumor tissue.

"Snake oil can be used to stop someone from gossiping about you," he said. "To stop the gossip, place a drop of aceite(snake oil) for every letter of the gossiper's name on a piece of paper, then burn the paper. The gossip will stop,"

Charms and amulets may be prescribed. One example is the Ojo de Venado or "Deer's Eye" worn as a bracelet or necklace to ward off the "Evil Eye." The amulet is not made from the eye of a deer, but rather is a buckeye seed adorned with red yarn and beads.

Candle rituals are sometimes recommended for various conditions. The color of the candles is significant. Blue is for serenity, pink is for good will, white is for purity, red is for illness or love, and green or black are used to counteract negative forces.

Torres said curanderismo is being accepted as an integrated part of modern medicine. He believes Andrew Weil's commons sense approach to the partnership of modern medicine and holistic medicine "can't hurt, could help."

Torres is vice president of Student Affairs at the University of New Mexico. He has studied Mexican folk healing medicine for 20 years. In wanting to acquaint the public with the importance of curanderismo in the Mexican and Mexican-American culture, he developed a teaching unit, "Folk Medicine and Medicinal Herbs of the Southwest and Northern Mexico."

Torres has also compiled an exhibit on the history of curanderismo that has been displayed in several museums including the American Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C. Torres has spent much time in Mexico as an apprentice to curandero Cresencio Alvarado. He is the author of the books, "Healing with Herbs and Rituals" and "Curandero" as well as many articles.

Torres will offer a two-week course, "Traditional Medicine Without Borders: Curanderismo in the Southwest and Mexico," through the University of New Mexico Albuquerque campus July 16 through July 27, from 8:10 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. each day. Instruction will feature hands-on learning experiences for many practicing curanderos and curanderas, as well as other holistic practitioners. The course can be taken for credit or as a continuing education non-credit course. Contact Torres at 505-277-0952 or by e-mail to cheo@unm.edu for more information.

ecronce@dchieftain.com

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