Curanderismo Part 3: Traditional Healing with Cultural Traditions

The instructor will present a welcome video describing the course syllabus followed by a Power Point presentation on the topic of "Curanderismo," traditional/folk medicine.

Each thematic module will consist of an average of two 20-minute videos, by well-known traditional healers from Mexico, and the United States.  Some of the hands-on demonstrations will be followed by additional readings and discussions on effectiveness of traditional and holistic medicine, which has been revived and recently gained popularity throughout the world.  There will be a translator in the videos for the healers from Mexico who speak Spanish.

Instructor:  Dr. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, from the University of New Mexico 

Description:  This course will provide information on the history, traditions, rituals, herbs, and remedies of Curanderismo, a folk healing tradition of the Southwestern United States, Latin America and Mexico.  

Optional texts: 

1.       Curandero: A Life in Mexican Folk Healing, Eliseo Torres & Tim Sawyer

2.       Healing with Herbs & Rituals: A Mexican Tradition, Eliseo Torres, edited by Tim Sawyer

3.       Infusions of Healing, Joie Davidow

For further references on Curanderismo, students are encouraged to read the following books:

1.       Border Medicine - A Transcultural History of Mexican American Curanderismo, Brett Hendrickson

Module/Week

Topic

1

Introduction Videos

·       Welcome Video (3)

·       PowerPoint Introduction/Overview of Curanderismo (3)

·       Film on the University of New Mexico’s Summer Class

2

1.     Curanderismo Collection: Different Cultures with Similar Traditions

2.     Healing the Digestive System

3.     Healing the Nervous System

3

4.     Temazcal (3 videos)

4

5.     Intestinal Blockage (Empacho)

6.     Healing through Sound and Music

5

7.     Traditional Remedies for Infants and Children

8.     Traditional Healing for the Aging Community

6

9.     Dia de los Muertos & Healing through Grief

Interviews

·       Rita

·       Tonita

·       Curanderismo Students