CURANDERISMO IN TEXAS

Curandero A Life in Mexican Folk Healing

by Dr. Eliseo "Cheo" Torres with Timothy L. Sawyer, Jr.

Eliseo Torres, known as "Cheo," grew up in the Corpus Christi area of Texas and knew, firsthand, the Mexican folk healing practiced in his home and neighborhood. Later in life, he wanted to know more about the plants and rituals of curanderismo. Torres's story begins with his experiences in the Mexican town of Espinazo, the home of the great curandero El Niño Fidencio (1899-1939), where Torres underwent life-changing spiritual experiences. He introduces us to some of the major figures in the tradition, discusses some of the pitfalls of teaching curanderismo, and concludes with an account of a class he taught in which curanderos from Cuernavaca, Mexico, shared their knowledge with students. Part personal pilgrimage, part compendium of medical knowledge, this moving book reveals curanderismo as both a contemplative and a medical practice that can offer new approaches to ancient problems.

Healing with Herbs and Rituals

by Dr. Eliseo "Cheo" Torres, edited by Timothy L. Sawyer, Jr.

Healing with Herbs and Rituals is an herbal remedy-based understanding of curanderismo and the practice of yerberas, or herbalists, as found in the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Part One, "Folk Healers and Folk Healing," focuses on individual healers and their procedures. Part Two, "Green Medicine: Traditional Mexican-American Herbs and Remedies," details traditional Mexican-American herbs and cures. These remedies are the product of centuries of experience in Mexico, heavily influenced by the Moors, Judeo-Christians, and Aztecs, and include everyday items such as lemon, egg, fire, aromatic oil, and prepared water. Symbolic objects such as keys, candles, brooms, and Trouble Dolls are also used. Healing with Herbs and Rituals shows us these practitioners are humble, sincere people who have given themselves to improving lives for many decades. Today's holistic health movement has rediscovered the timeless merits of the curanderos' uses of medicinal plants, rituals, and practical advice.

Infusions of Healing: A Treasury of Mexican-American Herbal Remedies Paperback – October 5, 1999
by Joie Davidow (Author)
NATURAL REMEDIOS FOR EVERYDAY AILMENTS
When the Spaniards conquered the Aztecs, they stumbled upon a treasure trove ultimately more valuable and lasting than the glittering mounds of Moctezuma's gold -- the herbal remedies and medicines developed by the Indians, which in many ways surpassed the rudimentary medicine of the Old World. The remnants of these cures, potions, infusions, and tonics form the basis of the countless natural remedies still used in many Mexican-American households today. Now, these healing herbs and remedies are brought together in a volume that is as practical as it is fascinating. In Infusions of Healing you'll find:
* The intriguing story of how this long-suppressed ancient knowledge was passed down over the course of five centuries.
* Hundreds of safe, effective herbal treatments for everyday ailments -- teas, liniments, compresses, salves, and soothing baths for headaches, colds, fevers, digestive disorders, menstrual cramps, skin problems, aches and pains, and much more.
* An alphabetical listing of more than 200 herbs and plants, from abedul (birch) to zarsaparilla (sasparilla), including their English, Spanish, Nahuatl (Aztec), and botanical names, with extensive notes on their histories and healing properties.
* Expert advice from today's traditional healers and practitioners of Mexican-American herbal medicine, many of their remedies recorded in print for the first-time.
Thorough, well organized, and rich with history, Infusions of Healing is a practical handbook for anyone interested in natural remedies, as well as an invaluable contribution to the preservation of a tradition deeply embedded in Latino culture.

Woman Who Glows in the Dark: A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets of Physical and Spiritual Health Paperback – May 22, 2000
by Elena Avila (Author), Joy Parker (Author)
"I wrote Woman Who glows in the Dark because I wanted to share the powerful medicine in Curanderismo because there were no books available about a curandera's personal stories written by a practicing curandera (me) and to emphazie that curanderismo is the Medicine of the people. I have walked in both worlds, Western Medicine (RN, BSN, MSN) AND CURANDERISMO. This is the medicine of the South and it took me to Mexico to study with powerful healers.
I have been practicing Integrative medicine for many years and I needed to share the resutls of my studies and practice amd how I incorporate Western Medicine and Curanderismo and how inportant it is to invite soul and spirit in the healing sessions."

Los Remedios: Traditional Herbal Remedies of the Southwest Paperback – September 16, 2008
by Michael Moore (Author), Mimi Kamp (Illustrator)
A wealth of information about herbal remedies native to the Southwest, infused with wisdom, wit, and personal reminiscences.