Proposing a New Health Model: Merging Latinx Traditional Medicine Curanderismo with Modern Allopathic Practice

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46328/ijonest.194

Keywords:

Curanderismo, Traditional medicine, Modern allopathic medicine, Latinx

Abstract

Authors of this article, professors at the University of New Mexico Eliseo Cheo Torres and Mario Del Angel-Guevara, currently teach English and Spanish courses on traditional medicine from Mexico, the southwest and other countries. The authors propose that the Latinx community reclaim and learn more about this traditional medicine that has been part of Hispanic/Latinx culture for hundreds of years. They propose that traditional medicine be merged with modern allopathic medicine in order to meet the needs of the uninsured and become an integral part of the Latinx culture in the United States. Curanderismo traditional medicine can be integrated into modern medicine in a number of professions such as psychology, nursing, physical therapy, midwifery, and general medical practice. The article starts by providing a description of the roles and backgrounds of traditional healers and how they support classes for the community followed by national and international pioneers in merging both medicines and the creation of a new health model.

Author Biographies

Eliseo Torres, The University of New Mexico

Eliseo “Cheo” Torres has served as Vice President for Student Affairs/Full Professor at the University of New Mexico since January 2, 1996. He was responsible for all facets of student life, which include programs such as El Centro de la Raza, African American and American Indian Student Services, Women’s Resource Center, Student Union, Student Activities, Student Health & Counseling Center, Career Services, etc. He continues teaching three classes on traditional medicine, and regularly lectures and gives presentations on the history and lore of Curanderismo to audiences ranging from scholars and students of Latin American culture to people hoping to become knowledgeable about alternative and traditional medicine, including lay people and medical professionals alike. He has published four books on traditional medicine emphasizing medicinal plants and rituals published by the University of New Mexico Press and Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. Before he came to the University of New Mexico, Dr. Torres served as Vice President for External Affairs at Texas A&M University-Kingsville as well as teaching in the Bilingual Doctoral Program. He has also served as Interim President and Vice President of Student Affairs.

Mario Del Angel Guevara, The University of New Mexico

Dr. Mario Del Angel Guevara is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at the University of New Mexcico in Albuquerque, NM. Dr. Del Angel Guevara is a PhD in Spanish from the University of New Mexico where he has taught courses in Spanish as a second language, heritage language, medical Spanish, and bilingual courses on Curanderismo: Traditional Medicine of Mexico and the Southwest. Dr. Del Angel has received his certificate in Mexican traditional medicine from CEDEHC, School of Community Human Development in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico and his certificates on Spanish-English translation and interpretation from the National Center for Interpretation at the University of Arizona. Professor Del Angel-Guevara focuses his research on the contributions and lives of curanderos in southern, central and northern Mexico and specializes in the Fidencista healing movement, a movement of curanderos who follow the teachings of El Niño Fidencio in Nuevo León, Mexico.

References

About CEDEHC. (n.d.). Curanderismo Santa Fe. Retrieved September 5, 2023, from http://curanderismosantafe.weebly.com/about-cedehc.html

Home Page. (n.d.).

The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Retrieved September 5, 2023, from https://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/index.html

Integrative Medicine | Care Services | UNM Health System | Albuquerque, New Mexico. (n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2023, from https://unmhealth.org/services/integrative-medicine/

Kuti, J., & Torres, E. (1996). Potential Nutritional and Health Benefits of Tree Spinach (Cnidoscolus chayamansa). In J. Janick (Ed.), Progress in New Crops. American Society of Horticulture Science Press.

Patwardhan, B., Warude, D., Pushpangadan, P., & Bhatt, N. (2005). Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Comparative Overview. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2(4), 465–473.

Torres, E. (2019). Curanderismo: The Art of Traditional Medicine without Borders (2nd ed.). Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.

Torres, E., & Miranda, I. (2017). Curandero: Traditional healers of Mexico and the southwest. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.

Torres, E., & Sawyer, T. L. (2014). Healing with Herbs and Rituals: A Mexican Tradition. University of New Mexico Press.

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Published

2024-06-09

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Science

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