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

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.