Curanderismo is a holistic approach to wellness that has been used in the Americas for hundreds of years. Also known as Mexican Traditional Medicine, "medicina del campo," and traditional folk medicine, curanderismo is a natural and powerful way to treat ailments from back pain to depression. Combining the use of medicinal plants, "limpias" (spiritual cleansings), massage and ceremony bring about internal and external balance. Limpias can be done alone or prior to hands-on energy healing. Curanderismo is often considered to be a Mestizo or syncretic system of healing. Depending on the curandera’s religious, cultural and/or tribal background (if any) it may, or may not, also have Catholic, Jewish, or African and/or magico-religious influences. Each curandera has a distinctive practice that is most often learned within the context of her/his family, community or tribe/clan. In this Mesoamerican healing system it is believed that disease is caused by social, psychological, physical, environmental and spiritual factors; a disharmony of body, mind, and spirit. Curanderismo as Grace practices it, is rooted in Aztec and Mayan native medicine ways. Today it continues to be used by people from all walks of life: health care professionals, physicians, educators, students and homemakers, as an adjunct to conventional medical interventions.

What happens during a Curanderismo session?

During a session, Grace may use one of these modalities or a combination: prayer, brief platicas (heart-to-heart talks), sacred instruments such as the ehecatlchichtli (Aztec whistle), subtle-energy healing, hands-on-healing - native doctoring, sobadas (indigenous massage), incense and aromatic waters, egg limpia (egg spiritual cleansing), and barridas (sweepings) with consecrated plants such as sage, rosemary and rue, so that stagnant energy is released in order to promote good health and a positive mental attitude. She may also use breath and song as part of your session. At times a series of spiritual herbal baths may also be indicated.

These ancient wisdom rituals are known to shift and reconfigure energy patterns within the human energy field which can be a factor in soul fragmentation and illness. Often clients experience release from imbedded trauma that was experienced in childhood or later in life -- this may be due to molestation, rape, accidents or loss of a loved one through death or divorce. Just as every person is special in the eyes of Spirit, every session is unique and individualized to meet the needs of the client and his/her family. More than one session is usually indicated.

You do not need to be ill in order to benefit from a limpia. A limpia can be a part of your wellness program; this type of limpia is of shorter duration than one performed for serious illness or intrusive negative energies. A limpia of the client’s home or office may also be required in order to support the effects of a personal limpia and to generate blessings of peace, harmony and prosperity for the business and/or family.

There are specific days of the week and month during which certain healing ceremonies must be performed. If this applies to your situation, you will be told at the time of your session.You will also be asked to bring special items with you to your appointment. Children and Youth under age 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian who must be present during the session.

Curanderismo sessions are truly a beautiful collaboration of healer, Spirit, the Four Sacred Winds, Our Relations and Allies in nature, and the client.

A client's willingness to do their share in this process is critical to a long-term, stable, healthy outcome. To that end, clients are often given "homework" consisting of specific actions and behavioral changes that support the work done together in Grace's office. This may consist of setting up a home altar to help you hold the intent of your healing journey or a short pilgrimage to a nearby sacred site.

Curanderismo can address a wide array of situations, including:

1. •Treating persons suffering from cancer by helping to decrease the debilitating side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
   

2. •Health issues such as chronic pain, cancer and other illnesses.
   

3. •Addressing the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of facing potentially life-threatening illness (by patient and family).
   

4. •Long-term unexplained bad luck, illness, job loss, business failures, or repeated falls or accidents.
   

5. •Helping women who have experienced the challenges of termination of a pregnancy.
   

6. •Post Traumatic Stress Disorder such as that experienced by returning veterans.
   

How do you know if you need a limpia or other healing ceremony?

It can be as simple as just needing to give voice to your difficult emotions or experiences and need someone with empathic skills and strong intuitive sense. It can be due to not feeling well physically and not finding a medical reason for what you are experiencing. There are several indicators which an experienced curandera/o will recognize in order to determine whether a client needs a "wellness limpia" or whether it is an instance where it is clear that there is a energetic attachment present that is creating problems. In the more serious situations, some of the indicators may include, but are not limited to: a sense of disassociation (feeling out of your body), chronic and ongoing difficulty carrying out day-to-day tasks (whether at home or at work -- or both), noticing a new tendency to being accident-prone, what some persons call chronic bad luck (salacion) and/or persistent inability to fall asleep often coupled with nightmares. You should consult with a medical professional either before, or in conjunction with, your curanderismo session.

A few of the more commonly used terms of curanderismo:

1. •Pláticas. (Heart to Heart talks) This is an opportunity to speak from the heart to clarify issues, resolve old hurts and free blocked energy in order to move beyond current unsatisfactory situations.
   

2. •Limpias also known as Barridas.  Spiritual cleansings, done by "sweeping" the body with a bundle of herbs such as rosemary, rue and sage. Often this is accompanied by sprinkling consecrated floral waters on the client. Alternatively a sacred feather may be used to remove negative energies from the client's physical and energetic bodies. At times a fresh unbroken raw egg may be used and is rubbed over the body, then broken, and placed in a glass of water, allowing the practitioner to "read" the person's energy so the treatment can be individualized.
   

3. •Susto or Espanto (literally, "fright;" more commonly known as soul loss).  These rituals may be appropriate for persons who are suffering from Susto or Espanto which can be caused by early abandonment, accidents, traumas such as rape, or unresolved grief for loved ones lost by death or divorce. Treatment of susto allows persons to reclaim lost parts of themselves so they can be fully integrated and present.
   

4. •Healing ceremonies. This may include holding relevant photographs or the burial of clothing or other item that may be associated with the traumatic event that is creating stress or illness. At times fasting, abstaining from sexual relations for a specified period of time, singing, drumming, and/or drinking especially prepared herbal infusions may be recommended. This may or may not include participation in a temazcal, sweat lodge, prior to the ceremony.
   

Contents © 2000, Grace Alvarez Sesma