Curanderismo
Curanderismo: Therapy for the Soul
If you are one of the millions of people living in western society, you were probably taught by
modern medicine that healing the body is purely an outside job. The philosophy of western
medicine claims that despite the extent of the trauma, injury, or loss that an individual endures, a
doctor can cure any malady with the help of treatments like surgery or medication (assuming the
physical damage isn’t too severe of course). But what happens when your doctor gives you a clean
bill of health, yet you find yourself feeling “off” or suffering from an array of newly developed
physical or emotional ailments? Perhaps relying entirely on a system that focuses on repairing the
physical body while ignoring the well-being of mind and spirit, dismisses the vital role that a soul
plays within this human experience.
There was a time when healing was an inside job. The belief that energy within the soul directly
affects a person’s physical health might be a new concept to some, but it has been expressed in
Curanderismo for centuries. Curanderismo is the medicine of people. It’s been mislabeled
throughout the years as a system of remedies for folk-disease, therefore delegitimizing a sacred
practice with roots that reach far back into the 14th century. Curanderismo is the divine mestizo or
mixture. It is a form of indigenous spirituality and healing therapies born from the blending of
Spanish colonizers with the indigenous tribes of Mexico and Africa.
In the 1500s, Spain invaded the New World and took control of earth spirited tribes like the Aztec.
Soon after, they began importing Africans from their homeland and forcing them into slave labor.
Throughout this period of upheaval, the resident healers or curanderos continued to evolve and
weave a sacred web of spiritual practices and beliefs within their community.
Curanderos look after the physical and spiritual health of a community, which includes assuming
the role of healer and protector of souls. According to Curanderismo, when a person experiences
trauma, they also experience some level of susto or shock to the soul. Susto causes a part of the
soul to remove itself and hide from the physical body to avoid more damage. If susto is not dealt
with right away, eventually that sense of emotional detachment expands and may lead to
depression, anger issues, disease, and overall loss of self. Curanderos may decide to lead clients
through soul-retrieval, the process of reintegrating the lost piece of the soul back in with the rest.
Soul-retrieval may include therapies like herbalism, massage therapy, limpias (energetic clearings),
pláticas (meaningful conversations between the client and healer), shamanic journeys, and other
intuitive practices designed to discover the exact moment a soul detached from the body.
Even today, the role of the healer within the culture of Curanderismo is highly respected. Value is
measured not in dollars, but by the health and well-being of the community. The curandero knows
that the body is intrinsically dependent on the well-being of the soul, and therefore a healer’s
services are available to all people, regardless of financial situation, religion, or spiritual beliefs.
The knowledge that healing starts within, and that a person cannot heal the body without first
repairing the heart, is a message that we can attribute to the selfless and wise curanderos and
curanderas of past and present.