Latino Behavioral Health Conference

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Latino Behavioral Health Conference

• La Comunidad Cura Latino Healing Traditions and
  Therapy
• Stella Rodriquez, LMFT
• September 2008

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LATINO HEALING TRADITIONSEarly Cultural
Influences

• Aztec
• African
• European

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AZTEC MEDICINE

• Used rudimentary knowledge of herbs
• Included a spiritual aspect
• Relied on many specialists

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AZTEC SPECIALISTS

• Art of Diagnosis
• The Teixtomani-
• The Ticiti-

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AZTEC SPECIALISTS

• The Tepantiani-
• The Tetlacuicuitiani-
• The Tescuapanine-

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EUROPEAN MEDICINE

• 15th Century Spanish medicine
• Humoral theory proposed by Galen (Hippocrates)

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EUROPEAN MEDICINE

• Disease caused by imbalance of bile, blood or
  phlegm in the body
• Disease could be a punishment from God

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Humoral Chart
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Modern Applications of Humoral Theory
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EUROPEAN MEDICINE
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AFRICAN MEDICINE
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AFRICAN MEDICINE

• Healing traditions of the Belgian Congo
• The human personality comprised of three parts

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AFRICAN MEDICINE

• Connection between the living and the dead
• Influence of Ancestors
• Root medicine and Herbs

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CURANDERISMO

• Illness is divided into three inter-related
  categories
• Somatic
• Psychological
• Spiritual

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DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASE

• Disturbances of Imbalance of Hot and Cold
• Disturbance of Organs
• Spiritual Origin of Illness
• Emotional Origin of Illness

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TREATMENT MODALITIES

• Spiritual/Religious
• Indigenous medicine
• Folk psychological approaches
• Herbal

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USE OF ENCHANTMENT OR MAGIC/Problem of
Charlatanism

• Shamanic rituals, chants, prayers, herbs
• Medicine Woman or Man, village healer
• Voodoo Priest or Priestess
• Santero, Padrino, Yoruba
• Bruja/Brujo Witch

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NAMES AND MODALITIES USED BY HEALERS

• Hierbero
• Sobador
• Espiritista
• Espiritualista
• Cartero
• Partera
• Huesero

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CULTURALLY IDENTIFIED LATINO ILLNESSES

• Susto
• Mal de Ojo
• Mal Puesto
• Mal Aire
• Empacho
• Mollera Caida
• Bilis and Envidia

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HEALING ACTIONS AND OBJECTS

• Dichos
• Hierbas
• Copal
• Agua Bendita

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HEALING ACTIONS AND OBJECTS

• Limpias
• Barridas
• Oraciones
• La Familia

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HEALING ACTIONS AND OBJECTS

• Velas
• Árbol de la Vida
• Rosario
• Amuleto
• CANCIÓN, BAILE, POESÍA

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Curanderismo, from Curar To Heal

• How culture and community cure
• The Instinct of Community

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LA COMUNIDAD CURA

• Community and Culture as Antidotes to Violence
• Importance of Family/Familia

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THE NEW CURANDERISMO

• Blending of the old and new traditions of healing
• Complementary healing and therapy from within the
  culture
• Culturally resonant therapy
• Therapeutic examples

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CONCLUDING REMARKS

• La comunidad and la familia as therapeutic
  vessels
• Implications for therapy

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Sources

• Aztec Medicine, Francisco Guerra
• Folk Medicine in Hispanics in the Southwestern
  United States, Hispanic Center for Excellence
  Website
• Curanderas in the Americas, S.Harding,
  Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 1999
• Four humors-Hippocratic Method and the Four
  Humors in Medicine, Ancient History About Com.
• The Folk Healer The Mexican-American Tradition
  of Curanderismo, Eliseo Torres, Nieves Press,
  1983
• Woman Who Glows In The Dark, Elena Avila
• Ritual Power, Healing, and Community, Malidoma
  Patrice Some, Penguin Books 1983