Hispanic Folk Medicine Practitioners

In traditional Hispanic culture there is a long tradition that many illnesses are the result of a combination of physical and supernatural forces. The former, of course, include such mundane factors as injury or infection while the latter arise from the belief that many health problems are to be seen as "lessons" that are being "taught" by God or even that some form of "evil" may be a contributing factor in an illness. To address both concerns, many Hispanic citizens will consult those members of their community who are believed to possess healing and spiritual knowledge. These individuals are known as las curanderas.

A curandera is a woman who is respected for her knowledge of folk medicine such as the proper combinations of herbs and/or special diets that may be used to treat a variety of illnesses. Since such knowledge is considered to be a blessing bestowed by God only upon deserving individuals, it is assumed that the curandera is also very pious and that her prayers will receive God's special attention. Many men are also believed to possess such knowledge and such an individual is known as a curandero (Note: In most Spanish dialects spoken in the United States, a word ending in "-a" denotes feminine gender while those ending in "-o" are used with the masculine gender. A male Hispanic folk medicine practitioner is therefore known as a curandero).

As in more the more orthodox practice of western medicine, many curanderas may be more adept in one area than in others. Thus, those who rely more on herbal remedies than on other methods of treatment are known as Yerberas. Women who are also skilled midwives are the Parteras, and those who treat traumatic or occupational injuries are known as Sobaderos or Hueseros. All such practitioners, however, are recognized by their communities as being profoundly spiritual and are usually seen as "extensions" of the beneficial practices of the Church.

Although far more common in predominately Hispanic communities or neighborhoods, there are several indications that traditional beliefs remain an important part of Hispanic cultural identity in the immigrant population. One of the more common is the botanica.

A botanica is a retail establishment that specializes in herbs herbal medicines, and religious articles such as special "prayer candles" (often recommended by the curandera) or statues of popular saints such as the Lady of Guadalupe. Often located near other retail outlets such as groceries or "Anglo" pharmacies, the botanica often provides an indirect yet important cultural link with the immigrant's country of origin.

The historic origins of traditional Spanish/Hispanic "folk medicine" are forever lost in history. There are, however, some anthropologists who cite similarities in the methods employed by earlier practitioners of Islamic medicine with those of the curanderas, suggesting that such practices probably entered pre-Imperial Spanish culture by assimilation during its Islamic period. The same process is felt to be responsible for the persistence of some practices that have been identified as predating the Spanish arrival in the New World.

An interesting speculation, although it seems to have received little attention in the academic social literature, concerns the lack of success that has plagued many public health efforts that have attempted to establish a foothold in Hispanic communities, particularly in such communities having large newly-arrived or first generation populations. Although it is certainly likely that many immigrants have unpleasant memories of government contacts in their home country, it would be interesting to see what effects the active recruitment of curanderas would have on such efforts.

In summary, Hispanic folk medicine remains an important part of that cultural tradition and cannot be ignored, or marginalized, when implementing broader national or community health and social service programs.