helen tafoya-barraza, ma, lpcc - psychosocial rehabilitation association of new mexico...

Helen Tafoya-Barraza, MA, LPCC Clinical Manager, University Psychiatric Center PSR

Promotora Tradicional, Kalpulli Izkalli

HTafoya@salud.unm.edu, Helentafoya@gmail.com

• A holistic system of folk medicine.

• Encompasses belief that illness may not

only have natural/physical causes but

emotional and spiritual causes as well.

• Blends religious beliefs, faith, and prayer

with the use of herbs, massage, and other

traditional methods of healing.

• From the verb “Curar.

• Literally “to heal.”

• Therefore, Curanderismo can refer to any healing modality and a Curandera/o can be anyone who heals.

• However, the word specifically refers to traditional healing modalities in Latin America

• Personal Responsibility

• Community Oriented

• Holistic

• Incorporates emotional, physical, spiritual

• Food as medicine

• Physical activity

• The body electric

• Need for literal “grounding”

• Addresses illness & wellness from the client world view

• In other words we are pack animals

• We flourish in groups

• Our very survival is connected to

recognizing our codependency on each

other.

• The practitioner is not above or separate

from the community.

• Traditional healers are all very old women/men that live in

obscure small towns.

• Traditional healers are uneducated, unsophisticated people that

shun Western medicine

• Traditional healers use dangerous methodology

• Western Medicine is safe, i.e. never uses dangerous or untested

methodology.

• Western practitioners are well educated in their field of

expertise therefore they rarely make mistakes.

• Western practitioners when not doing good, at least do no

harm.

• Herbalista – the herbalist, herbal pharmacist

• Sobadora – massage therapist

• Husero – orthopedic specialty (literally “one who works with bones.”

• Espiritualista –Spiritualist, psychic

• Patera - Midwife

• Consejera y Platicas – Counselor & talk therapy

• Generalist – general practitioner

Safe Harbor Exemption bills for

independent health care

practitioners that do not hold

state occupational licenses and

are currently practicing in the

public domain.

Classes on a variety of topics

• Herbs (ex: rosemary, osha, spearmint, lavender)

• Prayer

• Temazkal

• Candles

• Incense (copal, sage, juniper)

• Salt

• Water

• Flowers

• Family/community members

• Eggs

• Ventosas (fire cups)

• Traditional massage

• Platicas

•Herbal Medicines

•Temazkal

Countless herbs have

medicinal/curative/healthful

properties

Soups and Stews

Temazkal temazcal, temezcal, temascal,

temescal, temazkalli, temascalli, etc.

• The word temazcal comes from the Nahuatl word

temazcalli ("house of heat")

• Or possibly from the Aztec, teme (to bathe) and calli

(house).

• The sweatlodge is a permanent structure, unlike in

other regions.

• Primarily the realm of women, temazkaleras

• There are male temazkaleros

• Birthing rooms

• Marriage/commitment ceremonies

• Prayer services

• Cleansing of mind, body and spirit

• Body purification after exertion

• Healing the sick

• Improving overall health

One method is 4 rounds

• Invocation

• Release

• Gratitude

• Petition

• Fundamentally no money is required.

• Always discuss this beforehand

• Exchange of goods & services, bartering

• For those who choose to pay money:

• Pay more if you can

• Less if you can’t.

• Let your conscience be your guide.

Curanderismo Exhibition

UNM Maxwell Museum

• Through September 28, 2013

• Hours: Tuesday – Saturday , 10 am – 4 pm

• Closed Sunday, Monday & major holidays

Traditional Medicine without

Borders: Curanderismo in the

Southwest & Mexico

• July 15-26, 2013

• MTWRF 8:10 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.

• University of New Mexico

• Registration is open at UNM & UNM

Continuing Education.

• 1028 Ann Ave. SW

• Albuquerque, NM, 87105

• 505.452.9208

• izkalli@comcast.net

• www.kalpulliizkalli.org

• Anaya, R. A. (1972). Bless Me, Ultima. Berkeley, CA:

TQS Publications.

• Avila E. & Parker J. (1999). Woman Who Glows in the

Dark: A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets of

Physical and Spiritual Health. Tarcher/Putnam April, Los

Angeles.

• Comas-Díaz, L. (2005). Becoming a Multicultural

Psychotherapist: The Confluence of Culture, Ethnicity,

and Gender. Journal Of Clinical Psychology, 61(8),

973-981.

• Comas-Díaz, L. (2010). On being a Latina healer: Voice, consciousness, and identity. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 47(2), 162-168.

• Gonzales, P. (2012), Red Medicine: Traditional Indigenous Rites of Birthing and Healing. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.

• Kiev, A. (1968). Curanderismo: Mexican-American folk psychiatry. New York, Free Press.

• Trotter, J. & Chavira, J. A. (1981). Curanderismo: Mexican American Folk Healing. University of Georgia Press, Athens.

We heal the

earth