helen tafoya-barraza, ma, lpcc - psychosocial rehabilitation association of new mexico...
TRANSCRIPT
Helen Tafoya-Barraza, MA, LPCC Clinical Manager, University Psychiatric Center PSR
Promotora Tradicional, Kalpulli Izkalli
• 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
• 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