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Traditional Medicine without Borders: Curanderismo in the Southwest & Mexico
July 13-24, 2015
M.T.W.R.F. 8:10 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.
Anthropology Bldg., Room 163
UNM Main Campus
Class website: curanderismo.unm.edu
Facebook: facebook.com/curanderismo
Updated 6/17/15
Instructor: Dr. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, Office: 229 Scholes Hall, (505) 277-0952, [email protected]
Description: This course will provide information on the history, traditions, rituals, herbs, and remedies
of Curanderismo, a folk healing tradition of the Southwestern United States, Latin America and Mexico
and other countries. Please note that there may be some changes in speakers or additions of
presentations or activities throughout the class. We commit some of the speakers several weeks before
the beginning of class and at times they may have to cancel. Any changes will be announced as soon as
we become aware of them.
Course Objectives:
• This course offers influences of traditional medicine from Moorish to Middle-Eastern influences, to
Asian hot/cold concepts, to indigenous beliefs, rituals & herbal medications, to contributions from the
U.S. Southwest.
•
Traditional medicine has been marginalized and misunderstood by the general population as folk
medicine. Research and studies will prove that this medicine is effective and can be integrated into
modern allopathic medicine.
•
This class will address the diversity of traditional medicine and will allow students to write a term
paper in either Spanish or English, outlining the diversity, inclusions and contributions of traditional
medicine.
UNM Course listings: (3 credit hours):
Graduate: ANTH 540-010 and LLSS 593-010
Undergraduate: ANTH 340-010, SPAN 301-010, CHMS 393-010
Note: There will be a $50 course fee to cover some materials/guest speakers’ expenses.
Continuing Education: (CEU credits optional):
Course #38409. If you want CEU credits there is a required fee of $20 paid to Vladimir L’Ouverture on
the first day of class. Checks are to be made out to ‘UNM Continuing Education’. For questions contact
Vladimir or Cindy Mason at (505) 277-0952. Please note: $50 fee for materials/guest speaker’s
expenses also applies for Continuing Education students. This fee will be collected when you
register through Continuing Education. Also, you can find Vladimir every morning by the volunteer
table located directly outside the classroom, in the anthropology foyer.
Required Texts:
1. Curandero: A Life in Mexican Folk Healing, Eliseo Torres & Tim Sawyer
2. Healing with Herbs & Rituals: A Mexican Tradition, Eliseo Torres, edited by Tim Sawyer
3. Infusions of Healing, Joie Davidow
Optional texts
For further references on Curanderismo, students are encouraged to read the following books:
1. Curandero Conversations: El Niño Fidencio, Shamanism and Healing Traditions of the Borderlands,
Antonio Zavaleta
2. Border Medicine – A Transcultural History of Mexican American Curanderismo, Brett Hendrickson
Optional class supplies such as amulets, sugar skulls and papel picado for the Dia de los Muertos class
are available at Masks y Más, 3021 Central Ave. NE in Albuquerque.
Herbs and tinctures (optional) can be found at B. Ruppe Drug store at 807 4th St. SW; La Montanita Coop at 3500 Central SE; The Herb Store at 107 Carlisle SE; Herb Garden at 1108 Dakota NE; and several
Yerberia Juarez locations (268-0499, 831-9206, 873-1229) in Albuquerque.
Special notes:
• For Wednesday, July 15th, class will be held at BioPark. For this day, bring water, lunch, hat/cap and
sunscreen.
• Please bring a yoga mat or beach towel during the second week, since many portions of class will be
outdoors.
• Participation in all ceremonies and events is optional.
• Curanderos(as) use copal (an aromatic tree resin that has been used for ceremonies since the preColumbian Mesoamerican times) during opening ceremonies outside. If you are sensitive to this
incense, you can observe the ceremony from a distance.
• Portions of the class are photographed and/or videotaped for use by the University in promotional
materials. You will be asked to sign a waiver on the first day of class acknowledging your
awareness that you may appear in photos or videos of the class. If you do not wish be
photographed or videotaped, it is your responsibility to remove yourself from the area being
photographed or inform the photographer at the time the pictures are being taken.
• Since the class auditorium is a distance from the Student Union Building, a vendor will be located
outside of the classroom each morning selling food and drinks.
• Curanderos(as) from Mexico City, Morelos, Oaxaca, Chihuahua and other states of Mexico will be
involved during week 2 and will do a number of presentations and demonstrations such as spiritual
cleansings (limpia spiritual)—a ritual related to mal de ojo (the evil eye) and susto (magical fright),
traditional healing with a shawl for body alignment (manteadas tradicionales), shamanism (women
and men of wisdom), medicinal teas (tes Medicinales).
Class requirements:
Students will be responsible for the following in order to receive a grade for this course:
•
Daily attendance, punctuality and participation are mandatory
Each student is required to attend at least eight (8) days of this class in order to pass, unless some
extraordinary circumstance arises, in which case you will need to speak to Dr. Torres as soon as
possible. Failure to do so will result in a failing grade. Please note that the instructor will give one to
two breaks at various times during the class depending on the schedule of events. [For Continuing
Education Students only: each day, you are required to sign in BEFORE you sit down. Daily
sign in sheets will be removed by 9 a.m. each day.]
•
Daily reflection papers
Completion and submission of daily reflection papers is required for all UNM students taking the
class for UNM credit (forms are provided through UNM Learn) and Continuing Education
Students taking the class for CEUs (hardcopy forms will be provided, to be turned in every morning
to Vladimir). Every day, you will be asked to write a reaction to the lecture and/or demonstration(s)
that you have observed. You must complete and submit the reflection papers each day through
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UNM Learn. Reflections for the previous day are due at the beginning of the following day’s
class at 8 a.m. and will not be accepted after 10 a.m. (deadlines are listed for each day). Failure to
submit the daily reflections could result in a reduced or possibly a failing grade.
•
Final paper
Each student will be required to write and submit a final paper (at least 4 pages for undergraduate
and CEU students; and at least 6-7 pages for graduate students) through UNM Learn on Friday,
July 24, before Midnight (11:59 p.m.). You may also submit your paper before this date if you’d
like. The paper will be a personal impressions paper on the class and the course readings in which you
will talk about how the class affected you; if/how it changed your life, outlook, philosophy, etc. You
must also relate your information to either the two books by Dr. Torres: Curandero: A Life in Mexican
Folk Healing; Healing with Herbs & Rituals: A Mexican Tradition; or Infusions of Healing by Joie
Davidow. Be as specific as you can when you mention how the readings and/or the class have affected
you by describing the course content, event, or specific readings from the book that you are
discussing. Please note that Dr. Torres may also request that graduate students aid in other class
projects. Students enrolled in Spanish and Portuguese 301-010 may write their paper in Spanish if
they wish. Note: Papers received after July 27 at 10 a.m. will not be accepted and may result in
an incomplete or no grade at all.
•
Good citizenship
Respecting instructors, interpreters and healers and being properly attentive in class is required.
Students should respect the instructors and the healers by paying attention during lectures and
demonstrations, refraining from socializing during lectures and demonstrations, and participating in a
way that is conducive to helping lectures and demonstrations progress in a positive, helpful way.
Please note: The interpreters who are working for our benefit during the class are listening and
translating difficult material from one language to another, and we ask that you please be quiet and
respectful during the translation process.
American Disabilities Act
“In accordance with University Policy 2310 and the American Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable
academic accommodations may be made for any qualified student who notifies the instructor of the need
for an accommodation. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor's
attention, as the instructor is not legally permitted to inquire. The student is responsible for demonstrating
the need for an academic adjustment by providing Student Services with complete and appropriate current
documentation that establishes the disability, and the need for and appropriateness of the requested
adjustment(s). However, students with disabilities are still required to adhere to all University policies,
including policies concerning conduct and performance. Students who may require assistance in
emergency evacuations should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow.
Contact Accessibility Services at 505-661-4692 for additional information." The UNM Accessibility
Resource Center’s web site is at this link: http://as2.unm.edu
The UNM Online Accessibility Support policy statement is available
here: http://online.unm.edu/help/learn/students/accessibility-support.html
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UNM Policy on Student and Visitor Behavior
It is important for all students to be aware of conduct that will lead to disciplinary action by the
University. In order to clarify the types of conduct which shall be considered to affect adversely the
University’s educational function, to disrupt community living on campus, or to interfere with the rights
of others to pursue their education, to conduct their University duties and responsibilities or to participate
in University activities, the Board of Regents hereby adopts a Code of Conduct for students and visitors,
the full text of which can be seen at:
http://pathfinder.unm.edu/campus-policies/student-code-of-conduct.html
http://pathfinder.unm.edu/campus-policies/visitor-code-of-conduct.html
Service Animals
Section 2 of Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual - Policy 2295 on Service Animals, states:
“To deem that a Service Animal is a reasonable accommodation, the following criteria must be met:
•
The individual must have a disability as defined under federal law;
•
The animal must meet the definition of Service Animal under federal law and serve a
function directly related to the disability; and
•
The request to have the animal must be reasonable.”
To view the full text of the policy, visit: http://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/2000/2295.html
Events:
1. Health Fairs There will be 4 health fairs, per the table below:
Saturday
July 18
¡Viva Mexico!
Sunday
July 19
¡Viva Mexico!
Rancho de las Golondrinas*
Rancho de las Golondrinas*
334 Los Pinos Rd,
Santa Fe, NM 87507
334 Los Pinos Rd,
Santa Fe, NM 87507
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday
July 21
Health Fair 1
National Hispanic Cultural
Center
1701 4th St SW, 87102
Wednesday
July 22
Health Fair 2
UNM Campus
Courtyard between the SUB
and College of Education
Noon – 4:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Admission:
Adults: $8; Seniors (62+)
& teens (13-18): $6; 12
and under: FREE!
Admission:
Adults: $8; Seniors (62+)
& teens (13-18): $6; 12
and under: FREE!
2. Dia de los Muertos altar and ceremony on Thursday, July 16 in class. During the ceremony, we
build an altar in celebration of the lives of our loved ones that have gone before us. Items for the
altar include: pictures, favorite foods/beverages, flowers, sentimental items relating to that person.
Other items such as amulets, sugar skulls, and papel picado for the class are available at Masks y
Más, 3021 Central Ave. NE in Albuquerque. Please note: all items you bring in for the altar must
be removed and taken with you at the end of class that day. Any items left behind will be
discarded.
3. Optional curanderismo and traditional healing workshops will be presented in the afternoons
throughout the class.
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**Please note: optional classes are not affiliated with UNM. Most classes require an additional cost to
the student to be paid to the instructor at the time of registering for the optional class. Please contact
the instructor listed next to each class below to sign up or to get additional information**
*The classes below will be provided by Tonanztin Traditional Healing, and will held in the
Anthropology 178 next to the class auditorium from 2-5 p.m. These will be taught by Rita
Navarrete and Tonita Gonzales. Price: $30/class.
Monday
July 13
Temazcal Medicinal
Therapies
Learn different
Medicinal Treatments
used for healing in the
temazcal, such as: teas,
face and body masks,
compresses and
poultices.
Tuesday
July 14
Traditional First
Aid Kit (Maletin
Tradicional)
Preparing your
own home first
aid kit using
natural resources
in emergencies.
Wednesday
July 15
Limpias
(Energetic Cleansings)
Learning traditional Mesoamerican tools used in
limpias (energetic healings)
with smudging, saumerios,
and the sacred traditions &
cleansing your home and
yourself.
Thursday
July 16
Healing Emotions
Understanding how
emotions affect
different body
organs, causing
chronic disease, and
how to heal these
illnesses using
traditional medicine.
Friday
July 17
Ventosas,
Mexican FireCupping
Use of traditional
healing art of firecupping. The
tools to practice
with this tradition.
Monday
July 20
Abdominal
Connections
Learn origin of
many different
ailments, look at
physical/emotional
connections and
explore self-care
techniques.
W/ Alex Jackson
*Classes below will be provided by Kalpulli Teocalli Ollin, and will be held at Sanjevani Integrative
Medicine Health & Lifestyle Center, 9001 Holly Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122. (505) 821-6300.
Monday
July 13
Prepared Ceremonial Candles
Friday
July 17
Medicine Making
Katherine White
Candles have been used to attract desired emotions, material wealth
or prayer petitions, and can be one of the most effective tools used for
meditation, rituals and other ceremonies. In a relaxed, positive state of
mind, we will prepare candles tailored to your wishes, intentions and
what you want to accomplish. *Not for spell-casting*
Introduction to herb plants, demonstrations, and ‘hands-on’ making of
tinctures and salves. Each student will leave with 2 remedies.
$30 Pre-Register at [email protected]. No limit of participants
Price: $30
*Meet outside of Anthropology auditorium
2:00 - 5:00 pm
1:15 – 4:00 pm
*Classes below will be provided by individual curanderas/os listed below. Please contact them for
additional information.
Wednesday
July 15
Remembering our History: Two-Spirit in Curanderismo
Saturday
July 18
Energetic Boundaries
Alma Rosa
Ellen Santistevan
Two-Spirit in Curanderismo and the Mexica Azteca Tradition
Sensing and working with energy in the body
For more information call LGBTQ center 277-0834 or 277-5248
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Price: $30
*Meet outside of Anthropology auditorium @ 9 am. Ends @ 1 pm*
Price: $30 w/o CEUs, $45 w/ CEUs
**Please note: optional classes are not affiliated with UNM. Most classes require an additional cost to
the student to be paid to the instructor at the time of registering for the optional class. Please contact
the instructor listed next to each class below to sign up or to get additional information**
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4. Temazcals are available in 2 different locations. Temazcals are Mexican sweat lodges that have
traditionally been used for healing purposes in Mexico.
There is a 20 person limit per temazcal so advanced sign-up is required. Sign up sheets for each temazcal
will be available in the Anthropology hallway outside of the auditorium. Please bring your swimsuits,
beach towels or sarongs to the temazcal. It is recommended that you eat lightly and nutritiously one to
two hours before the temazcal starts.
A donation of $30 is requested at each of the temazcals. For questions about any of the temazcals, please
contact Tonita Gonzales (505) 681-5602, or Denise Griego (505) 510-1586 directly.
Payments for the temazcals can be made via the following:
 Through the Paypal accounts listed below
 Placed in an envelope in the donation box at the temazcal site
 Given to Tonita Gonzales or Denise Griego directly
Please note that UNM staff will not be able to collect temazcal payments.
Temazcal Tonantzin
6607 Arno NE
Albuquerque, NM
(505) 681-5602 – Tonita Gonzales
$30 donation (can be paid through PayPal or at the door)
temazcalito.com
Sunday
July 12
Monday
July 13
Tuesday
July 14
Wednesday
July 15
Thursday
July 16
Friday
July 17
Healing
Community
Temazcal
Community
Temazcal
4 doors
Cuatro Puertas
Community
Temazcal
Respiratory
Sistema
Respiratorio
Men’s Temazcal
3 p.m.
For team building
and support of our
men.
Woman’s
Temazcal de Rosas
y Miel (Honey)
Community
Temazcal de Barro
(Clay)
6 p.m.
6 p.m.
2 p.m.
6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Temazcal for
healing and
rejuvenation.
Traditional Temazcal
of Sacred Ceremony.
Community
Temazcal
Healing Emotions
Curando emociones
6 p.m.
Focused on Healing
Emotions with Song
& Sound.
Ceremonial and
Medicinal use of
Roses and Honey.
Detox the mind and
body by doing a full
body mask of clay.
Focused on healing
the Respiratory
system, the herbs
and bodywork to
promote healing.
Temazcalli Teocalli Ollin
848 Entrada Dr. SW
Los Lunas, NM 87031
(505) 510-1586 - Denise Griego
$30 Love Donation (Can be paid through PayPal at [email protected] or at the door)
www.facebook.com/kalpulli
*Nutritional
food and drinks
provided
afterwards.
Feel free to
bring dishes to
share.
Tuesday
July 14
Wednesday
July 15
Thursday
July 16
Community (Co-ed) Temazcal
Women’s Temazcal
“Self-Care for ALL Healers Through the
Medicine Wheel”
(FOR Clinicians, Teachers, Physicians,
Nurses, Traditional Medicine People, etc.)
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
“Toltec Rejuvenating Yoga
Poses Honoring the Inner Child”
Community (Co-ed)
Temazcal
“Honoring the Summer
Energies through Playfulness”
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
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Week 1 Class Schedule
Monday, July 13
8:10 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Registration in Foyer
Welcome & Explanation of the Four Directions
Community opening ceremony
Class and Curanderismo overview. Herbs, rituals & Curanderos(as)
Building a Temazcal
11:30 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
History, Therapeutic & Ceremonial use of the temazcal
Healing emotions with song & sound in the temazcal
Dr. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres
Denise Griego & Nathan Lyons
(Albuquerque)
Tonita Gonzales (Alb.)
Rita Navarrete (México)
Tuesday, July 14
8:10 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
9:15 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
Oral class reflection of the previous day’s events
Discussion of class Curanderismo display
Finding Ometeotl with modern medicine
Love is the medicine: A family doctor’s thoughts on heart-centered
healing
Midwives Parteras in New Mexico
Healing infants and children with traditional medicine
Dr. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres
Tonita Gonzales
Dr. Anthony Fleg (Alb.)
Dr. Felina Ortiz (Alb.)
Rita Navarrete
Wednesday, July 15 **Class held at Botanical Gardens**
Meet at the entrance of the Albuquerque Botanical Gardens at 8:10 a.m., 2601 Central AVE NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Please note that your lab fee covers your admission. If you don’t have transportation, please discuss carpooling with colleagues or Rapid Ride.
Bring your lunch, water, hat/cap and sunblock
8:15 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
TBD
TBD
Meet at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens gate.
Guided medicinal plant walks, and creation of herbal resources by well-known herbalists:
Bernadette Torres / Connie Henry / Kata Talavera / Katherine White / Dara Saville / Monica Lucero /
Carol Davison / Cecilia Martinez Howard
Preparation of herbs for medicine - in classroom
Dr. Thomas Enos (Santa Fe)
Preparation of Plants for energetic cleansings
Rita Navarrete & Tonita Gonzales
Thursday, July 16
8:10 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Oral class reflection of the previous day’s events
Laugh therapy
Midwifery of souls. Guiding the crossing over of loved ones
Death & healing. Dia de los Muertos and class altar
Rita Navarrete
Rita Navarrete & Tonita Gonzales
Dr. Anselmo Torres (México)
Friday, July 17
7:45 a.m.
8:10 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
9:15 a.m.
10:15 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Opening ceremony outside of Anthropology Building
Oral class reflection of the previous day’s events
Art medicine
Zainab Amadahy (Canada)
The use of feather in healing – theory & practice
Bob Vetter (New York)
Fire-cupping Ventosas, compresses and poultices
Rita Navarrete and Tonita Gonzales
Panel of Curanderos
Pedro: Afro Cuban Traditional Medicine (Cuba) & David (Translator) // Mino: Sagrado Tabaco del Peru
Ysamur: ebo/limpia con Osain (Puerto Rico)
Curanderos(as) from Mexico City, Morelos, Oaxaca, Chihuahua and other states of Mexico will be involved during week 2 and will
do a number of presentations and demonstrations such as spiritual cleansings (limpia spiritual)—a ritual related to mal de ojo (the evil eye)
and susto (magical fright), traditional healing with a shawl for body alignment (manteadas tradicionales), shamanism (women and men of
wisdom), medicinal teas (tes Medicinales).
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Week 2 Class Schedule
Monday, July 20
8:10 a.m.
8:15 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
Oral class reflection of the previous day’s events
Opening ceremony outside of Anthropology Building
Introduction of curanderos(as) and their specialties
Traditional healing with a shawl for body alignment
(manteadas) and spinal adjustments.
Dr. Arturo Ornelas
Mtra. Albertana Sanchez
Outdoor breakout sessions Practice Manteadas
Tuesday, July 21
Health Fair 3* [National Hispanic Cultural Center (3 – 8 p.m.)]
8:10 a.m.
8:15 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
9:15 a.m.
Oral class reflection of the previous day’s events
Opening ceremony outside of Anthropology Building
Curative power of the Oregano herb, from the desert of
Chihuahua, Mexico.
Traditional energetic and spiritual cleansings (energia)
Mtra. Maria Teresa Baeza Guevara
Mtro. Manuel Terrazas
Mtra. Velia Herrera Arredondo &
Mtro. Laurencio Lopez Nunez
Outdoor breakout sessions Healing magical fright (susto) and evil eye (mal de ojo)
Wednesday, July 22
Health Fair 4* [UNM Campus (12 – 4 pm)]
Feel free to invite family & friends to health fair
8:10 a.m.
8:15 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
6-8:00pm
Oral class reflection of the previous day’s events
Opening ceremony outside of Anthropology Building
Cante Curo, Afro-Latino Ceremonial Dance & Chants for healing with Sina Aurelia Soul
Medicinal Plants for the Nervous System
Mtras. Doris Ortiz & Leticia Amaro
Laughter yoga (Healers leave for health fair setup)
Kathleen Schindler Wright (Alb.)
Students attend health fair @ UNM Campus (between Zimmerman Libraryand Duck Pond)
Curanderismo class Quinceañera party @ Old town plaza. Music, festival, dance
Thursday, July 23
Oral class reflection of the previous day’s events
Opening ceremony outside of Anthropology Building
Mexican traditional medicine (hot and cold) caliente y frio Mtra. Reyna Salazar Sotelo & Mtra.
and understanding empacho
Magdalena Brito
Outdoor breakout sessions Practice of empacho
8:10 a.m.
8:15 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
Friday, July 24
8:10 a.m.
8:20 a.m.
8:25 a.m.
9:15 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
11:45 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
Class evaluations
Oral class reflection of the previous day’s events
Closing ceremony outside of Anthropology Building
Panel of Curanderos
Healing with the conch shell. Sound & the obsidian stone
Dr. Arturo Ornelas, Moderator
Mtro. Juan Carlos Alcocer & Mtra.
Viridiana Medina Rosas
Healing through Music/ “Mariachi Tradicional” Jose ‘Chino’ Carrillo (Alb)
Healing through Veracruzano music and dance, Oti Ruiz and family
Closing ceremonies and class comments
*Health Fairs 1 & 2 are at Las Golondrinas.
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