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Instructor: Dr. Eliseo Cheo Torres, from the University of New Mexico

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.
Optional 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

For further references on Curanderismo, students are encouraged to

read the following books:
1.

Curandero Conversations: El Nio Fidencio, Shamanism and Healing

Traditions of the Boderlands, Antonio Zavaleta

2.

Border Medicine - A Transcultural History of Mexican American

Curanderismo, Brett Hendrickson

Curanderismo: Traditional Healing of the Body

Module Module Dates

1

3/30 4/5

Presenter
Dr. Eliseo Cheo Torres

Topic
Introduction to Curanderismo PowerPoint Presentation

questions due 4/5

by 11:59 p.m.

Drs. Cheo Torres &

Arturo Ornelas

Video discussion of Curanderismo in Mexico and the U.S.

Dr. Tomas Enos

Medicinal Plants of the Southwest - Plantas Medicinales de

(Drs. Ornelas, Executive Director of CEDEHC (Centro de D

Humano hacia la Comunidad) and Professor Torres from U
discuss the history and collaboration between Mexico and t
Curandersimo)

(Dr. Enos, a well-known herbalist from Santa Fe, New Mexi

a demonstration of medicinal plants of the Southwest)
2

4/6 4/12

Tonita Gonzales

questions due 4/12

by 11:59 p.m.

Tinctures and Microdosis - Tinturas y microdosis

(Tonita, healer from New Mexico, explains how to prepare a

and a microdosis using fresh plants)
Tonita Gonzales

Juice Therapy - Jugo Terapia

(Tonita and Rita demonstrate and explain the medicinal ben

juice therapy)
3

4/13 4/19

Mayan Acupuncture (Acupuntura Maya)

questions due 4/19

Alex Jackson
by 11:59 p.m.

Mayan Abdominal Massage (Masaje Maya Abdomina

4/20 4/26

Felipa Sanzhez

Spinal Alignment

Roberto Suarez Parra

Body Adjustment

Rita Navarette Perez

Shawl Alignment Manteadas

questions due 4/12

by 11:59 p.m.

Sophia Salazar

4/27 5/3
questions due 4/19
by 11:59 p.m.

(Rita demonstrates the revival of the art of shawl alignment

manteada)

Rita Navarette Perez &

Tonita Gonzales

Healing Through Water (Hidroterapia)

5/4 5/10

Tonita Gonzales

questions due 5/10

by 11:59 p.m.

Geotherapy Using the earth for healing

(Tonita practices geotherapy, clay therapy, during this demo

Rita Navarrete Perez

Firecupping Ventosas

(Rita, healer from Mexico City, demonstrates the traditional

firecupping or ventosas)

Last day of course: May 10th, 2015