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Holistic Approach Alternative Healing Practices Alternative Healing To Treat Trauma

Traditional Healing Prepared by: Vanessa Berens, Assistant Trainer Folk Healing

Encuentro Latino National Institute on Family Violence www.latinodv.org 1-888-743-7545 [email protected]

Folk Healers Hierarchy of Lay Healers

Yerbero (herbalist) Señora/Abuela

Sobador ( therapist)

Yerbero Sobador(a) Partera Espiritualistos(as) Partera (midwife, who also treats problems with young children)

Espiritualistos(as) (psychic mediums) Curandero(a) Neff, N. (n.d.).

Curandero (healer who may use multiple modalities) (Trotter & Chavira, 1997)

Common Folk Illnesses Curanderismo

• Susto: soul loss; literally “fright of the soul” • From the verb curar, which means “to heal” • Empacho: digestive blockage • Become healers after long apprenticeships • Caida de la mollera, espanto: soul loss • Greater emphasis on person’s innate talent to • Mal de ojo: heal, such as gifts from a higher power • Brujeria: witchcraft / Embrujado: hexed • El Dón- Spiritual calling • Ataque de nervios: nervous distress • Multiple areas of specialties and work on • Bilis, colera, muina: rage many realms including physical, mental, • Locura: chronic psychosis emotional, and spiritual (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) (Trotter & Chavira, 2000; Tafur, Crowe, & Torres, 2009)

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Spiritual Healing Core of Curanderismo

• Spirituality and maintaining harmony and  Alturas (Altars) balance with nature  Saints (Specific Roles) • Common to rely on spiritual paraphernalia  Los milagritos (Miracles) (pictures of saints, crosses, and holy water)  Amuletos (Amulets) • Recognize a duality of “naturally” and  Mandas/Ofrendas (Offerings) “supernaturally” causes of illnesses  Veladoras (Candles)  Shaman (High Priest) (Trotter & Chavira, 2000)

(Trotter & Chavira, 2000)

Cleansing Herbal Remedies • Limpias or Barridas (cleansing): • Treatment of minor illnesses – Bring back the body and spirit • – Draw out illness and negative forces into the objects used The retention of a locus of self-control (herbs, branches, or egg) • Spiritual cleansings – Cleansing prayer brings healing into the person to replace this negativity • Used in teas, herbal baths, or poultices – Draw a person’s soul back into their body after extreme shock or other intense emotion • Imbalances of heat and cold, dry and wet – Used for spiritual imbalance brought on by anything from excess of fright, envy, anger, overexposure to heat or cold (Trotter & Chavira, 1997; Neff, N., n.d.) or other reasons • Smudging/Sahumerio/Incensing

(Trotter & Chavira, 2000; Krajewski-Jaime, 1991)

Energy Balancing Relaxation Hot and cold balance • Meditation Material and Spiritual balance »Deep breathing Vibrating energy • Progressive relaxation Crystals • Visual imagery Massage / Biofeedback • • Exercise/Tai Chi/Yoga  and (Trotter & Chavira, 1997; Neff, N., n.d.) • Mindfulness • Visit with loved ones • Smile for one minute

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Culturally Competent Treatment References  American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental • Holistic healing is treating the multidimensional disorders (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association. aspects of a person’s mind, body, and spirit  Krajewski-Jaime, E. R. (1991). Folk-healing among Mexican-American Families as a consideration in the delivery of child welfare and child health care services. Child • Understanding the client’s world view with improved Welfare, 70(2), 157-167.

culturally competent healing strategies  Neff, N. (n.d.). Folk Medicine in in the Southwestern United States. Retrieved February 4, 2010, from http://www.rice.edu/projects/HispanicHealth/.html. • Using alternative healing that can enhance the  Tafur, M. M., Crowe, T. K., & Torres, E. (2009). A review of curanderismo and healing intervention process and prevent misdiagnosing or practices among and Mexican Americans. Occupational therapy International, incorrect assessments 16(1), 82-88. • Invite the client to openly interact on treatment plan,  Trotter, R. T. (2001). Curanderismo: A picture of Mexican- American folk healing. The bringing in important dimensions of their life Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 7(2), 129-131.  Trotter, R. T., & Chavira, J. A. (1997). Curanderismo, Mexican American folk healing (2nd ed.). Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press.

Encuentro Latino National Institute on Family Violence

www.latinodv.org 1-888-743-7545 [email protected]

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