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Traditional Medicine and Health Among Latinx in Boyle Heights UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Proyecto Jardín Community Garden: Traditional Medicine and Health Among Latinx in Boyle Heights A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Culture and Performance by Claudia Hernández Romero 2019 © Copyright by Claudia Hernández Romero 2019 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Proyecto Jardín Community Garden: Traditional Medicine and Health Among Latinxs in Boyle Heights by Claudia Hernández Romero Doctor of Philosophy in Culture and Performance University of California, Los Angeles, 2019 Professor Allen Fraleigh Roberts, Co-Chair Professor Vickie M. Mays, Co-Chair The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reports that Latinx continue to rely on folk or traditional medicine, but the information is not conclusive and medical researchers still call for studies that identify medicinal practices people rely on as well as the beliefs or explanatory systems that guide their choices. This area of concern reflects a need for studies that provide insight into people’s reasons for choosing traditional medicine. In 2003 I collaborated with Dr. Robert Krochmal to develop a medicinal garden on the site of Proyecto Jardín community garden. ii My dissertation takes an ethnographic approach to the documentation of the process of making the medicinal garden, the selection of design elements and herbal remedy workshops that were held after the completion of the medical garden. I rely on personal observations as well as conversations with gardeners who provided me insight into their health experiences and reasons why they choose herbal remedies. I argue that Latinxs at Proyecto Jardín show a preference for herbal modalities not simply as alternatives to primary care in the face of a prejudiced and inaccessible medical system, but also to determine self-reliance and/or to recuperate medicinal traditions and rituals perceived lost through the process of colonization and migration. Although my study is based on the experiences of a select few participants involved with Proyecto Jardín Community Garden, it provides a glimpse of the complexity involved in defining the role of traditional medicine among Latinxs. Culture plays a role in determining which modalities a person might choose, but as my research shows, socio-economic factors and politics of identity do too. Moreover, the community garden also influences choice as well as serves as a type of informal health education setting where people can grow medicinal herbs and well as exchange remedies and recipes with other gardeners. The research of community gardens has increased, however, studies on ways people organize activities and educational projects to address health are minimal. This dissertation highlights the importance of further research into these areas if we are to consider the ways community gardens serve as sites of health and healing. iii The dissertation of Claudia Hernández Romero is approved. Patrick Polk Sarah J. Portnoy Allen Fraleigh Roberts, Committee Co-Chair Vickie M. Mays, Committee Co-Chair University of California, Los Angeles 2019 iv To my mother who has always believed in me. Gracias. Te quiero mucho. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………...ii Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………….…..vi Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………...…....vii Vita ……………………………………………………………………………………….ix CHAPTER 1….…………………………………………………………………………...1 Introduction: Traditional Medicine in the Latinx Community of Los Angeles CHAPTER 2 …………………………………………………………………………….34 Health and Community Gardens in the U.S. CHAPTER 3 …………………………………………………………………………….67 Proyecto Jardín Case Study: Part I CHAPTER 4 …………………………………………………………………………...116 Proyecto Jardín Case Study: Part II CHAPTER 5……………………...…………………………………………………….156 Conclusion: Traditional Medicine in the Garden REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………161 vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to my mentor, Emeritus Professor Michael Owen Jones and Dr. Robert Krochmal for including me in the writing of the UCLA in LA Community Partners Grant. This endeavor provided me invaluable lessons in research that led to writing this dissertation. I am also grateful to everyone at Proyecto Jardín who shared their stories, recipes, food and numerous other lessons with me through the years. Dissertation writing is a journey with many challenges. I am indebted to Professor Allen F. Roberts for the instrumental role he played in aiding my return to UCLA to complete my degree. His support cannot be overestimated. I am also extremely grateful to Professor Mays who provided me a great amount of support to ensure that I succeed. Special thanks also to Professor Sarah Portnoy who went above and beyond to comment on my work and provide me with direction. Thanks also to Patrick Polk for supporting me without question and for always offering invaluable insight into Latinx traditional medicine. My heartfelt gratitude also goes to Dr. David Shorter for his support and feedback. Special thanks also go to my colleagues, and dear friends. JoAnn Staten encouraged me to keep writing especially on days when I was disheartened. Raquel Monroe, I thank you for your words of wisdom and Esther Baker Tarpaga, I thank you for the loving kindness you offer during my times of struggle. Jenna Delgado, I thank you for reading my chapters with a critical eye in the nth hour, I really do not know what I would do without friends like you all. vii Last, but never least, I thank my BRITE Center cohort, in particular, Kirsty Clark, Mayra Rascon and Keisha Hammond who provided invaluable feedback on my chapters not to mention words of inspiration that helped me get through many days. To my family, I offer gratitude for the love and support you assured me every day. Mom, it has meant so much to me to have your support from the beginning of my journey up until now. You always reminded me I could accomplish my goal and you also helped me tremendously by caring for Benny or cooking so I could just keep working. Chad, I thank you immensely for your love and enduring support, I cannot ask for a better life partner. Benny, my love, I thank you for making me laugh during stressful times, but most of all, for being my reason to never give up trying to be my best self. viii VITA EDUCATION 2000 B.A., World Arts & Cultures, cum laude University of California, Los Angeles 2003 M.A., Cultural & Performance/Folklore Specialization University of California, Los Angeles PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2008-2015 Lecturer, Otis College of Art & Design Los Angeles, California 2019 Assistant Professor, Otis College of Art & Design Los Angeles, California PUBLICATIONS 2004 Hernández Romero, Claudia J. & Michael O. Jones. “Botánicas: Sites of Healing & Community Support.” In Botánica Los Angeles: Latino Popular Religion in Los Angeles. ed. Patrick A. Polk. Los Angeles: Fowler Museum. 2004 Polk, Patrick A., Jones, Michael O., Hernández, Claudia J. & Ronelli, Reyna C. “Miraculous Migrants to the City of Angels: Perceptions of El Santo Niño de Atocha and San Simón as Sources of Help and Healing,” In Religious Healing in Urban America, eds. Linda Barnes and Susan Sered. New York: Oxford University Press. 2009 Jones, Michael O. & Hernández, Claudia J. “Latina/o Traditional Medicine in Los Angeles: Asking About, Archiving, and Advocating Cultural Resources,” In InterActions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies. Vol. 5, Issue 1, Article 4. http://repositories.cdlib.org/gseis/interactions/vol5/iss1/art ix FELLOWSHIPS 2002 University Fellowship, Department of World Arts & Cultures University of California, Los Angeles 2004 Woodrow Wilson Practicum Grant, Department of World Arts & Cultures University of California, Los Angeles 2004 World Arts & Cultures Summer Fellow, Department of World Arts & Cultures University of California, Los Angeles 2005 Research Mentorship Fellowship, Department of World Arts & Cultures University of California, Los Angeles 2007 Dissertation Year Fellowship, Department of World Arts & Cultures University of California, Los Angeles 2016 Otis Assessment Research & Scholarship Initiative Grant Otis College of Art & Design, Los Angeles 2018 Otis Assessment Research & Scholarship Initiative Grant Otis College of Art & Design, Los Angeles SYMPOSIA & PRESENTATIONS 2017 “Latina/o Produce Trucks: Health, Culture & Community Well-Being” Occidental College Los Angeles 2017 “Botánicas: History, Health & Community” Latin American Institute, University of California, Los Angeles 2018 “Latinx Produce Trucks: Purveyors of Cultural Produce & Community Well Being” Otis College of Art & Design, Los Angeles 2018 “Botánicas: Mental Health, Culture and Community ” University of Southern California, Los Angeles 2018 “Latinx Traditional Medicine in Community Gardens & Botánicas” University of California, Los Angeles 2019 “Mexican and Latinx Immigrant Traditional Medical Practice in the City of Angeles,” University of California, Los Angeles x Chapter 1 Introduction: Traditional Medicine in the Latinx Community of Los Angeles This dissertation is an ethnographic account of the role of traditional medicine among Latinxs in a community garden in Boyle Heights. The study was based primarily on participant- observation of the steps taken to create a medicinal garden to serve the neighborhood. This chapter provides background to the study, states the problem of the study, discusses the significance, addresses terminology and methodology, describes
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