In the previous section I gave a brief account of the roots of our traditional medicine. In this section y will speak about the current state of our traditions.
FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH UPON AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MATTER
a stereotypical image is imprinted in many peoples mind of curanderos, curanderas and traditional practitioners as being poor, living in remote villages and with low academic education. There are many of our practitioners that live in conditions similar to those described and I pay them the highest respect and admire them for preserving our ancestral ways despite of hardships they might face.
Another stereotypical image that exists is that of a Mayan or Nahuan priest or priestess with ancient vestiment, jade jewelry and an obsidian knife climbing a pyramid and practitioners are expected to use these traditional vestiments and tools.
In Mexico and Central America there are times when ancient traditional clothing and objects are used some examples of this are the Voladores of Mexico, the Danzantes, and the Talciguines of El Salvador etc. Furthermore thanks to the creator there are still certain regions with communities taht preserve a very traditional way of life and they wear things like el refajo, coton, caites, huipil and the colorful clothing of the Maya and other groups.
For the most part practitioners of traditional medicine wear westernized clothing just like the rest of the population and you would not be able to tell them apart and recognize they are a curandero or curandera just by looking at them.
A practitioner (or an individual that seeks their aid) such as a curandera, partera, huesera (sobadora) etc. from modern times can be a person who lives in an apartment, wears western style clothing, watches television, knows how to drive and can even be a doctor, lawyer etc.!
As you can see how a person looks HAS NOTHIN TO DO with her or his abilities. BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITHOUT ANY MORAL CHARACTER AND THEY SCAM PEOPLE SAYING THEY ARE TRADITIONAL PRACTITIONERS!!!! With the resurgence of interest in our ancestral customs there are many people that exploit our knowledge and charge many people large sums of money promising them that they will make them financially richer, or that their "treatment" will large amounts of money. THIS IS A DISGRACE AND HELPS EFFORTS TO EXTINGUISH OUR ANCESTRAL CUSTOMS.
Normally traditional practitioners donot charge for their services and accept donations. I am in complete agreement with the fact that some practitioners charge a nominal and just fee which covers the cost of the herbs etc. we live in a world much different from our ancestors and many practitioners live in countries or regions where the support network that existed in their communities is no longer available and they must survive just like anyone else.
The beauty of our medicine is that it has survived and will survive thanks to its ability to adapt to any situation to illustrate this point I provide the following example:
Traditionally in Mexico and Central America there are certain ceremonies that utilize Copal, Myrrh, Rue etc. and this is the optimum thing to do nevertheless if the practitioner does not have the optimum herb at their reach they will substitute the herb with another one. If the practitioner does not have any herb at their disposal for whatever reason it may be they can use a substance that has a strong aroma such as a perfume to realize the ceremony.
As you can see the beauty and strength of our ancestral legacy that we have inherited (us mesoamerican peoples) is that the practitioner, the community and faith in some spiritual force whether that be a mayan or nahuan being or a christian entity and mother earth is what constitutes the core of our ancestral medicine.
In a future post I will speak about the philosophy and cosmovision that governs the traditional medicine of Mesoamerica
Ashta Nemanha Nuiknew (Nahuat= until next time my friends!),
FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH UPON AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MATTER
a stereotypical image is imprinted in many peoples mind of curanderos, curanderas and traditional practitioners as being poor, living in remote villages and with low academic education. There are many of our practitioners that live in conditions similar to those described and I pay them the highest respect and admire them for preserving our ancestral ways despite of hardships they might face.
Another stereotypical image that exists is that of a Mayan or Nahuan priest or priestess with ancient vestiment, jade jewelry and an obsidian knife climbing a pyramid and practitioners are expected to use these traditional vestiments and tools.
In Mexico and Central America there are times when ancient traditional clothing and objects are used some examples of this are the Voladores of Mexico, the Danzantes, and the Talciguines of El Salvador etc. Furthermore thanks to the creator there are still certain regions with communities taht preserve a very traditional way of life and they wear things like el refajo, coton, caites, huipil and the colorful clothing of the Maya and other groups.
For the most part practitioners of traditional medicine wear westernized clothing just like the rest of the population and you would not be able to tell them apart and recognize they are a curandero or curandera just by looking at them.
A practitioner (or an individual that seeks their aid) such as a curandera, partera, huesera (sobadora) etc. from modern times can be a person who lives in an apartment, wears western style clothing, watches television, knows how to drive and can even be a doctor, lawyer etc.!
As you can see how a person looks HAS NOTHIN TO DO with her or his abilities. BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITHOUT ANY MORAL CHARACTER AND THEY SCAM PEOPLE SAYING THEY ARE TRADITIONAL PRACTITIONERS!!!! With the resurgence of interest in our ancestral customs there are many people that exploit our knowledge and charge many people large sums of money promising them that they will make them financially richer, or that their "treatment" will large amounts of money. THIS IS A DISGRACE AND HELPS EFFORTS TO EXTINGUISH OUR ANCESTRAL CUSTOMS.
Normally traditional practitioners donot charge for their services and accept donations. I am in complete agreement with the fact that some practitioners charge a nominal and just fee which covers the cost of the herbs etc. we live in a world much different from our ancestors and many practitioners live in countries or regions where the support network that existed in their communities is no longer available and they must survive just like anyone else.
The beauty of our medicine is that it has survived and will survive thanks to its ability to adapt to any situation to illustrate this point I provide the following example:
Traditionally in Mexico and Central America there are certain ceremonies that utilize Copal, Myrrh, Rue etc. and this is the optimum thing to do nevertheless if the practitioner does not have the optimum herb at their reach they will substitute the herb with another one. If the practitioner does not have any herb at their disposal for whatever reason it may be they can use a substance that has a strong aroma such as a perfume to realize the ceremony.
As you can see the beauty and strength of our ancestral legacy that we have inherited (us mesoamerican peoples) is that the practitioner, the community and faith in some spiritual force whether that be a mayan or nahuan being or a christian entity and mother earth is what constitutes the core of our ancestral medicine.
In a future post I will speak about the philosophy and cosmovision that governs the traditional medicine of Mesoamerica
Ashta Nemanha Nuiknew (Nahuat= until next time my friends!),
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