Latin American Curanderismo
A vibrant mestizo tradition merging indigenous plant wisdom with Spanish colonial medicine and Catholic folk healing.
Mexico & Latin America
History & Philosophy
Origins
Curanderismo emerged from the collision of indigenous Aztec and Maya plant knowledge with Spanish colonial medicine and Catholic folk healing after the conquest of Mexico, forming a distinctly mestizo healing tradition.
Core philosophy
Illness is often understood to have both physical and spiritual/emotional causes — concepts like susto (fright sickness) and mal de ojo (evil eye) sit alongside herbal remedies within the same framework of care.
Practiced today
Curanderos and curanderas remain active community healers across Mexico, Central America, and Latino communities in the United States, often working alongside — and sometimes in informal coordination with — conventional healthcare providers.
Herbs, foods & remedies
97 herbs traditionally used within Latin American Curanderismo — most often for Digestive Issues, Fever, Skin Health.
Aguacate (Avocado)
Persea americana
Ajenjo (Wormwood)
Artemisia absinthium
Ajo (Garlic)
Allium sativum
Albahaca (Basil)
Ocimum basilicum
Arnica
Arnica montana
Boldo
Peumus boldus
Bugambilia (Bougainvillea)
Bougainvillea spectabilis
Calendula
Calendula officinalis
Canela (Cinnamon)
Cinnamomum verum
Cebolla (Onion)
Allium cepa
Cempasúchil (Marigold)
Tagetes erecta
Cenizo (Texas Sage)
Leucophyllum frutescens
Chaparro Amargoso
Castela texana
Chaya
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius
Chayote
Sechium edule
Chuchupate
Ligusticum porteri
Cola de Caballo (Horsetail)
Equisetum arvense
Copal
Bursera copallifera
Copalchí
Hintonia latiflora
Cuachalalate
Amphipterygium adstringens
Cuahulote
Guazuma ulmifolia
Cuauchichic
Garrya laurifolia
Culantrillo (Maidenhair Fern)
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Damiana
Turnera diffusa
Epazote
Dysphania ambrosioides
Ephedra (Canutillo)
Ephedra antisyphilitica
Estafiate (Mugwort)
Artemisia ludoviciana
Flor de Manita
Chiranthodendron pentadactylon
Flor de Tila
Ternstroemia sylvatica
Gordolobo
Gnaphalium conoideum
Guayaba (Guava)
Psidium guajava
Helecho (Fern)
Pteridium aquilinum
Hierba Colorada
Alternanthera caracasana
Hierba de Burro
Aloysia wrightii
Hierba de la Virgen
Tagetes lucida
Hierba de San Juan (St. John's Wort)
Hypericum perforatum
Hierba del Ángel
Piper auritum
Hierba del Cancer (Sorrel)
Rumex acetosella
Hierba del Golpe
Ageratina pichinchensis
Hierba del Pollo
Commelina diffusa
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