WhorsewHOST

welcome curandero to healing chat please tell us a little about yourself and what you will be talking about today

Curandero

Ok...first I am 45 to 50 yrs old....I am hispanic and mexican american

my grandfather was healer and my mother was a midwife

I was picked by a curandero by my granddad..He was part of a circle of healers from central California

I have been a police officer and teacher of the deaf

several years ago I began practicing publicly using herbs and rituals. I took classes at the Pacific School of Herbal Medicine to improve my skills

the director eventually told me to start my own school explaining I knew as much about healing as he did and I would never practice like an anglo herbalist

A while later I suffered my first stroke

it gave me time to consider his words..So I quit teaching the deaf...and opened my school

Should I explain now what curanderismo is?

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Morrigan

please

Brightfeather

yes please

Vicki

please

nm

yes

Curandero

OK....curanderismo as practiced in the United States is a blending and evolution of native and hispanic healing techniques

This involves herbs, sweats, diet, and magick.

Now...in California the Catholic influence in curanderismo is much less than in other western states.

So I use rituals more intune with native american philosophy and concepts

I use rattles, feathers, and psychotropic plants when necessary

In California it evolved to a point where curanderos/curanderas also adopted the use of Chinese herbs....anglo herbs...and the herbs brought in by the spanish

WhorsewHOST

could you explain phychotropic plants to those who may not understand what they are

Curandero

Psychotropic plants are hallucengenics.

WhorsewHOST

thank you curandero

Curandero

I use yarrow, datura, and on very rare occasions peyote

very rare

90 percent of my practice is herbalism.

10 percent involves magic and ritual

Ok...any questions?

WhorsewHOST

what do you mean when you use the word magic

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Brightfeather

At some point, maybe not right now, I would like to know more about how you choose to use the psychotropic materials in a healing instead of the non-psychotropic ones?

Vicki

Does the catholic influence have to do with quadalupe vs. virgin mary?

Curandero

Magic is a word that is familiar to most people...but to me it means harnessing the powers of the unseen world.

WhorsewHOST

thank you curandero

Curandero

It means connecting with power and spirits to affect change.

nm

i know yarrow is used for pain and such, tho i don't know what datura is used for

Curandero

Ok...most of my clients come for physical problems, I can use herbs for those

but occasionally a client will come for a condition that does not have a place in modern medicine

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Curandero

most people KNOW when they have been hexed or cursed

most people know when a place feels WRONG or in disharmony

Vicki

My friend asked me to seek you because they have been salted and diabetis is occurring.

Curandero

If a person is being attacked by nightmares, moments of panic, you look for a pattern.

In this case I might use a psychotropic plant to enter their dreams.

This is how I decide.

Vicki

What if you know the culprit?

Curandero

Makes no difference to me. I cannot use aggressive magic.

Vicki

Do the demons attack you while you are practicing?

WhorsewHOST

what is the reason behind not being able to use aggressive magic curandero

Curandero

On rare occasions I have become ill...and suffered nightmares...but the evil is directed primarily at my client not me.

One of the traditons of true curanderismo is this.....You will do no harm. That means I can protect, I can shield, I can even confuse...but I must never never never use magic or ritual offensively. Once we cross the line we become tainted.

WhorsewHOST

thank you curandero

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WhorsewHOST

and what happens when you become tainted

Curandero

No curandero in known history has crossed the line.

Vicki

Do you use the site of the 4 waters?

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Morrigan

are your native beliefs those of a particular tribe?

Curandero

No I am unfamiliar with that

My native beliefs are primarily from the Temecula tribe of S. Calif.

Morrigan

ty

Curandero

I missed one question about the Virgin...could you ask it again please.

WhorsewHOST

i believe vicki asked that question

Vicki

Yes, I wanted to know if the catholic influence is the controversy over virgin mary vs guadalupe?

Curandero

There really is no controversy...I use the statue of the Virgin to represent the Earthmother to me

We believe they are the same

Mother Theresa had a wonderful qoute...she said, God wants you to be a good Christian, a good Bhuddist, a good Protestant. etc.

WhorsewHOST

so curandero could you tell us some herbs that are common and how they can be used medicinally?

Vicki

Are you going to be in Merida Mexico for the dragon?

Curandero

Nope...I am staying California...my trip to Texas was the all traveling I can take at present.

Curandero

Ok...lets start with manzanilla....better known as chamomile.

Good for men women and babies. Internally for colic, IBS, and insomnia

and it tastes darn good

Externally in a salve or a wash....

WhorsewHOST

please explain IBS

Curandero

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

good for minor skin irritations

WhorsewHOST

ty

Curandero

and sore eyes due to dust and sunlight

Vicki

a cure all?

Curandero

one of many lol

a mild antiseptic

how about yerba buena now, or simple spearmint ....

Vicki

?

Curandero

good stuff topically....I make a liniment of it for sore, very sore muscles.

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Curandero

one part mint to four parts rubbing alcohol by weight

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Curandero

leave for a month in a dark place, it will turn a lovely emerald green,use for sore aching muscles....if you have marijuana combine that also

Brightfeather

lol

WhorsewHOST

what action does the marijuana do

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marijuana topcially is an excellent pain killer. the phenol in the mint acts as a mild transdermal for the pot

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Vicki

What kind of container?

WhorsewHOST

ty

Curandero

brown if you have it. glass

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WhorsewHOST

with cork stopper?

Curandero

does not matter...just air tight.

Vicki

thanks

Curandero

how about simple cinnamon now. one of my favorites.

please use the hard stick cinnamon for medicinal reasons

it can be used as a wash for sore nursing nipples

as a tea it will break fevers in young children

used with pineapple juice it will pop chicken pox pustules.

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Curandero

drink it hot As a tea it will promote appetite. especially in HIV clients. For yeast infections it can used as a douche. It will sting a bit...but it does work.

any specific ?s

WhorsewHOST

how about bay

Curandero

can be used for certain types of migraines.

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Vicki

murr?

Curandero

the calif. natives used it for insanity...but I don't.

Curandero

Myrrh? Love myrrh......

great for infections of the body and the mouth.

as a dusting on baby bottoms it will prevent diaper rash

used in a vinegar mouth wash it will heal orthodonic surgery wounds

WhorsewHOST

parsley

Curandero

parsley was very popular for PMS and conditions resulting form Menopause. the same for oregano.

Vicki

Have you heard of putting red ribbons on aloe vera plants to bring good fortune?

Curandero

Actually I have...though I have never tried it.

nm

dandelion

Curandero

My mother did that once and my wife became pregnant.

Vicki

PMS please go into details!!!

Curandero

Dandelion is GREAT

Curandero

Drink a cup of parsley tea (fresh) two days before you know PMS will hit. actually drink 3 cups that day.

Dandelion is great for liver functions.

Vicki

How do you know the day?

Curandero

I'm not a woman...but my wife has it down to the minute.

You must experiment I suppose.

Brightfeather

Keep track of your cycle on a calendar

WhorsewHOST

when havesting your herbs is there a good way to gather that seems to make the herbs more affective than just picking them

Curandero

Dandelion is good for HIV, cirrocis, and urinary tract problems

I pray before harvesting.

nm

also night vision if mixed with carrot extract

I ask each plant if I may take its life. I use my traditional obsidain knife for the first cut of the harvest. Sometimes I sense the plant is not ready....so I leave it. so I use my own herbs for that reason.