Curanderismo: Global & Cultural Influences of Traditional Healing (Coursera)

Learners will not become certified traditional healers at the completion of this course but will be able apply basic principles or traditional medicine for health and illnesses. They will become familiar specifically with African traditional medicine from Uganda, African healing through music from Gabon, Afro-Cuban and Afro Puerto-Rican healing techniques, medicinal plants for women, Native American feather healing and other topics.

What you will learn

• Examine Curanderismo in Latin America, Southwestern United States, Africa, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Peru, as well as the Mayan and Native American views.
• Recognize the contributions of the famous Mexican healer Niño Fidencio and how his healing methods have been influenced by healers like Chenchito.
• Discuss the influences of traditional medicine from indigenous beliefs, rituals & herbal medications.
• Explain how traditional medicine has been valued throughout the generations.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
El ultimo Chenchito, the last of the fidencista healers
In this module you will watch a rare film of the life and healings of Mexico’s most important healer, Niño Fidencio, and a great video of one of his disciples and Dr. Torres teacher and mentor, Chenchito who is interviewed about his journey in the Fidencista healing movement.

WEEK 2
African traditional medicine & African healing through music
Students will see a Ugandan group of traditional healers discuss the African traditional herbal remedies. Bokaye from Gabon, Africa, plays the Mogongo musical instrument, which is used in his tradition to communicate with the spirits.

WEEK 3
Afro-Latino healing through music and dance & Afro-Cuban healing techniques
Sina demonstrates the ritual of honoring the four directions through dance and the vibrations of the drum. David and Pedro, explain and perform a Cuban limpia with smoke of the cigar, coconut, and other components during a spiritual cleansing.

WEEK 4
Afro-Puerto ricas healing modalities & sacred tobacco or peru/medicinal plants for women
Dr. Ysamur Flores describes the use of black and red fabrics that will hold the energetic vibrations during the Osain spiritual cleansing. Asheninka Mino performs a Peruvian opening blessing and presents a ritual with the sacred tobacco. Herbalist Bernadette Torres discusses medicinal plants for women.

WEEK 5
Native American feather healing & mayan acupuncture
Anthropologist Bob Vetter will demonstrate a Native American cleansing using feathers, copal smoke, and prayer. Sophia uses Mayan acupuncture to remove heat from the digestive system.