Since he was a boy growing up on the border of Texas and Mexico, Eliseo
Torres, known to everyone as “Cheo,” has been fascinated by the folk
traditions and folkways of Mexico and of his Mexican American roots. Both
of his parents were versed in aspects of herbal lore and healing, and as he
matured he learned from them a love and respect for the history and folk
knowledge of the ancient art of curanderismo, or Mexican folk healing.

Now an administrator at the University of New Mexico, where he is Vice
President for Student Affairs and a member of the faculty of the College of
Education, Cheo regularly lectures and gives presentations on the history
and lore of curanderismo to audiences ranging from scholars and students of
Latin American culture to people hoping to become knowledgeable about
alternative and traditional medicine, including lay people and medical
professionals alike. He has published two books on his life in and research
on his subject area: Curandero: A Life in Mexican Folk Healing, and Healing
with Herbs and Rituals: A Mexican Tradition, both available from the
University of New Mexico Press.

Learn about a fascinating addition to allopathic, ayurvedic, and holistic medicine, the latter of which focuses on the body, mind and spirit (or energy). Curanderismo is another modality of health that has been practiced for centuries. It is endorsed by World Health Organization (WHO) and is yet another healing option that is gaining acceptance in the field of integrative medicine. Proven and very inexpensive compared to Western medicine, a Curandero (practitioner) makes use of plants and tinctures and focuses (initially) on massage, food/diet, stress and mental problems.

To learn more visit http://curanderismo.unm.edu
or visit the Summer 2014 UNM course flyer on the Awakening to Awareness Radio Show web page.