Curanderismo: Mexican American Folk Healing

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY Aceite de las siete potencias. Oil of the seven African potencies; sold in yerberias and often used in ritual baths. Aceite de vibora. Rattlesnake oil; in this study, used to keep people from gossiping. Aceite preparado. Oil especially prepared to cut the negative currents and vibrations which surround the patient. Agua preparada. Water especially prepared to enhance its spiritual potential. Albacar. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum). Animas. Spirits; souls. Animo. Enthusiasm. Anis. Anise (Pimpinella anisum). Auras. Bands of energy or light that can be perceived outlining an individual; they are sometimes used to diagnose illnesses. Barrida. A spiritual sweeping designed to bring about relief of a physical, emotional, or spiritual discomfort. Barrio. Mexican American neighborhood. Bilis. Folk illness brought about by excessive and prolonged anger and fear; manifests itself as a stomach disorder. Borraja. Borage (Borago officinalis). Botica. Drugstore; in this study, synonymous with yerberia. 179 i8o Glossary Brujeria. Witchcraft. Brujo or bruja. Sorcerer or witch; works evil spells. Cdscara sagrada. Cascara sagrada (Rhamnus calif'arnica). Cdtedra. Sermons and instructions given to members of spiritualist centers on specific days. Centros. Spiritualist centers staffed by trance mediums. Centres espiritistas. See centres. Cerebro. Cerebellum. Cerebro debil. A weak cerebellum, which cannot communicate with the spiritual realm. Ciencias ocultas. Occult sciences. Conjuros. Conjures. Copa. A bowl of water (agua preparada) always present in a curandero 's office. Copal. Copal, used in the incense for some sahumerios. Corrientes espirituales. Spiritualforces which can be used to cause, diagnose, or cure an illness. Corrientes mentales. Psychic energy or mental currents. Curacion. A complete ritual which may involve a barrida, prayers, baths, diet, and so forth, designed to eliminate a specialproblem. Curanderismo. The Mexican American folk-healing system. Curandero. A Mexican American folk healer. Curioso. Peculiar; odd; strange. Desarrollo. Development of healing potential at the spiritual and mental levels. Dias de la luz. Literally, days of light; special days dedicated to convincing malevolent spirits to become good. Don Pedrito faramillo. A famous healer from Los Olmos, Texas. El dano. Literally, the harm; may mean the actual illness or its representation , for example, candles, dolls, or other objects. El don. The gift of healing. Envidia. Envy or resentment; sometimes taken to be the causeof ill will and sorcery against a patient. Glossary 181 Espiritistas. Spiritualist mediums; sometimes used synonymously with espiritualistas. Espiritualistas. Spiritualists; trance mediums; sometimes used synonymously with espiritistas. Espiritu malo. Evil spirit. Espiritus. Spirits; souls. Espiritus de luz. Benevolent spirits. Espiritus obscuros. Evil spirits. Estilos de helote or pelos de helote. Corn silk (Zea mays). Estoraque. An incense used for sahumerios. Fidencistas. Followers of el Nino Fidencio. Flor de tila. Linden flower (Tiliaceae europaea Linn.). Fresno. Ash tree (Fraxinus sp.). Haba marina. Unidentified medicinal plant. Habas de San Ignacio. Seed of the monkey dinner bell tree (Hura polyandra L. or Hura crepitans L.) Hermano guardian. Protector of the spiritualist temple. Huachachile. Loscelia scariosa Mart, et Gal. Hueseros. Healers who specialize in setting broken bones and treating joint injuries. La cachana y el cachano. Unidentified medicinal plant. La frente. The forehead. Las Doce Verdades del Mundo. Prayer recited in sweepings. La Virgen de Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe; the official patron of Mexico and a major symbol of national pride and cultural identity. La Virgen de San Juan. Our Lady of San fuan; believed by many to be the unofficial patron of Mexican Americans, especially migrant farm workers; venerated at her shrine and major healing center in San Juan, Texas. Limpia. A ritual sweeping designed to protect a person from harm, to remove bad influences, and to provide spiritual strength. Linaza. Linseed (Linum usitatissimum). 18i Glossary Lo bueno. The good. Lo malo. The evil. Mai puesto. A hex which causes misfortune or illness. Malva. Malva; cheeseplant (Malva neglecta). Manzanilla. Camomile (Matricaria chamomilla). Mesaje. Massage for aches due to nervous tensions. Medium. A person capable of allowing a spirit to possess his or her body and use it to communicate with a patient. Mejorania. Marjoram (Origanuum onites). Myrrha. Myrrh, used as an incense in sahumerios. Nino Fidencio. A famous curandero from Espinaso, Mexico. Nivel espiritual. Spiritual level; involves the intercession and manipulation of spiritual beings. Nivel material. Material level; involves the manipulation of material objects and symbols, for example, candles and herbs. Nivel mental. Mental level; involves the ability to transfer and manipulate psychic energy. Nopal. Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica). Oregano. Oregano (Oreganum valagareL.). Partera. Midwife. Peyote. Peyote (Lophophora williamsii). Piedra alumbre. Alum. Pldtica...