Curanderismo: Traditional Healing of the Body (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 the traditional treatment of Empacho (intestinal blockage), Manteadas (shawl alignments), Ventosas (fire cupping), Hidroterapia (healing with water), and other topics such as the Huesero (bone setter).
Future Curanderismo courses include:
Traditional Healing of the Mind, Energy and Spirit: Temazcal (sweatlodge), Limpias (energetic/spiritual cleansings), Risaterapia (laugh therapy) and other topics.
Global and Cultural Influences of Traditional Healing: African tradition, Afro Latino from Cuba and Puerto Rico, Native American spiritual cleansings and Mayan acupuncture and other topics.

What you will learn

• Provide information on the traditions, rituals and remedies of Curanderismo, a healing tradition with emphasis on treatments of the body.
• Recognize the importance of traditional methods of healing intestinal blockage and shawl alignments.
• Explore different traditional hands on techniques and their impact on bodies ailments.
• Demonstrate traditional healing methods for special populations such as infants and the aging community.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Intestinal blockage (empacho) & Shawl alignments (manteadas)
In this module, students will recognize different types of intestinal blockage empacho as demonstrated by Tana. Rita indicates a number of benefits of the shawl alignment manteada, traditional healing technique.

WEEK 2
Fire cupping (ventosas) & bone setter (huesero)
This module explains the benefits of fire cupping ventosas. Rita gives a demonstration and description about different methods of ventosas. Agustin, the bonesetter, huesero, shows a traditional body treatment ventosa technique to treat sciatica combined with a brief demonstration of intestinal blockage, empacho and magical fright, espanto (similar to susto).

WEEK 3
Mayan abdominal massage & body asjustment
Alex demonstrates a Mayan massage and the benefits for the body. Roberto shows how the body can adjust through muscle adjustments.

WEEK 4
Spinal alignment & hydrotherapy
Felipa demonstrates a body treatment to improve spinal and body mobility. Rita shows how we can use hydrotherapy, water and its therapeutic benefits.

WEEK 5
Traditional healing of infants & tradicional healing for the ageing community
Rita and Tonita show traditional healing techniques and their benefits for a special population such as infants and the aging community. Professor Torres concludes the course by summarizing the modules.