Last month we went to Cuetzalan, a small town in the state of Puebla, for four days through Notre Dame. The first two days we learned about traditional healing from native curanderas, many of whom were part of a multi-generational traditional of healers. Cuetzalan has done an excellent job of integrating modern and traditional medicine, a combination we got to observe during our time there.
The hospital in Cuetzalan has two parts: a wing for Western medicine, and a wing devoted to the curanderas (healers), parteras (midwives), and jueseras (bone-setters.) Many of the healers we met were older and dressed in traditional indigenous garb. When we went to their smaller communities on the outskirts of Cuetzalan, it was clear they were well known and respected. The hospital has been very successful in integrating traditional medicine because they too respect the position and knowledge of these healers. By putting their trust in them, they have also gained the trust of the people who have traditionally relied on this form of medicine, and so brought them into the hospital where they can receive better care. One of the most successful examples of this practice is the drastic drop in infant and maternal mortality that has occurred in the twenty years since parteras were invited to bring their patients to the hospital, where they can receive extra support if there are complications with the pregnancy or birth.
One of the practices we saw most regularly, and that a few of the group experienced first-hand, was a cleansing ritual using herbs and sometimes an egg, which are rubbed over the body to remove bad spirits and ill will. This was practiced in the hospital and in the homes of the healers we visited. While these herbs were not medicinal in the sense that we understand it in the US, the healers knowledge of other herbs, many of which grew wild in the incredibly rich surrounding rain forest, was impressive.
While accepting traditional healing methods, the hospital maintained a modern attitude toward medical records and patient care. Many of the patients were on national health insurance, so paperwork was a huge part of this hospital, just like those in Puebla. While I’m not sure about the effectiveness of traditional medicine, it is clear that respecting the culture and traditions of a people is a huge part of caring for them in an effective manner.
Viajes en Puebla 