Traditional Healers

A traditional healer is someone who employs any one of a number of ancient medical practices that are based on indigenous theories, beliefs, and experiences handed down from generation to generation. The methods employed by each type of Traditional healer have evolved to reflect the different philosophical backgrounds and cultural origins of the healer.

Traditional healers include:

  • Botanica - A Botanica is a traditional healer who supplies healing products, sometimes associated with spiritual interventions.

  • Curandero - A Curandero is a type of traditional folk healer. Originally found in Latin America, Curanderos specialize in treating illness through the use of supernatural forces, herbal remedies, and other natural medicines.

  • Espiritista - An Espiritista is a traditional healer who assesses a patient's condition and recommends herbs or religious amulets in order to improve physical or mental health or to help overcome a personal problem.

  • Hierbero or Yerbera - A Hierbero or Yerbera is a traditional healer or practitioner with knowledge of the medicinal qualities of plants.

  • Native American Healer/Medicine Man - A Native American Healer or Medicine Man is a traditional healer who uses information from the spirit world' in order to benefit the community. People see Native American healers for a variety of reasons, especially to find relief or a cure from illness or to find spiritual guidance.

  • Shaman - A Shaman is a traditional healer who is said to act as a medium between the invisible spiritual world and the physical world. Most gain knowledge through contact with the spiritual world and use the information to perform tasks such as divination, influencing natural events, and healing the sick or injured.

  • Sobador - A Sobador is a traditional healer who uses massage and rub techniques in order to treat patients.

(Source: Barnes, PM, et al., "Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults and Children: United States, 2007", National Health Statistics Reports, Number 12, December 10, 2008.)