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TEJANO MEDICINE

Many Tejanos who worked as migrant workers did not have money to visit doctors. For starters, they did not have insurance to curb the cost of visiting a doctor. Nonetheless, curanderos and curanderas provided support and charged small fees to assess, diagnose, and cure. 

Curar de empacho

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Curar de empacho is to resolve indigestion.

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Instructions:

  • Lie on your stomach.

  • The curandero/a will examine your back

  • After assessing the area, he/she will pull the skin until popping is heard.

  • Drink water and the gases will pass.

Curar de ojo

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Curar de ojo is to alleviate negative energy. Symptoms include a small fever, lethargy, and sometimes vomiting. It is believed the ojo can be contracted when someone gives you negative energy by staring, talking to you, or watching you in excess.

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Instructions:

  • Lie on your back.

  • The curanadero/a will have an egg that has been out at room temperature for about 5 minutes.

  • Beginning with the sign of the cross, he/she will cite prayers like the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, etc., while rubbing the egg over your body.

  • Once the egg is warm, he/she will do the sign of the cross and crack the egg in a small glass with water.

  • Place the glass under your bed before you go to sleep.

  • Throw the egg in the direction of the sunrise to the east.

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How to read the egg:

  • If there are visible eyes, the ojo has been removed.

Curar de susto

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Curar de susto occurs when someone undergoes a traumatic experience such as a car accident or a near-death experience. The individual can incur nightmares preventing them from sleeping after a stressful situation.

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Instructions:

  • Put 2 little branches called mata de ruda under your mattress.

  • Cross your shoes under the bed to help you sleep.

  • Then bless your home by beginning with all 4 corners of the house, inside and outside, and saying prayers throughout. 

  • To cure the susto, place a white sheet down on the floor next to the front door.

  • Lay down on the floor next to the front door (feet facing the door) and cover the individual with a white sheet.

  • Sweep the person for 15 minutes making crosses.

  • Pray the Apostles Creed multiple times while sweeping.

  • Then at the end say: "[Name], vente no te quedes."

  • The individual responds by saying: "Ay voy."

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