The time has come for the University of New Mexico to again present a dose of curandismo. Titled, Traditional Medicine without Borders:  Curanderismo in the Southwest & Mexico, the popular two-week summer course in traditional medicine is a summer staple and its popularity continues to grow. Taught by Dr. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, vice president, Office of Student Affairs, the course attracts students and practitioners from all over the nation and some from outside the country as well.

The course provides information on the history, traditions, rituals, herbs and remedies of curanderismo, a folk healing tradition of the Southwestern United States, Latin America, Mexico and other countries.

Torres expects more students from out of state especially from Minnesota, New York and California, and is working with the Mexican Consul for a traditional health fair at the Viva Mexico event at Santa Fe’s Rancho de las Golondrinas on Thursday- Friday, July 19 - 20.

“We are also holding one of our class sessions at the Albuquerque Bio Park during the second week of class in order to identify many local medicinal plants firsthand,” Torres said.

A free Massive Open Online Class (MOOC) will be offered next fall semester on the same topic.

Registration for the two week class is now open. The course runs from Monday-Friday, July 14 - 25 from 8:10 to 12:40 p.m. in the Anthropology building, room 163, on the UNM main campus.

For more information, visit: UNM Curandismo Class.