Healing with herbs and
Rituals, A Mexican Tradition, written by Eliseo "Cheo" Torres, is an
intriguing book about the history of herbal healers in Mexico, the herbs
and rituals they used, to heal the sick.
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Healing
with Herbs and Rituals,
A Mexican Tradition written by Eliseo "Cheo"
Torres, reviewed by Nancy J. Reid
This is an intriguing book that goes
way beyond just listing the various uses for herbs. The author,
Eliseo "cheo" Torres, adeptly brings you through a journey of
realizations-- explaining what a healer is, how healers became
healers, how they healed, and what they used to heal. What
becomes evident, is the fact that the healers are healing
illnesses which are related to emotions--so belief in the healer
is paramount to the success of the treatment. This is something
that one could argue medical doctors tend to ignore, or label as
psychosomatic--and when a unexpected recovery is made, it is
chalked up to will power on the part of the patient. It is a
fascinating premise and Healing with Herbs and Rituals, does a
superb job of laying out the facts for you.
The history of the practice of healing with herbs comes from
virtually all countries, but this book focuses on Mexican
traditions. Torres has written in a witty, easy-to-read style
that keeps you interested and wanting more information. Before
you know it, you have read the book, where you might have only
intended to look up a particular herb and it's use. The book is
divided into two parts; the first covering the history of
Mexican healers, rituals, ailments and specific healers. Part
Two covers remedies, where to find the herbs and how to prepare
them. There is also a glossary of herbs and a handy listing of
plants names in Spanish.
Torres has included brief stories about some curanderos (Mexican
healers) that show what the power of healing and a reputation of
doing so, can do. He also provides an outlook on the future of
herbal healers and the possibility of fusing this form of
medicine with our technological-age medicine for better results.
This is a book anyone interested in health, home remedies,
holistic health, herbs and Mexico, will want to have. Certainly
a fascinating read.
About
the Author - Eliseo “Cheo” Torres Dr.
Eliseo Cheo Torres is Vice-President of Student Affairs
at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Torres
has studied Mexican folk healing and medicine for more
than twenty years and has recently developed a unit
called “Folk Medicine and Medicinal Herbs of the
Southwest and Northern Mexico.” The educator’s
short-term workshops are incredibly popular with
students across a spectrum of studies. The courses
provide an overview of the history of Curanderismo,
discuss basic healing properties of herbs and
preparation of tinctures, and explore folk healing’s
integration with other medicines. Two of the three
summer courses offered by Torres will take place in
Cuernavaca and Oaxaca, Mexico, where Torres has done
extensive field work and taught in conjunction with La
Tranca’s Institute of Traditional Medicine
(Cuernavaca). Torres lives with his wife, Nieves, in
Albuquerque. They have two children, Kiko and Sandra.
Eliseo
"Cheo"
Torres joined editors Nancy J. Reid and
Lisa D. Smith on their online radio show,
Champagne Sundays, on August 3, 2008 between
11 am and 1 pm to discuss his book. To
listen to the entire, unedited show, please
click here.
To listen to Eliseo's interview, please
double click on the Play Button below.
For more about Eliseo “Cheo” Torres or to
purchase ‘Healing with Herbs & Rituals: A
Mexican Tradition’ visit
www.unmpress.com
Healing
with Herbs and Rituals, 
About
the Author - Eliseo “Cheo” Torres
Resource
Guide