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La Vida Buena y Sana: Curanderas and Curanderos

The practice of folk medicine by Indian and Hispanic herbalists, medicine men and curanderos is guided by knowledge and religious beliefs exchanged among practitioners over the course of several centuries. Indians shared their knowledge of native plants such as coyaye, osha, amole. Hispanics also brought medicinal herbs to the Americas which they shared with their Indian neighbors. Hispanic curanderos refer to herbs with healing properties as remedios santos, holy remedies.

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