The University of New Mexico is hosting a Mexican Traditional Medicine Fair on Wednesday, July 27, from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The event will feature curanderos, or Mexican folk healers, alternative medicine and demonstrations on how to use plants and herbs for medicinal purposes.
Vice President for Student Affairs Eliseo “Cheo” Torres will give a related lecture with Dr. Arturo Ornelas Lizardi, director of El Centro Desarrolo Humano hacia a la Comunidad in Cuernavaca in the Student Union Building theater from noon – 1 p.m.
Torres is the author of “Curandero: A Life in Mexican Folk Healing,” which describes his personal experiences and prominent figures in the tradition of curanderismo. The book also addresses common misconceptions regarding curanderismo and healing practices that are viable and prevalent in the Mexican-American community.
Torres is the only vice president of a U.S. university conducting research, writing, and teaching about Curanderismo. He leads a course for students who come from around the country titled, “Want to Know More About Curanderismo?” scheduled July 18-29. Torres’s healing herbs collection is on display at the Art Gallery upper level of the SUB through Aug. 14.
He has been collecting multi-cultural medicinal herbs and other folk objects for more than 20 years. The collection contains Medicinal Herbs, Native American Folk Medicine, Old Fashioned Remedies, African American Folk Medicine and Folk Beliefs from Around the World and Magical Potions.
UNM's Employee Health Promotion Program will offer participatory yoga for fitness and information regarding common interactions with herbal remedies and prescribed medications. http://ehpp.unm.edu
Local businesses will exhibit products, give demonstrations, pass out samples and provide information on different kinds of herbs and alternative medicine. Participants include Wild Oats, Whole Foods Market, Vitamin Cottage, La Montañita Co-op, The Herb Store and Herbs, Etc., from Santa Fe.
The fair is at UNM’s main campus on the Cornell Mall, east of the Student Union Building and is free and open to the public.
The UNM Student Affairs Office, UNM Tricentennial and Work + Life Committees sponsor the fair as part of UNM’s salute to the Albuquerque Tricentennial celebration.
Contact: Maya L. Oliver, (505) 277-1989 or Eleanor Sanchez, (505) 277-1813