The Times podcast: The mainstreaming of curanderos
Grace Sesma performs a limpia, or spiritual cleansing, with client Mario Ceballos during a curanderismo session at her Alpine home in 2022. Curanderismo is a traditional healing system that holistically treats mental, emotional, physical and spiritual illnesses.
(K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Listen to this episode of The Times:
For centuries, communities across Latin America have turned to curanderos — healers who rely on Indigenous tradition — for their physical and mental health. Will mainstream American health ever embrace it?
Today, we examine the subject. Read the full transcript here.
Host: Gustavo Arellano
Guests: L.A. Times utility reporter Karen Garcia
More reading:
Some Latinos don’t trust Western mental health. That’s where curanderos come in
Curandera’s spell may soothe your soul
About The Times
“The Times” is produced by Denise Guerra, Kasia Broussalian, David Toledo and Ashlea Brown. Our editorial assistants are Roberto Reyes and Nicolas Perez. Our engineers are Mario Diaz, Mark Nieto and Mike Heflin. Our fellow is Helen Li. Our editor is Kinsee Morlan. Our executive producers are Jazmin Aguilera, Heba Elorbany and Shani Hilton. And our theme music is by Andrew Eapen.
