Curanderos
One of the most important expressions of Amazonian shamanism is curanderismo. Also locally known as médicos, doctores, sabedores, vegetalistas, or shamans, among other names, curanderos are practitioners who receive patients of various ailments in their homes. Often, the illnesses they treat are believed to be caused by witchcraft—that is, the dark arts of another shaman: the brujo. In such cases, the curandero uses their techniques to ascend to the spiritual world, undo the witchcraft, and determine which medicine should be administered to the patient. Despite the changes that have occurred in Amazonian societies, this kind of healing practices remain extraordinarily relevant today.
