"This is an important book because there has been a need for an
authoritative survey of medical practices in Mesoamerica. This has
been an active research area, with widely dispersed reports, and
this synthesis will fill a definite need.... The various authors
are the recognized authorities in their field." -- Bernard Ortiz de
Montellano, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Wayne State
University "Since the literature on indigenous medicine in Mexico
and Guatemala is rich but dispersed, this volume's value lies
precisely in the comprehensive, authoritative, and updated coverage
by the 14 contributing authors and the excellent bibliography." --
Choice "The book.... is an excellent textbook for broadening the
scope of, for example, classes in ethnobotany and ethnopharmacy. At
the same time, it is of course a very useful resource for anyone
interested in medical anthropology." -- Journal of
Ethnopharmacology
Healing practices in Mesoamerica span a wide range, from
traditional folk medicine with roots reaching back into the
prehispanic era to westernized biomedicine. These sometimes
cooperating, sometimes competing practices have attracted attention
from researchers and the public alike, as interest in alternative
medicine and holistic healing continues to grow.
Responding to this interest, the essays in this book offer a
comprehensive, state-of-the-art survey of Mesoamerican healers and
medical practices in Mexico and Guatemala. The first two essays
describe the work of prehispanic and colonial healers and show how
their roles changed over time. The remaining essays look at
contemporary healers, including bonesetters, curers, midwives,
nurses, physicians, socialworkers, and spiritualists. Using a
variety of theoretical approaches, the authors examine such topics
as the intersection of gender and curing, the recruitment of
healers and their training, healers' compensation and workload,
types of illnesses treated and recommended treatments, conceptual
models used in diagnosis and treatment, and the relationships among
healers and between indigenous healers and medical and political
authorities.
General
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