The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology is slated to open an exhibit on the magical art of curanderismo (coo-RAN-deh-DEES-moh), or the practice of traditional Mexican folk healing.
The museum this week is launching its "Southwest Herbalism & Curanderismo" exhibit with internationally-known curandera, Tonita Gonzales.
Displays will feature curandero healing through herbs to getting a soul cleansing, also known as a limpia. Also on display will be popular curandero instruments from incense burners used in rituals to cups necessary to cure a spiritual illness.
Curanderismo is the art of using traditional healing methods like herbs and plants to treat various ailments. Long practiced in indigenous villages of Mexico and other parts of Latin America, curanderos also could be found in parts of New Mexico, south Texas, Arizona and California.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.