Folk Remedies, Mexico
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Traditional Medicine from Mexico

| Modified on Feb 06, 2013
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People in Mexico can seek out alternative medicine from their Yerberos (Herbalists), Sobadores (Masseuses) or Curanderas (Healers) and may be known generally as curanderismo. Each of these families of alternative therapy comes from a lengthy healing traditional with its roots in Ancient Greek medicine – by way of the Spanish conquistadors – and the indigenous healing traditions of the Aztecs and Mayans in particular.

Greek and therefore Mexican traditional medical theory is based in the four humors - black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm. Treatment is very holistic and requires that each of these bodily fluids be kept in balance. This belief has matured to somewhat mirror the understanding in Traditional Chinese Medicine that the body needs to keep a balance between the "hot" and "cold" with matching medical treatments to restore the balance.

Holistic Treatments: An alcohol and marijuana extract made with a bottle of cane alcohol in which marijuana is allowed to mature has been rubbed into rheumatic joints in traditional Mexican medicine. Arnica has long been used to treat other aches and pains. Chamomile, spearmint, cilantro, and lemon verbena are also traditional herbal remedies often relied upon in Mexico.


The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Chili Peppers

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Posted by Don (Ensenada, B.c. Mexico) on 01/09/2013
 ★★★★★

what works for me is jalapeno juice. Just rub fresh sliced chili on your itch and gone! It is the capsaisan in the chili that controls the itching and it may sting a little at first but it works. it's a very economical remedy as well.

Cola De Caballo (Horsetail)

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Posted by Jamie (Menlo Park, California, Usa) on 02/05/2013
 ★★★★★

A friend of mine suggested horsetail (in spanish pronounced: cola de caballo), which is sold as a dried herb for about a dollar at local mexican markets.

When I get UTI they are painful. I've tried so many over the counter remedies and none compared to the fast results from Horsetail.

I boil about have a pot, which will last me about 2 days and it works wonders. Symptoms drastically change within the first day's use and longest I've had to drink the herb was about 3 days.

Some places sell it in pill form, but I prefer the tea since it feels the most effective.

Here is a a quick description from herbwisdom.com of other ailments it can cure.

"Horsetail is an astringent herb and has a diuretic action. It has an affinity for the urinary tract where it can be used to sooth inflammation, haemorrhaging, cystic ulceration, ulcers, cystitis and to treat infections. It is considered a specific remedy in cases of inflammation or benign enlargement of the prostate gland and is also used to quicken the removal of kidney stones.

Gordo Lobo

Posted by Urse (El Paso, Tx) on 01/19/2013

Gordo Lobo, a Traditional Remedy from Mexico: Gordo Lobo is a herb that is brewed into a tea. When you drink this tea it soothes a sore throat and it also helps with coughs.

Iodine

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Posted by Betsy (Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico) on 01/28/2006
 ★★★★★

In Mexico, some people have used iodine as a means of preventing baldness. One woman used iodine for years as a preventive measure against baldness. She used it as a rinse after washing her hair. Another woman told me to "cure" a bald spot by dabbing iodine on the bald spot or area of thinning hair. After a while, a crust will form. Eventually, beneath the crust fine hairs will start to grow. She said it can take about three months to see the results. I don't know if this would work with men. It's something I've heard about. Can you give me your opinion on this?

Prickly Pear Cactus

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Posted by Bill (Portland, Oregon) on 12/08/2009
 ★★★★☆

I have eaten Napolis Cactus shredded in the jars and it works great for diabetis. and Diapen Tea from Mexico is an amazing tea for diabetis an has been used in Mexico for years. Also alkaline water does amazing things also.

EC: From our online research, "napolis" are prickly pear pads grown in Mexico, which you can find in US grocery stores.

http://painteddaisies.blogspot.com/2006/03/cooking-with-cactus_23.html

Images of the prickly pear cactus here:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=prickly+pear+cactus&gbv=2&aq=1&oq=prickly+p&aqi=g10

Red Onion

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Posted by Alicia Martines (Asheville, NC) on 07/31/2009
 ★★★★★

Red Onion. I am from Mexico, and my mother recommended me a red onion home made syrup for nagging coughs.

My first son had a times a cough that would never really go away. My second son was an extremely premature baby and therefore with "weak" immature lungs. I used this homemade syrup after trying everything, including various homeopathic formulas.

The original syrup calls for sugar but I have replaced it with honey or stevia. The onion has to be RED onion and I give it to my children either as lung strengthener or as medicine qwhen they do have a cough or cold.

Ingredients
1 big red onion washed and peeled.
sweetener (brown sugar, stevia, honey)

Cut the onion HORIZONTALLY in slices. Start at the base of the onion. Lay the newly cut base and place base in a bowl. Add a layer of the stevia or honey in here. GO easy as you have many layers to go and the sweetener from the top layers will eventually sip through the bottom layers
Repeat until the whole onion has been cut and reconstructed on the bowl.

Let it rest for at least 15 hrs at room temperature. I do it overnight.
Next day I have a bowl with about half a glass of "syrup". Children like the sweet taste. It doesn't taste like onion at all.

I hope you find this remedy as "miraculous" as I have!

Replied by Helen
(New Paltz, Ny)
01/18/2013

Do you throw the onion out or leave in the bowl? How much and how often do you take?



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