Maybe you’ll reach for honey and lemon, make a cup of ginger tea or ask someone in your family to make their infamous chicken noodle soup.
But have you ever wondered what different cultures do when they feel sick?
With Hispanic Heritage Month coming to an end, I wanted to look at some of the traditional remedies and healing practices found in Hispanic and Latino communities. These practices can range from simple home remedies passed down through families to traditional healers known as curanderos.
Home remedies, or remedios caseros, have played a major role in Hispanic health practices, and are often passed down through generations. A 1994 study of Hispanic women’s health beliefs found that families often turn to home remedies when dealing with illness, with health decisions involving family and community members, while health care providers were often consulted last.
More recent research shows that these practices are still used today. A study of 318 Latino patients in Southern California found that 90% reported using herbs. Among those who used herbs, 74.8% said they’d never told their health care providers about their herbal use. Chamomile, cinnamon, and spearmint were among the most commonly used herbs reported in the study.
So, what are some of these remedies?
Manzanilla
Manzanilla, or chamomile, is commonly prepared as tea. It’s traditionally been used for a variety of concerns, including indigestion, anxiety, insomnia, or colic in babies.
However, traditional use doesn’t necessarily mean a remedy has been scientifically proven to work. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, research on chamomile hasn’t provided enough solid evidence to determine whether it’s effective for the conditions it’s used for. Chamomile is generally considered safe when consumed in amounts commonly found in teas and foods, although it can cause allergic reactions in some people and may interact with certain medications.
Canela
Canela, or cinnamon, is another common ingredient in Hispanic households. It can be simmered in water to make tea and is sometimes combined with honey to relieve early cold and flu symptoms.
Cinnamon has a long history of use in traditional medicine around the world. While it’s often promoted for different health conditions, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health stated that research doesn’t clearly support using cinnamon to treat any specific health condition. Cinnamon is generally considered safe in the amount commonly used in food, but consuming larger amounts of it for long periods can cause problems for some people.
Hierbabuena
Hierbabuena, translated to mint, is another herb that can be prepared as a tea. Mint has traditionally been used for digestive problems, including gas, bloating and general indigestion.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, research on peppermint as a treatment is limited, but there’s some evidence that certain peppermint oil may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Peppermint tea is usually considered safe, although it’s much more concentrated and has different safety considerations.
The people behind the magic: Curanderismo
Home remedies are only one part of traditional healing practices in some Hispanic and Latino communities.
Curanderismo refers to traditional healing practices associated with Latin American cultures. Traditional healers, or curanderos, can specialize in different forms of care.
A 2022 systematic review of traditional healers in the U.S. Latine community identified several types of practitioners, including yerberos, sobadores and espiritualistas.
Yerberos specialize in herbs and prepare herbal teas, baths or poultices to treat physical and mental illness concerns.
Sobadores perform massage-like therapy and treat empacho, which is constipation, as well as musculoskeletal pain.
Espiritualistas, or spiritual healers, use faith and spiritual practices as part of their approach. They’re known for addressing sprains, addressing muscle pulls, and resetting bones.
What to know before trying a remedy
For many people, these remedies are more than just ways to feel better when they’re sick. They can also represent family traditions and knowledge passed down from generation to generation.
However, “natural” doesn’t automatically mean “safe.”
According to the National Institute of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplement, the safety of botanicals depends on factors including how it’s prepared, the amount used and its chemical makeup. Different forms of the same plant can also have very different concentrations.
That’s why health care providers recommend telling them about any herbs, supplements, or other natural remedies you use. Some herbs can interact with medications, and knowing what a patient is taking can help providers make safer decisions about their care.
But whether it’s a cup of manzanilla made by a great-grandmother or a remedy passed down through generations, remedios caseros are an important part of cultural traditions surrounding health. Understanding these practices doesn’t mean choosing traditional medicine over modern medicine. Rather, it means recognizing that there can be more than one way that people take care of themselves.