curandera

[ koo-rahn-de-rah; English koor-uhn-dair-uh ]

noun

, Spanish.

, plural cu·ran·de·ras [koo-, r, ahn-, de, -, r, ahs, k, oo, r-, uh, n-, dair, -, uh, z].

1. a female folk healer or medicine woman who uses herbs or psychoactive plants, magic, and spiritualism to treat illness, induce visions, impart traditional wisdom, etc.; a female shaman.

Example Sentences

April Mayes: “We need more professional, trained, educated people now we're going to call doctors instead of the curanderas and the curanderos.”

From Scientific American

“You come from a long line of curanderas, healers of the people. Your Abuelita Remedies has been using her gift all her life. When the time comes, you’ll know exactly what to do with this.”

From Literature

The Times is exploring how curanderas help Southern Californians with their mental health, and we’d like to hear from you.

From Los Angeles Times

“I am cured. A curandera took care of me. She discovered I had been hexed.”

From Literature

As the war escalates, a passionate relationship grows between Ximena, a talented Mexican curandera, and Riley, an Irish immigrant leading the battalion.

From Los Angeles Times