Curanderismo A form of southwestern folk heal­ing performed by a curandero, or most revered healer, considered to have a gift from God. Curan­deros, males or curanderas, females, may be con­sulted for medical, emotional, social, supernatural, and spiritual problems. The curandero or curandera uses herbs, rituals, water, candles, countermagic, prayer, potions, hexing agents, Tarot cards, and other methods and symbols of healing, depending upon an individual’s problem. Curanderismo has evolved throughout history—a practice particularly popular among Hispanics and Mexicans in the Southwest—derived from the ages during which medicine, the church, and belie! in the supernat­ural were virtually interchangeable. Curanderos as private consultants offer help to people with prob­lems ranging from love relationships and financial difficulties to illness and the effects of “black magic” or “spells” cast by brujos (witches).