Traditional Maya Healing

History
Traditional healing in Central America has developed over thousands of years. About 2000 B.C. the Mayans began farming in the region encompassed by the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean. Maya ethnology spans several eras from pre to post classic. The Hispanic period (since 1525 A.D.) succeeded in crushing Maya culture so thoroughly that very few artifacts and texts remain to explain their intricate systems of science, religion and medicine. The ruins of ancient ceremonial temples in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize are reminders of the strange and fascinating achievements of Mayan culture. Today, traditional healing in Central America is a fusion of this ancient indigenous, spiritual practice and Christian Catholicism. Oral translations from generation to generation have kept much of the ancient Maya knowledge from slipping through the cracks of time; however, much of that knowledge is in danger of being lost because of modern advancement.

Traditional Healing
The knowledge of traditional healing that I have learned through my studies has undergone many translations and has survived many interpretations. I am not a scholar on the subject of Maya culture by any means, but I do love, respect and cherish the few traditions that I have been privileged to learn. I use some of these healing traditions in my own practice the way they were taught and passed down to me through Dr. Arvigo, and she learned them from her teacher: one of the last, living Maya shamans, Don Elijio Panti. The tools that I use in my practice include:

  • A knowledge and reverence of plants and cycles of nature
  • Massage and bodywork
  • An understanding of ch'ulel, or life energy
  • A fusion of the spiritual and physical
  • Humor
  • Prayer

By practicing a blend of herbal / nutritional counseling & bodywork with traditional healing it can be difficult for some Westerners to understand how this system works because much of its simplicity gets lost by our need to over- analyze and ask too many questions. Some questions can only be answered with, "because that is how it was taught to me," which understandably falls short to someone who is experiencing serious discomfort or un-ease. There is medical evidence available regarding the benefits of massage and on the chemical properties of healing plants. Being a student of botany and herbology, I respect the facts that have come out of research, but I have also come to appreciate the benefits of not over-thinking*. Furthermore, the attempt to explain spiritual healing in scientific terms is, in my opinion, futile.

On the flip side, there seems to be a Western fascination with the supernatural aspect of indigenous culture and traditional healing. Often those who have been let down by modern Western medicine seek out traditional healing for a "miracle cure" after all else has failed. Our culture often fails to recognize that disease and illness are literal manifestations of our lifestyles, environments, relationships, thoughts and emotions. Very often the miracle is nothing more than a shift of consciousness that was inspired by the traditional healer. Another classic scenario is that of one who seeks traditional healing with the expectation of having an extraordinary, supernatural experience. Certainly there have been many unusual case studies with strange occurrences. We must keep in mind that one trait of a traditional healer is the ability to weave a story that can elicit hope or a belief in the impossible for someone who has lost all hope. Sometimes the traditional healer tells a fantastic story to change the course of a patient's negative attitude or strong will. Some healers tell stories to make their patients laugh because when all else fails, laughter is medicine for the soul. Once again, the miracle is in the creativity which the healer uses to treat each, individual patient.  

"Most people think too much, but get them to laugh and half of their trouble and sickness will go away."
Don Elijio Panti


"Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Don't only give your care, but give your heart as well."
Mother Theresa


"It is far more important to know what sort of person has a disease than what sort of disease a person has."
Hippocrates

Finally, there is the help-seeker who compares their situation to that of another's. What helps one person may not be the right approach for someone else; everyone is vastly different. Disappointment or disillusionment occur when quick results are not achieved. The human body is wildly intelligent, and often the length of time it takes to develop a condition is the length of time that it takes to heal. The secrets of traditional healing often come down to simple things such as the willingness to nourish ourselves through food, plants, prayer, humor, and in the trust that there is a mysterious wisdom greater than we can comprehend.

* In the event of a serious, acute condition, professional medical attention is strongly advised. Maya traditional healing is not intended to replace necessary medical care.

Maya Abdominal Massage
Almost all Maya traditional healers incorporate therapeutic, healing touch into their work. Midwives, granny-healers and the H'men (healer, shaman, doctor-priest) use massage in the treatment of both spiritual and physical ailments. One of the main benefits of Maya Abdominal Massage is the circulation of blood, lymph and chi to organs and muscles. This, in turn, improves digestive function and reproductive health. For those seeking fertility enhancement, there is a reputed 30% higher success rate of conception for women who have received the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage in conjunction with other natural therapies, diet and lifestyle changes. (This statistic does not reflect age, health or other influencing factors). There are many other benefits and indications for this type of bodywork which are discussed in detail at www.arvigomassage.com

Maya Spiritual Healing

  • The Maya traditional healer recognizes that there are both physical and spiritual causes of illness.
  • Underlying any spiritual illness is the concept of the loss of ch'ulel, or "soul loss."
  • The Maya, along with other ancient cultures, believed that souls can be, "frightened away, wander off or be abducted." (Arvigo / Epstein)

The most common sign of a spiritual illness is the presence of unresolved emotional distress that stems from a serious, traumatic event or long-term emotional stress. Some contemporary causes of soul loss are: loss of a loved one, rape or incest, major illness, surgery, accidents, violence, abuse or witnessing a violent or disturbing incident. Clearly, many people have suffered of spiritual illness in one way or another. The Maya traditional healer uses prayer, incense, plants, water, amulets and ritual to perform a spiritual healing*.

*Those with serious psychological issues are advised to seek professional counseling and/or medical attention. A spiritual healing is not intended to replace necessary mental care.

For more information on Traditional Maya Healing read:

  • Sastun: My Apprenticeship with a Maya Healer by Rosita Arvigo
  • Rainforest Home Remedies: The Maya Way to Heal Your Body & Replenish Your Soul by Rosita Arvigo & Nadine Epstein