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Mexican Spiritism & Humeral medicine

Mexican Spiritism & Humeral medicine. Mexican Spiritism. Arose mid-19 th C.—an era of political, economic, & social turbulence Inquisition—women resisted powerlessness at the hands of male authorities Resorted to superstition to control men’s sexual authority.

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Mexican Spiritism & Humeral medicine

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  1. Mexican Spiritism&Humeral medicine

  2. Mexican Spiritism • Arose mid-19th C.—an era of political, economic, & social turbulence • Inquisition—women resisted powerlessness at the hands of male authorities • Resorted to superstition to control men’s sexual authority

  3. Courts sided with men so women used witchcraft to retaliate against men • They aimed to reduce brutal treatment & infidelity • Witchcraft empowered women since they had knowledge of sexual powers (Re: danger of uncontrolled power)

  4. 1855-62 Liberal Reforms • Increased social inequalities • 1910-17 Revolution • Generated understandings related to illness that spread to rural areas

  5. Spiritism, class, & power • Spiritualism is a response to increasing class differentiation • Social mobility is not available • Spiritualists lack power, thus gain it by controlling spirits • Women hold ritual positions within spiritualism • Where they otherwise lack control

  6. The individual removes themselves from encounters with class & power differences • Seeking dignity & equality • An escape from social conflict

  7. ETIOLOGY(Knowledge about causes of disease) • THE CAUSAL EPISODE IS LOOSELY DEFINED • THERE IS MUCH LATITUDE IN FINDING A CAUSE THAT FITS PERSONAL FICTION • APPEARS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF AN EPISODE IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS UNABLE TO MEET SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS • PROVIDES AN EXPLANATION FOR DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

  8. Humeral medicine • 4 Humors YELLOW BILE FIRE DRY HOT AIR BLOOD BLACK BILE EARTH WATER COLD WET PHLEGM

  9. Culture & belief systems • Ojo (evil eye) • Envidia (envy) • Aire (bad air) • Susto (fright)—leads to soul loss

  10. susto • Is a culturally sanctioned avenue of escape for an individual suffering from culturally-induced stress • The behavior is not due to the character of the individual, but because she has been “asustada” • Asustadas have impunity to engage in behavior otherwise considered offensive • She can impose her own definition on a situation giving her deviant acts legitimacy • Gives her control over interactions

  11. SYMPTOMS • CORAJE, SUSTO, ENVIDIA = HOT EXPERIENCES • AVOID HOT FOODS (BEEF, ASPIRIN) WORKING WITH HANDS • AIRE = COLD EXPERIENCE • AVOID COLD FOODS (CHICKEN SOUP, ORANGES, ALKA SELTZER) • PATIENTS SUFFER LISTNESSNESS, APPETITE LOSS, WITHDRAWAL FROM SOCIAL INTERACTION

  12. TREATMENT TO REGAIN HEALTH: BALANCE AMONG THE HUMORS • LACK OF BALANCE (SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SPIRITUAL) CAUSES ILLNESS • CURANDEROS • CLEANSE BODY WITH EGG • TO EXTRACT EXCESS COLD • HERBS, CANDLES, MASSAGES, INCANTATIONS • BRUJAS (WITCHES) CAUSE HARM

  13. FUNCTIONALIST INTERPRETATION OF WITCH BELIEFS (LAURA bOHANan) • Explains the inexplicable • Enforces conformity to norms • Provides a scapegoat • Provides a role for social deviants • Accusations increase during periods of stress (epidemics)

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