Pachita and María Matuz: two different approaches to curanderismo

Explore the stories of María Matuz and Pachita, two iconic healers from Mexico whose healing approaches, one rooted in the Yaqui tradition and the other based on shamanism, have left an indelible mark on the country’s culture and medicine.

In the vast and diverse land of Mexico, curanderismo has been an integral part of culture and traditional medicine for centuries. Two prominent figures in this field are María Matuz and Pachita, whose approaches and healing methods differ significantly but have left indelible marks on the history of healing in the country

María Matuz and Pachita represent two distinct approaches to curanderismo in Mexico: one rooted in the Yaqui tradition and the other based on a connection with the spiritual and shamanic. Both figures have left a significant legacy in the history of healing in Mexico, with their gifts and methods continuing to astonish subsequent generations.

María Matuz: The Yaqui Healer from Sonora

María Matuz, originally from the Yaqui tribe in Sonora, became the most famous healer in the region and gained recognition throughout Mexico and the world. Despite her notoriety, María Matuz kept much of her life a secret, choosing to communicate primarily in the Yaqui language and granting few interviews.

Her healing gifts seem to have manifested in a dream in which Saint George carried her on a white horse above the clouds to Jerusalem. From then on, she began healing people from the early age of 10 until her passing at the age of 97 in 2015. She used a variety of methods, including prayer and contact with natural elements such as earth, fire, air, and water.

María Matuz claimed to be able to extract foreign objects from the skin of the sick, such as nails or hairs, which she considered the main causes of their ailments. Her healing abilities ranged from common illnesses to more severe cases, such as diabetes, leukemia, and cancer. Additionally, she read the hands of patients and performed prayers as an integral part of her healing sessions.

Throughout her life, María Matuz attended to a wide range of patients, including celebrities like the painter José Luis Cuevas, Joan Sebastián, and Abraham Zabludovsky, although some of them remained silent about their visits. Even the former governor of Sonora, Samuel Ocaña, sought her assistance to invoke rain during a drought.

The legacy of María Matuz

Despite potential controversies surrounding her methods, the influence of María Matuz endures today. Her granddaughter, Alejandra Espinoza Mapoumea, continues the healing tradition of the Yaqui Nation, specializing in the treatment of illnesses caused by environmental pollution. María Matuz left a lasting legacy and profound respect among the residents of her territory.

Pachita: Mexico’s Most Powerful Shaman.

On the other hand, Bárbara Guerrero, known as Pachita, is considered the most powerful shaman in Mexico, despite not being part of an indigenous culture. Her healing gift is attributed to the spirit of Cuauhtémoc, the last tlatoani, and her story is equally intriguing.

Pachita grew up in impoverished conditions in Chihuahua, under the guardianship of a man named Charles, who taught her healing techniques and the observation of the stars. In addition to her career as a healer, Pachita participated in the Mexican Revolution.

Her fame skyrocketed in the 1970s due to the mystical surgeries she performed. During these surgeries, Pachita supposedly removed damaged organs with an old knife and then materialized new organs through a miracle, closing the wounds with just her hands, leaving no trace of any surgery.

The origin of Pachita’s powers.

Pachita attributed her ability to materialize and dematerialize objects, organs, and tissues to the spirit of Cuauhtémoc, whom she called ‘Little Brother’. Her abilities attracted the attention of researchers, such as Alejandro Jodorowsky, who underwent a liver surgery performed by Pachita.

Jacobo Grinberg, a Mexican neurophysiologist and psychologist, proposed a synergistic theory that explained Pachita’s abilities as a result of an interaction between the information matrix and the human brain. While these scientific explanations exist, there are still cases of unexplainable healings considered ‘miracles’ due to a lack of clarity about their origin.

Do you know this Mexican healer?

Sources: MxCity, El Universal, México Desconocido, Infobae, El Sol de México