Curanderismo: An Ancient Practice with Peru’s Last Medicine Men (Video)
Nestled within the depths of Peru's Amazonian mountains lies a fading tradition that speaks to centuries of natural healing: curanderismo. At 86 years old, Rosendo Amasifuen stands as the final link to this ancient practice, where plant-based medicines once flourished. With the vast knowledge he has cultivated through years of dedication, he embodies the last vestige of an era when curanderos were abundant. In the high Amazon, Rosendo has honed his craft, drawing from the wisdom of the land and the spirits that inhabit it. As a curandero, he channels a lineage of healers who once roamed these very forests, seeking remedies to mend both body and soul, treating everything from rheumatism to gastritis.
The responsibility now rests on Rosendo's shoulders to pass on his legacy to his son, Mauro. With the art of curanderismo hanging by a thread, this transition becomes an act of profound significance—a step toward safeguarding a history that bridges ancient wisdom with the present, even as the world around them changes.
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Top image: Rosendo Amasifuen conducting a healing practice. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Great Big Story.
