Casa Maya Medicine Trail

The work of the great Maya traditional healer, Don Elijio Panti, who recently died at 105 years old, helped make the world aware of the wonders of Maya traditional bush medicine, an effective natural method of healing, where a trained healer uses natural herbs and remedies to help the body heal itself, and return to natural balance. It is easy to get confused with what appears to be a wide selection of natural cures, with labels like jungle medicine, rainforest remedies, herbal healing, bush medicine and others, but basically most refer to the same system of healing, perfected through many centuries of practice in Maya world of Central America. Belize is the very heart of the Maya healers world.

Hibiscus

Maya traditional medicine is actually a very sophisticated medical practice. Maya traditional healers study throughout their life working to be more effective in bringing the total human into harmony with body, environment and spirit. Maya healing shuns the technology and chemicals, the detached involvement of so-called "Western Medicine," where lab tests and computers diagnose the ill, chemicals are prescribed ("take two pills a day and make another appointment if the pain doesn't stop"), and the doctor slips out the back door to go golfing having no knowledge of any of his patients other than the name of their insurance company. Maya traditional healing is involved healing, with a full awareness that the body, mind, emotions, environment and spirit are interconnected, all of which must be considered for an effective cure. It is healing with a heart. A good bush doctor will always take time to learn about his patient as a person, knowing that a good remedy must be in harmony with one's lifestyle.

Uña de Gato

Modern western medicine has made great strides in devising chemicals and drugs to bring cures and relief, and in recent years the pharmaceutical companies have launched extensive campaigns to identify the "active ingredients" of the jungle herbal cures used by our bush doctors. Experience has shown, however, that such synthesized active ingredients are not always effective when isolated from the Maya healers consortium of ingredients.

Fairy House Musroom

Belize, home to many highly qualified Maya healers, many of whom are descendents or students of Don Elijio Panti, is a treasure trove of healing herbs, with literally thousands of useful plants growing in the wild. Surrounded by this wonderful pharmacopoeia, ancient healers experimented and developed effective natural healing methods which were refined through the centuries. Traditional healing has not only survived the ridicule of modern western medicine, it is now experiencing a renaissance and new respectability as the amazing effectiveness of herbal cures is becoming better known.

Polly Red Head

Belize is the heart of Maya Traditional Healing. At Casa Maya, we organize lectures, classes, seminars and workshops for individuals or groups. We have our own Medicinal Trail on the resort grounds, with hundreds of medicinal plants in their natural surrounding. Our programs are guided by well-known healers, and our facilities include lecture areas, full facilities for the preparation of herbal remedies, and comfortable vans for field trips. Our workshops include lectures by Maya healers, identification of medicinal plants, collection, preparation and use of remedies. Anyone interested in learning more about the fascinating world of Maya natural healing, should contact us for arrangements.

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