Woman Who Glows in the Dark: A Curandera Reveals Traditional Aztec Secrets of Physical and Spiritual Health

Being a healthcare professional, I found this book helpful for new nurses and doctors. I buy this book often. It opens the “doors “ to process there are many ways to heal a patient. This book introduces the need to bridge the gap between traditional medicine and western medicine. It provides health care professionals with understanding on the importance of healing the mind, body, and spiritual awareness together as one .

It's always suspect, isn't it, when you get a bunch of reviews for a book which give 5 stars and then one review appears with one star. I imagine there is an unconscious consensus among the Christian Right to ferret out books like Avila's and run them down. I'm sure this is done with the highest of motivation to protect people from what they perceive as being "ungodly" or "of the devil." The shame of it is that books like Avila's could (and should) change the world. The teachings, information and wisdom in this book could bring down the corrupt health care systems (drug companies, insurance companies, hospitals and doctors) in the U.S. and place healing where it belongs: in our own hands with the guidance of wise, knowledgeable and potent healers, who Avila calls curanderas/os. I found in Avila's book so many intelligent and sensible techniques for healing, none of which involve invasive surgery or drugs or huge layouts of money, that I have to shake my head at the dense and ignorant culture I live in as I ask why hasn't Avila been interviewed on Oprah, or Good Morning America, or Charlie Rose or The View? Surely it would be appropriate for Avila to appear on shows like Rachel Ray, Regis or even Letterman. I know, go ahead and laugh. I'm smiling myself. Still, it's hard to look at what our media is presenting us with. MacKenzie Phillips of the TV show, "One Day at a Time" had a ten year sexual relationship with her dad, John Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas. She's been on all the talk shows. This is the big scandal of the day. How daring! But think of just how mind-controlled, closed and fearful we are in the U.S. if a woman like Elena Avila and her enlightening book is shuned as too controversial, too far out, or even "dangerous" for public consumption on the airwaves. After all, who wants to be subjected to healers who will take an hour or more to listen to you? Who will give you safe herbs and powerful rituals which will have a demonstrative effect on your health and well-being? Who will treat you with respect, kindness, even love? Who care about your "Weeping Soul" and your "Twisted Heart"? Who will, in short, change your life for the better? Well, I, for one, do want to be subjected to these kinds of healers. But I don't have much of a chance of that. There are too few of them. But reading "Woman Who Glows in the Dark" impacted me to the point of changing my life. I used suggestions in the book to work through a barrier I knew I had but was afraid to take down. Within 24 hours of working with herbs for a "limpia" (cleansing/blessing), and doing a sacred ritual my life was different. Freedom is always preferable to prison, no matter how "safe" that prison feels. There is only good in this book. There is nothing to fear from this book unless you are afraid to be a healthier, more loving, more courageous, wiser person. I guess that would be up to you. The great thing about this book is that while you might have difficulty finding a curandera, you are shown the first steps to take to become your own healer. Read this book and grow, then share it with your friends. It's time to change the world one healer at a time.

This book has value for anyone walking the earth medicine path but especially for those of us returning to our indigenous Mexican roots. I feel like I underlined half of the book. Part ethnographic, part biographical, part academic. I appreciated weaving story telling as instruction with her psychology background. I would recommend this book to anyone living in these territories to understand the medicine of the people of the land and the importance of their traditional knowledge.

One of my favorite books. This was required reading for a spiritual herbalism course that I am taking and it shifted so many ideas for me and helped to put things into perspective. An easeful read as well.

I loved this book. Living now in Mexico it really helped me understand better the ancient culture here. It was like going back in time to a simpler but no less effective, and sometimes no less complicated, ancient healing techniques that consider the whole person, and not just see him as physical but also composed of divine, mental and emotional aspects. Whether you are looking for a healer or just interested in another healing modality by an ancient culture, this book is well worth reading.

This book enlightened me on "folk diseases" in a way that made so much more sense that information gleaned from nursing classes given by cluesless "experts". Of course envy is a disease that many suffer from! Of course kids are overwhelmed with pent-up emotions after they've been the center of attention all day, and energy can be looped back to adults with a simple touch. There was nothing on fallen fontanel, however, something I've encountered with my own clients, so the book is by no means complete. Also, I was hoping for a spiritual perspective on my son's schizophrenia, I know it's a chemical imbalance, but I bought the book because Ms. Avila has worked as a psychiatric nurse and I hoped she would have refreshing insight. Unfortunately, she is quick to extoll mainstream medicine when it comes to this disorder, which has not helped my son. I love Ms. Avila's courage and dedication and her honesty in sharing her most humble moments with her readers. I hope she will write another book when she has more learning to share!

I wanted an intro to curanderismo and this part memoir/intro book did it well. I wish there were more remedies included, but being that this was written 30 years ago, I'm not sure if it'll be updated.

The author of this book is an Expert nurse who gives a holistic view of her life and journey into Learning and incorporating her culture into authentic healing. Although I am very respectful and interested in Curandera healing, I am very ignorant of how actually to do it. That said, Elena Avila helped me remember, as I am also a nurse, that True healing only comes with recognizing and addressing all of a person’s suffering, however an individual‘s symptoms present.

This is a remarkable book full of stories and bursting with comprehensive information around the theories, practices and spirit of healing. Full of love, respect and dignity. One of the best books I've ever read. Clarifies what curanderismo is, how it evolved, the theories underlying the practices and the incredible practices themselves. The honourable Elena Avila will be missed. I'm so sorry I discovered this work after her passing. I would have loved to meet her.

A great opportunity to understand better shamanism in general and specifically in different Mexican traditions. I liked learning of the author's personal journey to this work.

Love this book! So much information about curanderismo, Aztec practices and the relationship between mind body and spirit. I highly recommend it!

This is a very well written book that takes you into the cultural heritage of the healer and tracks her personal journey and insights to a true holistic of healing relationship which is very empowering.

Llegó antes de lo esperado, ligeramente maltratado pero todo muy bien.