USE OF FOLK REMEDIES IN A HISPANIC POPULATION

Objectives: To identify the types of home remedies used for common ped iatric problems in a Hispanic population and to study traditional folk illnesses and their cures. Design: Survey of 51 Hispanic caregivers, mostly mothers. Setting: A pediatric primary care facility in an urban Hispanic neighborhood in Houston, Tex. Main Outcome Measures: Remedie s used for common pediatric illnesses and for the traditional folk ill nesses: mal ojo (evil eye), empacho (blocked intestine), mollera caida (fallen fontanelle), and susto (fright). Results: A combination of he rbs and pharmaceuticals was used for many illnesses. Teas were most co mmonly used for colic, upper respiratory tract symptoms, and abdominal pain. Pharmaceuticals were most commonly used for upper respiratory t ract symptoms, fever, and diarrhea. Belief in folk illnesses was commo n: 36 (70%) had experience with mal ojo, 33 (64%) with empacho, 27 (52 %) with mollera caida, and 19 (37%) with susto; 10 (20%) had taken the ir children to curanderos (traditional healers) for treatment of folk illnesses, Conclusions: Cultural health beliefs were widely maintained in this Hispanic population. Many patients integrated cultural health practices with reliance on medical practitioners. Knowledge and ackno wledgment of these practices are important for physician-patient commu nication and may affect compliance with other medical procedures and t reatments.