A botánica is a type of herbal shop and spiritual center where community members can find both physical remedies and spiritual tools. These spaces offer a wide range of items like herbs, teas, candles, incense, oils, religious statues, books, jewelry, and more—all used in traditional healing practices.
In many communities botánicas function as a healthcare safety net, providing remedies and services for those who may not have easy access to conventional healthcare due to financial difficulties, language barriers, systemic lack of access, etc. For many, botánicas are the first place they turn to for guidance, healing, or spiritual support. For others, they may serve as a last resort when other systems of care have failed.
Resources
Hendrickson, Brett. “Neo-Shamans, Curanderismo and Scholars: Metaphysical Blending in Contemporary Mexican American Folk Healing.” Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions, vol. 19, no. 1, 2015, pp. 25–44. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2015.19.1.25.
Michel, Claudine. “Of Worlds Seen and Unseen: The Educational Character of Haitian Vodou.” Comparative Education Review, vol. 40, no. 3, 1996, pp. 280–94. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1189105.
Viladrich, Anahí. “Botánicas in America’s Backyard: Uncovering the World of Latino Healers’ Herb-Healing Practices in New York City.” Human Organization, vol. 65, no. 4, 2006, pp. 407–19. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44127454.
Wing, Donna Marie. “A Comparison of Traditional Folk Healing Concepts with Contemporary Healing Concepts.” Journal of Community Health Nursing, vol. 15, no. 3, 1998, pp. 143–54. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3427709.
Also includes insights from conversations with botánica practitioners and people I know who participate in these healing practices.
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