Limpia
A cleansing ritual of Latin American folk healing, using plants, an egg and smoke.
“Limpia” means cleansing in Spanish; it is a spiritual cleansing ritual within Latin American folk healing (curanderismo), usually performed by a curandera or curandero [1].
An egg is passed slowly around the body; plants such as rosemary, rue and basil are brushed over it; copal or incense is burned [1]. People seek a limpia after grief, stress, illness, heartbreak, a move or bad luck [1].
In the markets of Peru and Bolivia Rue (rue) is the key plant of the limpia, rubbed on the body against the evil eye. Rosemary, Stinging nettle and Peruvian pepper tree are also used in Andean limpias.