Maya Midwife’s 426 Babies: Science Meets Tradition

Mérida, Mexico — The wisdom of the Maya was on full display at the "Raíces de Sanación 2025" (Roots of Healing 2025) Traditional Maya Medicine Fair. The event highlighted the work of practitioners like Nicolasa Cen Marique, a midwife whose hands tell a story of more than five decades dedicated to her craft, having helped deliver 426 babies, which has made her one of the most recognized and sought-after Maya midwives in the state and the country.

During her participation in the fair, she shared her knowledge and experiences, thereby preserving a tradition that has given life and hope to entire generations. Proud of her roots, "mamá Nico"—as she is affectionately called by her apprentices—was one of 40 traditional male and female doctors who attended the important gathering, organized by the Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (Secihti), with the goal of linking ancestral wisdom with modern science to strengthen the health, identity, and well-being of the Yucatecan people.

During the inauguration of the fair, the head of Secihti, Geovanna Campos Vázquez, emphasized that traditional Maya medicine is alive and deserves to be recognized, noting that in Yucatán there are more than 1,200 practitioners who represent the first point of care in many communities.

"Today, Yucatecan science extends a hand to you: we want to document, validate, and strengthen this knowledge so that it endures with the rigor and respect it deserves," she added.

The head of the Medical Research Unit in Yucatán of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Gloria Molina Salinas, highlighted that Maya herbal medicine and traditional knowledge are an invaluable source of biomedical research and a therapeutic alternative that remains alive, resistant, and current in the communities.

Organized in coordination with the Institute for the Development of Maya Culture (Indemaya), IMSS, the Yucatán Center for Scientific Research (CICY), the State Center for Training, Research and Humanistic Outreach of Yucatán (Cecidhy), and the Network of Indigenous Women in Science, the event brought together more than a thousand attendees, including healers, researchers, students, and representatives from Maya communities.

The day began with a ritual of permission and purification with copal, symbolizing respect for nature and Maya knowledge. Subsequently, the inaugural ceremony and a tour of the traditional gastronomic sample took place, followed by dialogue spaces with healers, midwives, and j’meen (Maya spiritual guides).

Academic activities included the symposia "Science and Maya Herbal Medicine" and "Science and Functional Regional Foods," in addition to talks by the Network of Indigenous Women in Science A.C. and exhibitions by traditional practitioners.

The event concluded with the announcement of the winners of the poster and scientific essay contest on traditional Maya medicine, the presentation of a theatrical work, and a performance by the folk ballet of the UNO.

The 2025 edition of Raíces de Sanación saw the participation of different mayors from municipalities such as Calotmul, Tinum, Sudzal, Chikindzonot, Cuncunul, Chichimilá, and Tunkás, who reaffirmed their commitment to the preservation of ancestral knowledge and the strengthening of community health networks.