Wellness in Mexico: Temazcal, Limpias and Healing Traditions

Key takeaways

• Temazcal: a pre-Hispanic steam bath whose name comes from Nahuatl, still used in Indigenous communities today.

• Safety: Puebla's state health service sets a 20-minute limit and advises against temazcal during pregnancy or with high or low blood pressure.

• Limpia: a cleansing ritual from Mexican folk healing, usually with prayer, herbs, flowers or an egg.

• Where to go: retreats and traditional practices are spread from Oaxaca and Tepoztlán to Tulum and the Pacific coast.

What a temazcal is

A temazcal is a steam bath in a low, enclosed structure, traditionally of stone or adobe, heated with hot volcanic stones and water. The word comes from the Nahuatl temazcalli, often translated as "house of steam." Mexico's archaeology institute, INAH, describes the practice as pre-Hispanic, and in 2020 it announced the discovery of a 14th-century temazcal in the old Mexica neighborhood of Temazcaltitlan, in what is now La Merced in Mexico City.

Mexico's federal health ministry includes temazcal in its framework for traditional medicine, alongside herbal medicine, massage and midwifery. Its health benefits haven't been established in clinical trials.

How to do a temazcal safely

The Puebla state health service recommends staying inside for no more than 20 minutes and leaving immediately if you feel dizzy, short of breath or have trouble seeing. It advises against a temazcal for people with high or low blood pressure, during pregnancy, for children under six, after drinking alcohol and for anyone with claustrophobia, and says staff should ask about diabetes and check vital signs first. It also recommends drinking water, tea or oral rehydration serum during the bath, never cold.

Limpias and other healing traditions

Curanderismo is the umbrella term for Mexican folk healing. One of its best-known practices is the limpia, a cleansing ritual that usually involves prayer and brushing the body with herbs and flowers or passing an egg over it. It's a cultural and spiritual practice, not a medical treatment.

Cacao also has a long ritual history in the Maya world, and researchers have found evidence that sinkholes in the northern Yucatán Peninsula, including one near Cobá, may have held sacred cacao groves. The cacao ceremonies offered at retreats today are a modern format inspired by that history.

Where wellness travel is concentrated in Mexico

Retreats, spas and traditional healers are spread across the country. Retreats are found along the Riviera Maya and in Tulum, Oaxaca and Tepoztlán are known for traditional healing and temazcal, and Riviera Nayarit and Los Cabos combine spa stays with beach trips.

Frequently asked questions

What happens in a temazcal ceremony?

Participants sit inside a small, enclosed steam bath while water is poured over hot stones. A guide often leads chants or prayers, and sessions usually include several rounds of heat.

Is a temazcal safe during pregnancy?

Puebla's state health service advises against temazcal for pregnant women, as well as for people with high or low blood pressure.

How long should you stay in a temazcal?

Puebla's state health service recommends no more than 20 minutes inside.

What is a limpia in Mexico?

A cleansing ritual from Mexican folk healing that usually involves prayer and brushing the body with herbs, flowers or an egg.