Border Healing Woman: The Story of Jewel Babb as told to Pat LittleDog (second edition)

Much later, married and then widowed, she tried to sort out how she would take care of herself. Eventually she inherited an old hot springs with a dilapitated spa resort built around it. This site had been used by the natives of the region for healing for as far back as memory could serve.

Jewel knew nothing of healing. But the reputation of the baths drew people in a steady stream. She allowed them access but initially did little more for them than point to where the pools were. Eventually she began to help them and to study reflexology. Curanderas from across the river in Mexico offered their knowledge to her as well. Over time her skills grew and became prodigious. By the end of her life she could heal people over a great distance by simply using her mind and spirit.

"Border Healing Woman" is a unique narative of a woman who made the most of her situation and was surprised to find she had a true gift for learning healing. Pat Little-Dog interviewed Jewel over time and recorded as well Jewel's fustration at still living in poverty while treating a steady stream of patients (most had little or no money). There were spiritual experiences in her life, however, which offset this material poverty. Highly recommended reading.


Held My Interest from Cover to Cover   May 25, 2010
B. Reynolds
The story is beautifully powerful, but it sure doesn't sugarcoat life in West Texas. I loved the grit of Jewel Babb and her appreciation of life. The portion of the book concerning Indian Hot Springs Ranch is especially interesting to me since my son recently purchased the ranch. I'm looking forward to cataloging the plants and springs that Babb used in her healing.


Life History and Folk Medicine   May 26, 2004
grasshopper4 (Arkansas)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Jewel Babb's experiences provide a compelling story, and Pat Littledog compiled this life history so that the story is told largely by Jewel Babb, herself, in her own words. This approach results in an interesting and vivid portrait of Babb's beliefs about health and healing. The book shows how her life history provides a context for these beliefs, and it's an interesting way to study folk medicine. To gain a more complete understanding of Babb's beliefs and practices, it would be very helpful to check out additional studies of traditional healers and the place of alternative/complementary health practices within an individual's life.