Bustling Botánicas. Religious shops also supply alternative medicines

“Botánica Changó is one of at least 40 botanicas in the Inland area and upward of an estimated 1,000 in Southern California supplying religious items and alternative medicines. Their growth in the region has been fueled largely by the growing number of Hispanic immigrants, who can purchase such items at the local supermarket in their home country.

Some botánicas are also sites for spiritual cleansings, divination and seances. These practices, along with the cost of the religious items and medicines, are a point of some contention with traditional Roman Catholics, who, while not condemning botánicas, offer strong words of caution.”

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