What is a Botánica You Ask?

A botánica (often written botanica and less commonly known as a hierbería or botica) is a retail store which sells folk medicine, religious candles and statuary, amulets, and other products regarded as magical or as alternative medicine.

They also carry oils, incense, perfumes, scented sprays (many of which are thought to have special properties) and various brand name health care products

These stores are common in many Hispanic American countries and communities of Latino people elsewhere. As such:

Botánicas now can be found in any U.S. city that has a sizable Latino/a population, particularly those with ties to the Caribbean. The number of botánicas found outside of New York and Miami has grown tremendously in the last ten years.^[2]

The name botánica is Spanish and translates as "botany" or "plant" store, referring to these establishments' function as dispensaries of medicinal herbs. Medicinal herbs may be sold dried or fresh, prepackaged or in bulk.

Botánica almost always feature a variety of implements endemic to Roman Catholic religious practice such as rosary beads, holy water, and images of saints. Among the latter, the Virgin of Guadalupe and other devotional figures with a Latin American connection are especially well-represented. In addition, most have products associated with other spiritual practices such as candomblé, curanderismo, espiritismo, macumba and santeria.

Alternative medical treatments found in botánicas are used to treat such varied conditions as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, hair loss, menstrual pain and diabetes. There are also products that are designed to attract love, bring good luck and financial prosperity, deflect jealousy and so on.