Dr. Rosita Arvigo

Projects and Programs

1987: Belize Ethnobotany Project
The Belize Ethnobotany Project was started in 1987 with Dr. Michael Balick of The New York Botanical Garden in conjunction with funding from the National Cancer Institute of Bethesda, MD for the purpose of collecting, identifying and gathering data on over two thousand medicinal plants in Belize which were sent to the NCI for anti-AIDS and anti-cancer screening in the laboratory. Funding ended for this project ended in 1996.

1989: Ix Chel Tropical Research Foundation
The Ix Chel Tropical Research Foundation was founded in 1989 in Belize for the preservation of the tropical rainforests and conservation of medicinal plants around the world. The site of the research foundation was once thirty acres of raw, uncleared jungle in Western Belize where Dr. Arvigo established the now world famous, Rainforest Medicine Trail dedicated to Don Elijio Panti. The fascinating trail winds through a lovely stretch of forest and features more than fifty useful, edible and medicinal plants found growing there wild and natural. Each has a hand-painted sign in front of it for easy identification and there is an interpretative set of cards included with the entrance fee. This Trail and the old research centre are now a part of Chaa Creek Cottages, an elegant, well established jungle resort in Belize. For more information go to www.chaacreek.com

1991: The Traditional Healers Foundation of Belize
The Traditional Healers Foundation of Belize was founded in 1991 by Dr. Arvigo along with a dozen traditional healers who had participated in the NCI search for medicinal plants with possible anit-AIDS or anti-cancer activity. The foundation was started for the purposes of providing a legal body representing the traditional healers that could receive benefits from a drug developed from one of the plants collected during 1987-1996. Thus far, no plant specimen has proven to have any of the sought after activity on cell lines, but laboratory research continues in Washington. The THF also provides a forum for traditional healers in Belize to voice their concerns and needs to the people and the government of Belize. Their newsletter, "The Tree of Life", is an occasional publication that features interesting facts about traditional healing in Belize, Maya Home Remedies and details the activities and projects of the organization. To subscribe send an email from this site.

1992: Rainforest Remedies
The Rainforest Remedies herbal supplements company manufactures fine quality herbal tinctures and preparations made from medicinal plants of Belize that are under threat by deforestation within the country. Dr. Arvigo's team harvests roots, barks and leaves of rainforest trees and plants just days or even minutes ahead of bulldozers, machetes or tractors. The company's philosophy is that the forest is worth more standing than destroyed and one good way to demonstrate that fact is to establish a company based on plants that would otherwise have perished in flames. To view list of remedies and their actions go to the Arvigo Massage website and click on Rainforest Remedies.

1998: The Children's Bush Medicine Camp
The Children's Bush Medicine Camp was founded in 1998 for Belizean children from ages 9-12 to spend two weeks in the bush with traditional healers learning about medicinal plants, traditional healing, arts and crafts and survival in the rainforest. The BMC is funded by The Gildea Family Foundation of the United States and by the Ix Chel Tropical Research Foundation. It is open only to children of Belize.

2000: The Arvigo Institute
The Arvigo Institute, LLC was formed in 2003 as main provider of instruction in The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage. These ancient techniques combined with modern anatomy and physiology of the abdomen and pelvis address many complaints of the digestive tract, reproductive system and eliminatory system of the body. For a practitioner near you or to signup for a workshop, go to the Arvigo Massage website.

2003: The Ix Chel Wellness Centre
The Ix Chel Wellness Centre, created in 2003 in San Ignacio, is the place to go to receive health care treatments in the form of naprapathic treatments, herbal remedies and spiritual healing with Dr. Arvigo. The popular Maya Abdominal and Uterine Massage is offered by Dr. Arvigo or one of her apprentices. For information or appointment email us or call (country code 501) 804-0264.