Margarita Robles Pérez: A 50-Year Guardian of Traditional Herbal Wisdom in Tuxtla Gutiérrez

For over five decades, Margarita Robles Pérez has been a steadfast presence at the Juan sabines public market in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas. Her stall, a fragrant haven of Ocote, Estoraque, and a diverse array of medicinal herbs, serves as a living repository of popular wisdom and a vital source of remedies for countless families.

Amidst the earthy aromas of dried plants,the sacred scent of copal smoke,and the lively chatter of market-goers,Robles Pérez’s stall stands as one of the market’s oldest. Her lifelong dedication to selling natural products and medicinal herbs has made her a trusted figure.

“All my life I have sold here,” Robles Pérez shared. “I started as a young lady, and since than, I have been in this place. My sales have always been Ocote, Estoraque, and all the herbs that people seek for healing or protection.”

Among her offerings, Ocote, a red resin extracted from pine trees, holds significant meaning. “It is sold to make fire, that is the most common,” she explained. “But some people believe in its power for spiritual protection. They look for the reddest, because they say it is more potent. They place it in crosses or burn it to ward off negativity.”

estoraque,another highly sought-after resin,is integral to traditional rituals. “It is used for purification,” Robles Pérez stated. “We have it in wheels, like tortillas, and people burn it in their homes to cleanse the surroundings, to make it smell gorgeous, and for protection.”

Robles Pérez also provides healing herbs that embody the ancestral knowledge of many Chiapas communities. Her selection ranges from common plants like horsetail and corn silk to specialized blends such as “12 Plants,” used to address kidney inflammation and prostate issues.

“Birch is beneficial for the prostate and kidneys, but it’s never used alone; it’s always mixed with other herbs,” she elaborated. “For more serious conditions, we use juniper, which has seeds resembling penguins. All of these help to reduce swelling and cleanse the body.”

Despite the proximity of modern pharmacies, Robles Pérez notes that many continue to seek out her natural remedies. “People come because they don’t want so many chemicals,” she saeid. “Everything here is natural. Everything we sell comes from the countryside, from the mountains, from hands that still understand what is useful and for what purpose.”

For robles Pérez, her work transcends mere commerce; it is a way of life and a living heritage. “It’s not just about selling here,” she emphasized. “It’s about conversation, advice, and sharing. People trust me because they know this isn’t new; it’s generations of knowledge.”

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