Médicos do astral e médicos da terra: as relações da umbanda com a biomedicina.

The expansion of biomedicine throughout the world led to several adjustments with other therapeutic systems along with other interpretations for disease and related biological unhappiness. The relationship between umbanda -a religion with a claimed therapeutic dimension -and biomedicine, is examined from field research data collected since 1987 in several "terreiros" (umbanda temples) in the capital city and state of São Paulo. The relationship is considered from two angles: one that questions the religion's position before medicine, and another which is interested in the umbanda's apprehension of significant elements from the biomedicine universe.