HEALTH
"the balance of the person, both within one's beings--physical, mental, and spiritual--and in the outside world--natural, communal, and
... [Show More] metaphysical--is a complex, interrelated phenomenon
ILLNESS
imbalance of one's being
Physical
organs such as skin, skeleton, muscles, digestive system, cardiovascular system. Genetic inheritance, body chemistry, gender, age, nutrition
mental
cognitions (thoughts, memories, knowledge). Affect and emotions. Self-esteem and self-efficacy
spiritual
learned spiritual practices (formal or informal). Dreams, symbols, stories, how we understand the world, understandings of causality
health traditions model
describes beliefs and practices used to maintain, protect, and restore health
maintain
ordinary preventative practices
protect
extraordinary preventative practices
restore
practices that cure and heal
Maintain examples
eat a balanced diet; eat Kosher diet. Daily exercise, weekly church attendance, Sunday brunch with the family, daily call to mother, wear a Saint medal, wear a FitBit
protect examples
crossing yourself before crossing a street, wearing an amulet to protect against the evil eye, eating garlic to ward off a cold, following superstitions about specific causes of illness (eg never walk through a hole in a fence while pregnant)
restore examples
seeing an herbalist or medical doctor, exorcism, blessing, sacrifice/dedication/spiritual journeys, vacation; in Europe: "take the cure"
religion is a
causal belief system
religion tells us
why things are the way they are, including why health/illness occurs
religion also provides us to do in certain events:
births, deaths, illness
traditional epidemiology
the ideas about what causes illness for 100s of centuries before modern medicine
modern ideas about causality
germs, genetics, environmental toxins
traditional epidemiology examples
evil eye or evil spirits, soul loss, hexes, spells, curses, witchcraft, envy, hate or jealousy, possession, sin/immoral/inappropriate, behavior (in past, present, future), Karmic transgressions, foul air, bad air, bad smells
illness was considered to be
crisis
cause of illness was attributed to
the forces of evil, which originated within or outside the body
early forms of healing dealt with
the removal of evil from the body
successful treatments passed on through
generations
draw the evil out
induce vomiting, blood-letting, leeching
eliminate the causative agent of evil
identify and punish the person responsible
isolate the sick person
place them in a sacred place
perform special rites
chants, special prayers, pilgrimage, dances
example of special rites
spiritual journey: A person travels (often on foot) to a special place in order to make a petition to a higher power
traditional healers examples
priests/reverends, curanderas, parteras (midwives), acupuncturists, yogis, santeras
traditional healer will...
relationship with entire family, available at all times, consults with family, affordable, ties to sacred world, shares patient's culture and worldview
modern provider will
businesslike--deals with patients only, office visits, ignores family, expensive, secular, does not share culture and worldview
allopathic
modern/conventional/Western medicine
homeopathic
traditional medicine, folk medicine (including natural & magico-religious), alternative/complimentary medicine
allopathic medicine definition
a system of medicine that embraces all methods of proven treatment of diseases; that is, empirical science and scientific methodology is used to prove the value in the treatment of the disease
traditional medicine definition
the health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal, and mineral-based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illness or maintain well-being
folk medicine
an informal system of beliefs and practices rooted in culture
natural folk medicine
represents one of humans' earliest uses of the natural environment to promote health. Uses herbs, plants, minerals, and animal substances to prevent and treat illnesses
magico-religious folk medicine
uses charms, holy words, and holy actions to prevent and cure illnesses
example of magico-religious folk medicine
amulet to ward off evil eye; prayers of a church group
complimentary or alternative medicine (CAM)
a formal health care system other than allopathic. It is not necessarily in one's culture; anyone can use it.
example of CAM
Prof. Jones (who is not Chinese) seeks help from an acupuncturist for back pain
complimentary medicine is when
a homeopathic approach is used together with conventional allopathic medicine
alternative medicine is when
a homeopathic approach is used in place of conventional allopathic medicine
NCCAM National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine founded by
in 1998 in the National Institutes of Health
NCCAM led
agency for scientific research on complimentary and alternative medicine
osteopathic medicine developed
in 1874 by Dr A. T. Still In Kirksville, Missouri
osteopathic medicine is the art
of curing without excessive use of surgery or drugs
osteo medicine attempts to
discover and correct all mechanical disorders in the human machine and to direct the recuperative power of nature that is within the body to cure the disease
osteopaths are fully
qualified physicians--practice in all areas of medicine and surgery
chiropractic theory
an interphase with the normal transmission of "mental impulses" between the brain and body organs produce diseases
interphases is caused by
misalignment or subluxation of the vertebrae of the spine, which decreases the flow of vital energy
How old is acupuncture?
~4000 years old
acupuncture
procedures involving penetration of the skin with needles to stimulate certain points on the body and balance the flow of energy or qi
aromatherapy
ancient Chinese medicine based science that uses essential oils to produce strong physical and emotional effects in the body
hypnotherapy
the use of hypnosis to stimulate emotions and control involuntary responses such as blood pressure [Show Less]