Traditional medicine and Indigenous healing methods

what is traditional medicine? 1. often known as Folk Medicine; can be labeled "complementary therapy" -if adopted outside of traditional culture, then it is called "alternative medicine" 2. Knowledge, skills, and practices based on cultural beliefs passed on and practiced by lay people. -avurvedic, ancient Iranian medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, celtic traditional medicine, Japanese, Kampo, medicine, aboriginal bush medicine, acupuncture, African medicine, curanderismo, cupping, herbal remedies Whats the evidence for : Acupuncture 1. Ancient Chinese treatment and central to traditional Chinese medicine 2. needles inserted into specific points on the skin to move energy and restore balance 3. Bodys energy flows along series of points called meridians-each internal organ has a corresponding meridian 4. some data suggest successful use for anxiety and depression -inconclusive data in treatment of psychotic and substance use disorders -exact mechanism is unclear What is the evidence for Meditation? 1. Focus on present moment 2. originates from ancient religious and spiritual traditions in Asian cultures 3. use specific techniques such as specific posture, breathing, and focused attention 4. Mindfulness and meditation approaches- data to support effectiveness for depression, anxiety, insomnia, health problems what is the evidence for yoga? 1. Early civilizations-origins from India where it was a form of spiritual meditation 2. subtypes of yoga involve specific physical postures, controlled breathing, deep relaxtion, and meditation 3. Data support improved sleep in elderly, reduction in depression, decreased cortisol, 4, useful as adjunctive intervention What is the complementary and natural healthcare council? 1. established in 2008, it is a regulatory body for complementary therapies that include massage, aromatherapy, yoga, shiatsu, Reiki 2. Tries to set qualifications and standards to practice 3. at present it is a voluntary registry of practitioners what is indigenous healing? 1. largely refers to the healing methods of people and nations who are pre-colonial, pre-invasion societie 2. Practices of original inhabitants of a specific location -in us, American indian, and Alaskan natives, Native Hawaiian what does native indigenous healing consist of ? 1. Based on principle that everything is interrelated; -one must have balance and harmony of spirit, mid, emotions, body, - illness occurs when there is an imbalance 2. Emphasizes - the spirit world -supernatural forces -religion 3. Acquired -inherited from ancestors -transmitted from another healer -developed through training-many years of apprenticeship what do the healing methods of indigenous healing consist of? 1. natural elements such as water, fire, smoke, stones, crystals may be used as a field to help see reason for illness 2. prayer 3. chanting 4. use of music 5. smudging with medicinal plants such as sage, cedar, sweet grass 6. sweat lodge 7. dance 8. use of tobacco 9. storytelling How to integrate traditional healing into mainstream setting? focus group study 1. Participation in traditional ceremonial activities are fundamental to traditional healing (e.g sweatlodge ceremony) -not universal support for more more supernatural components that may be foreign to individuals from Christian religions 2. Education- a desire to relearn native ways or traditional ways (e.g use of plants and herbs in place of medicine) 3. Culture Keepers-bring in tribal leaders and traditional healers who are responsible for providing cultural knowledge 4. community cohesion is necessary- guarded against bringing in unfamiliar people and being exploited