1 healers and medical anthropology. classifying healers popular folk professional 2
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HEALERS AND MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Classifying Healers
Popular Folk Professional
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Popular Sector
Informal, Non-specialist
Early identification & definition illness
Family, Friend, & Community based
Self & home-based treatment
Colloquial Advice
Unpaid
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Folk Sector: A.K.A ‘Traditional Medicine’
Semi-specialized, limited focus
Community based Apprentice, Reveled or
Experiential Education Paid or Gifted Holistic treatment Shared worldview
Herbalists Curanderos Faith Healers Voodun Mambos Bone Setters Injectionists Spiritualists Midewewin Shaman Faito’o, Fafo
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Folk Healers
Generally know patient, family & community
Permit community members to assist
Relaxed, familiar setting
Explain the *why* of illness
Dualistic explanation systems: spirit/social world +
individual body
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Professional Healers
Graduates of formalized program
State sanctioned Standardized & Specialized
Knowledge System Claims to authority backed
by ‘science’ Offers treatment for ALL
types illness
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Professional Sector
Ayurvedic Chiropractic Homeopathy MD’s (Physicians) Naturopathy Osteopathy Traditional Chinese Medicine Professional Traditional Healers
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Professionals
Physicians, Doctors of Medicine,
A.K.A: Allopathic medicine Cosmopolitan
medicine, Western medicine, Scientific medicine, Biomedicine
Allopathic: Treat by contradicting
symptom Cosmopolitan:
Epistemology absorbs all successful & popular Tx.
Western: Traces roots to Greek
Hippocratic School & Galen Scientific:
All knowledge & treatment subject to principles of Popperian investigation (hypothesis driven, replicable results).
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Professionals: Chiropractic
Health = healthy nervous system Founded by David Palmer (USA) Links to “magnetic therapy” Treat with spinal adjustment
(alleviation of ‘subluxations’) Cosmopolitan:
Absorbs therapy & theory from meridian & homeopathic systems.
Western: Roots in USA
Scientific (semi): Do conduct research & recognize biomedical
research.
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Professionals: HomeopathsLike cures like” (Hippocrates)
Stimulation of the body’s natural defenses by re-producing the symptoms of disease
“Law of infinitesimals”: potency can be improved with dilution.
De-emphasize standard diagnostic symptoms, emphasize individualized Tx & ‘cookbook’ approach.
History: Founded in 18th
century by Samuel Hahnemann
Widely practiced alongside allopathy in USA, until Flexner Report
Post Flexner, accepted women & minority students
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Professionals: Naturopaths
Philosophy Health is more than being disease free Comprehensive, permanent behavior change is key to
health Physician as role model/guide to behavior change
History Founded by Benedict Lust, early 20th century J. H. Kellogg’s “Wellville” is most famous naturopathic
experiment Places/Politics
Until WWII, widely practiced alongside allopathy Resurgence in 1960s, Bastyr University founded NIH designates Bastyr as the center for HIV/AIDS alternative
therapy research
Today NDs licensed to practice in 11 states (limited privileges) 40%-69% of Americans seek care by NDs 1996, first state-funded clinic founded, Kent, WA
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Professionals: Ayurveda Philosophy
Ayurveda = Life science in Sanskrit Health = balance in doshas(elements) within tissues
(dhatus) by the proper elimination of waste products (malas).
Rejects objectivism Therapies include herbal remedies, yoga
History Ancient Indian medical system Mid-20th century interest in the west, Deepak Chopra
(MD with ayurvedic philosophy) Today
No formal education or licensing in the US today, many in India
10 clinics exist in NA, one hospital based
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Alternative Medicines: Aromatherapy & Herbalism
Aromatherapy Odorus parts of plants applied via a number of
delivery systems to affect phsyiological processes (similarity to pharmacology)
Antecedents in history, but really a 20th century phenomenon in the west
Often incorporated into massage, herbalism, other alternative therapies, but no formal discipline
Herbalism Treatment through plant-derived drugs only “Law of Signatures” applies cross culturally Widely practiced until WWII, currently practice is
unregulated, but remedies are subject to FDA approval
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Despite alternatives, Allopathy Remains the dominant model
Multiple models coexisted in the US up to the end of the 19th century
By WWII, allopathy is the dominant model
Key Historical/Political/Economic events: Founding of AMA and attacks on “quackery” 1910 Flexner Report 1935, Gov’t. definition of Doctor = MD
(amended in 1938) = state protected title.
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Professionals in general:
Modern practice MDs, Naturopaths and chiropractors are
primary prescribers. Regulated by the state (i.e. Food & Drug
Act), even when self-administered Biomedicine assumes a standardized
diagnostic & treatment regime; Homeopathy & Naturopathy offer a more
individualized diagnostic & treatment system (than biomedicine).
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