INTRODUCTION
There are two philosophies dominating the medical practice in the United States. The Allopathic, or Dualistic, philosophy, the most common, uses science to prove the value in treatment of diseases. The Homeopathic, or Holistic, philosophy treats the person rather than the disease (Spector, 2013). As the Holistic philosophy becomes more prominent, it is important to note that cultural diversity has always been present. The following discussion is to inform healthcare professionals about the use of herbs in the Wiccan culture and to better understand the differences and similarities in medicinal uses, both past and present, thereby decreasing cultural incompetence in the medical field.
WICCAN HERBOLOGY HISTORY
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Institute (NCCAM) works synergistically with the Holistic philosophy. It studies the traditional, or ethnocultural, care systems founded from the African, Catholic, and Christian beliefs and cultures found in India, Spain, Mexico, Africa, Japan, and China (Spector, 2013). Throughout time people have used herbs for healing. In fact, according to Lucas (1987), Chinese herbal research documents reach as far back as 2697 B.C. Unfortunately, throughout history, people who utilized herbs were not always accepted. Sadly, many of those people were either wrongly accused or people referred to today as Wiccans. Consequently, the people convicted of witchcraft were burned at the stake. According
In order for an organization to achieve long term success, it must consistently evaluate those plans and consider all of the organization’s entities and how they link together. By appraising the existing performance management process, it forces deeper analysis of the process, as well as its intended and unintended influences towards employees and the organization.
The Native American woman interviewed has a strong holistic approach when viewing medicine compared to Western civilization. Before seeking any medical attention she states she will first try teas, herbs and other supplements in soothing common ailments. She often bakes
Appalachian folk medicine is a system of healing made up of beliefs and practices that are transferred by oral tradition through families and communities. It was developed in response to a lack of access to modern medical care and combines homemade remedies with superstition and religious beliefs. A general definition of folk medicine is a collection of cures that are handed down by oral tradition and other similar means of heritage and are considered outside of mainstream medicine. Appalachian folk medicine sprung up from the need for health care. In pre-industrial Appalachia, doctors and modern medicine were rare and inaccessible as well as expensive, so people relied on traditional home remedies and superstitious practices to alleviate pain and to cure disease. Practices such as using turpentine and brown sugar to cure worms and the use of magnetism to stimulate the body to heal itself are common for many minor illnesses. The most common aspect of Appalachian folk medicine, however, is the widespread use of herbal and homemade medicines that are believed to have healing powers. It relies on local roots, flowers, fruits, bark, leaves, and seeds that could be gathered and then combined or treated to make them suitable for healing.
Many traditional Native medicines and healing practices were discouraged with the advent of Western medicine, but now there is a movement to return to traditional ways (Zubek, 1994, p. 1924). Modern Western medicine treats the symptoms to cure a diseased state when the body is out of homeostasis. Native American healing traditions do this as well with herbs and plants suited to the purpose. These Native healing traditions also include sacred rituals, chants, and purification rites to help bring the spirit and mind of the afflicted back into balance. In effect, treating the whole person, not only the disease. A blending of these two healing practices could bring about better prognoses for today's patients. The purpose of this paper is
Over many years, society has explored options into different varieties and forms of medicine to help people with pain along with other treatment options not prescribed by mainstream medicine. Some options of alternative medicine consist of acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, herbal medicine, meditation, massage, aromatherapy, hypnosis, and other medicines not prescribed by mainstream medical care. People look towards these options after most other options are explored and tried out over years to help cope with personal trauma or pain/injury. We will be looking at all the various examples listed above in more significantly detail and give more detailed explanation of what each individual technique can do for you. These methods can be used in a variety of approaches to promote self-healing and growth after a significant traumatic event in one’s life. Acupuncture, Massage therapy, and meditation are all significant forms of alternative medicine which will be the primary focus in this paper. Alternative medicine can help people with significant mental, physical and emotional issues. The benefits of alternative medicine are going to be explored and introduced as a possible solution besides mainstream medicine.
In modern medicine, alternative therapies are poorly understood and studied. The preference for alternative therapies, and herbal medicine were indicated, and the fear of relinquishing information regarding these practices were almost paralyzing. It seemed as though they were ashamed to admit to cultural healing practices, and did not divulge information to practitioners regarding their usage. The cultural disconnect was present as alternative/complimentary medicines are valued as a culture, and “modern” practitioners cast judgment on their usage. This perceived stigma additionally limited the information shared by the cultural participants with modern medical treatments, potentially causing additional harm, as some herbals are potentially toxic.
Christian Lous Lange once said,”Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” What Lange said fits the theme of the short story “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury. In the story “The Veldt”, the parents of Peter and Wendy, George and Lydia, buy a very technologically advanced house that does everything for them. Eventually, the kids become very spoiled and feel like they don’t need their parents because the house basically is their parent. One room in the house is called the nursery; the nursery is a room in which wherever a person thinks of it can take that person there. The kids start becoming angry that their father wouldn’t let them take their rocket to New York by themselves. So the kids turn the nursery into Africa, which makes the
Native American traditional medicine and spiritual healing rituals go back for thousands of years, these traditions often focus on different variations of alternative medicine. This knowledge is passed on throughout generations, many of the tribes learn that by mixing natural plants such as herbs and roots they can make remedies with healing properties. It is believed that being healthy is when people reach a state of harmony not only spiritually, mentally but physically. To be able to overcome the forces that cause illness people must “operate in the context of relationship to four constructs —namely, spirituality (Creator, Mother Earth, Great Father); community (family, clan, tribe/nation); environment (daily life, nature, balance); and self (inner passions and peace, thoughts, and values)” (Portman & Garret, 2006, p.453). In this research paper I am going to show evidence of the tremendous influence that Native American medicine and spiritual healing have over modern medicine in the course of healing
There needs to be a closer look at attitudes and education of information on complementary/alternative medicine, also known as CAM. Earlier Americans to the new world came with their own traditions and practices of medicine and treatments that have been passed down from generation to generation. Since most families came to America with no money, they used a lot of natural remedies, and ancient traditions to treat their ailments, which cost little or nothing. This form of medicine and treatment has been forgotten, and more traditional practices have been pushed to the front of mainstream medical community, which is government regulated treatment and medicine. High cost of health care today and the urge to seek new treatments and cures
The complex structure and foreign nature of Tibetan medicine makes it difficult to relate its practices to Western medicine, making it difficult to determine the clinical efficacy of Eastern medical practice. Several clinical analysis studies have recently been performed in order to determine the efficacy of the “holistic” practices of Eastern cultures. Whether the studies show Eastern or Western practices to be more effective, I believe that the most effective treatment should be a combination of both practices.
Incorporate non-pharmacological complementary and alternative treatments with conventional medicine to treat complex chronic pain conditions as a collaborative and integral part of the health care system.
TCM, or Traditional Chinese Medicine, can be traced as far back as 1000 BC, where stone acupuncture needles were believed to be used. Texts from that period also talked of Yin and Yang and other concepts. The first written work on TCM is titled the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, Huangdi Newijing (Gascoigne 11). This book was written in 300 BC, but entries date back to the early 2700’s BC. The book is still used in universities of Chinese Medicine around the world and is often called the bible of TCM. Today, TCM is still thriving in China and all of Asia. In recent years, information on TCM has become available to people in the United States. The United States has several schools of TCM, and it is now much easier to buy the necessary
In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in complementary medicine, and indeed alternative medicine (Lee-Treweek 2002, Andrews 2004, Barry 2006). Moreover the number of professionally trained therapist and practitioners has increased giving the patient/client a better choice and at more competitive rates (Smallwood, 2005).
One important aspect of Chinese culture is Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM. Chinese medicine has been around for quite awhile, and is still around today. In the United States, we see it as acupuncture and massage. TCM is still widely popular in its home country where it is still practiced as it was a few centuries ago. Chinese medicine is evolving to our modern day times, but it is keeping close ties to its roots. Chinese medicine is also becoming more affluent in different parts of the globe. It is a major part of Chinese history and culture, and the people who participate in it do so with great respect. With Chinese medicine, there is great history, procedures, risks, and how it lives in the modern world.
The scientific community is much quicker to label this second type as quacks, whereas the scientific community has failed to gain a consensus on the legitimacy of the first type. Unfortunately, both are encompassed by the term alternative medicine. This paper will focus on the more controversial alternative medicines described in the first group.