Traditional Healing Practices in Different Cultures

Culture Health

Maintaining harmony of body, mind, and spirit

Traditional Healers

Folk practitioners, root doctors, voodoo healers

Methods of Treatment

Prayer, meditation, herbs, religious rituals, charms

Response to Pain

Tolerating pain as a sign of strength

South African

Maintaining harmony with nature, preventing illness through diet, rest, and cleanliness

Supernatural Cause

Illness caused by spirits, demons, punishment from God, conflict or disharmony in life

Asian Health

Physical and spiritual harmony with nature, balance of yin and yang energy forces

Imbalance between Yin and Yang

Caused by supernatural forces, unhealthy environment

Asian Healers

Herbalists, physicians, shaman healers

Asian Treatment

Cold remedies for yang overpowering, hot remedies for yin overpowering, herbal remedies, acupuncture, acupressure

Acceptance of Pain

Pain must be accepted and endured silently

European Health

Maintained by diet, rest, exercise, immunizations, and preventive practices

Outside Sources

Germs, pollutants, contaminants

European Healers

Physicians, nurses

European Treatment

Medications, surgery, diet, exercise, home remedies, self-care, prayer, religious rituals

Expression of Pain

Some express pain loudly and emotionally, others value self-control

Hispanic Health

Health seen as a reward from God, balance between hot and cold forces

Hispanic Healers

Curandero, Espiritualista, Yerbero, Brujo

Hispanic Treatment

Hot and cold remedies, prayers, medals, candles, herbal remedies, massage, anointing with oil, wearing an Azabache

Expression of Pain in Hispanic Culture

Many will express pain verbally and accept treatment, others feel pain is a part of life and must be endured

Middle Eastern Health

Caused by spiritual forces, cleanliness essential, male dominance in decision-making

Middle Eastern Healers

Traditional healers, physicians

Middle Eastern Treatment

Meditation, charms, amulets with verses of the Koran, medications, surgery

Restrictions on Male Health Professionals

Prohibited from touching or examining female patients

Pain Tolerance in Middle Eastern Culture

Tolerating pain is a sign of strength, self-inflicted pain used as a sign of grief

Native American Health

Harmony between man and nature, balance among body, mind, and spirit

Native American Healers

Shaman, Medicine Man

Native American Treatment

Rituals, charms, masks, prayer, meditation, plants and herbs, medicine bag or bundle, sweat lodges

Native American Perspective on Pain

Pain is a normal part of life, tolerance of pain signifies strength and power