Anthropologists as well as other medical experts often use an approach called the “Ethnomedical Approach” to study and treat health issues in different cultures. The ethnomedical approach illustrates how illnesses are identified, understood, and treated within particular cultural contexts. The ethnomedical approach focuses on different cultural beliefs and how these beliefs or perceptions can influence the way individuals identify, explain, and seek treatment for certain illnesses/ disease. This approach identifies three main sectors of healthcare which are, popular, folk, and professional. Each sector has there own traditions and beliefs about how illness is understood and treated.
Culture is a widely debated concept, with a variety of meanings and understandings. There is one meaning that most can agree with, culture is shared set of beliefs, morals, values and traditions shared amongst a particular group. The beliefs that are shared in a particular culture can influence the way it is perceived, explained, and treated. These beliefs are called cultural healing beliefs. As mentioned in the lecture presented by Taz Karim, healing is very well connected to belief. With this being said, I believe that it is imperative to contextualize Alzheimer’s as well as other illnesses within a given cultural system. Due to the fact that every culture does not perceive or treat Alzheimer’s the same, doctors and other professionals must consider the beliefs of these cultures because it will allow them to treat the patients correctly. Understanding how individuals within different cultures perceive Alzheimer’s can assist with finding a potential cause, treatment/cure and possibly a preventive method. It will also allow medical professionals to better diagnose the disease while in it’s early stages.
Currently, there are no cures to Alzheimer’s in Western culture. Medical professionals use anti-depressants and other forms of prescribed pills to help with sooth the disease. However, the cultural beliefs about the disease in China requires a different form of medicine. The Chinese medical approach to Alzheimer’s is a leaf form a tree called Ginkgo biloba. This herbal formula is based on the traditional methods of Chinese medicine. The video link above Ginkgo Biloba: A Tree that conquers time describes the herbal and how it is believed to be a definite cure for Alzheimer’s in China. This is a part of both the folk sector and the popular sector.
Yu-Ping Chang, a researcher at the University of Buffalo, studied the relationship between Chinese immigrants cultural beliefs and medication use in San Francisco Bay area. According to the study, many Chinese immigrants self-medicate using traditional herbal medications found in China in addition to the medication being prescribed to them by there physicians (Salchi, 2010). Therefore, the Chinese do seek professional help while continuing to use traditional treatments. There are several forms of medications that are being introduced into Western medicine from various cultures to help treat Alzheimer’s. One form of medication that has been introduced into Western medicine comes from India’s Ayurvedic medicine system. This form of treatment contains various plants found in India that is also used to treat individuals with memory loss. The image above illustrates the plants belonging to the Ayurvedic medicine system. Studies on the plant shows that it has a positive effect on cognitive ability. The most recent studies suggest that it reduces deposits of beta-amyloid, which is found in Alzheimer’s patients (TD, 2013).
References:
Saldi, Sara. “ For Chinese Families, Alzheimer's Presents Unique Cultural Challenges.” University at
Buffalo: The State University of New York State. November 8, 2010
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2010/11/11974.html.
“Could a plant used in Ayurvedic medicine help treat Alzheimer’s?” Therapy Directory (blog), December
20, 2012 (10:59am),
http://www.therapy-directory.org.uk/blog/2012/12/20/could-a-plant-used-in- ayurvedic-medicine- help-treat-alzheimers/.
“Ginkgo Biloba: A tree that Conquers Time,” YouTube video, 11:45, posted by
“Two Students at Harvard,” May 23,2009,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB-2WsRn6vc
Yu-Ping Chang, a researcher at the University of Buffalo, studied the relationship between Chinese immigrants cultural beliefs and medication use in San Francisco Bay area. According to the study, many Chinese immigrants self-medicate using traditional herbal medications found in China in addition to the medication being prescribed to them by there physicians (Salchi, 2010). Therefore, the Chinese do seek professional help while continuing to use traditional treatments. There are several forms of medications that are being introduced into Western medicine from various cultures to help treat Alzheimer’s. One form of medication that has been introduced into Western medicine comes from India’s Ayurvedic medicine system. This form of treatment contains various plants found in India that is also used to treat individuals with memory loss. The image above illustrates the plants belonging to the Ayurvedic medicine system. Studies on the plant shows that it has a positive effect on cognitive ability. The most recent studies suggest that it reduces deposits of beta-amyloid, which is found in Alzheimer’s patients (TD, 2013).
References:
Saldi, Sara. “ For Chinese Families, Alzheimer's Presents Unique Cultural Challenges.” University at
Buffalo: The State University of New York State. November 8, 2010
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2010/11/11974.html.
“Could a plant used in Ayurvedic medicine help treat Alzheimer’s?” Therapy Directory (blog), December
20, 2012 (10:59am),
http://www.therapy-directory.org.uk/blog/2012/12/20/could-a-plant-used-in- ayurvedic-medicine- help-treat-alzheimers/.
“Ginkgo Biloba: A tree that Conquers Time,” YouTube video, 11:45, posted by
“Two Students at Harvard,” May 23,2009,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB-2WsRn6vc