Prior to taking this course I had previous knowledge about medicine in anthropology. I believe that culture plays a major role in medicine. Culture largely influences the way individuals seek healing and treatments within the medical system. Understanding the way a culture identifies and explains an illness, allows the doctors or medical professionals to properly diagnose and treat these illnesses. Therefore, when studying the health of a particular culture it will be wise to take an anthropological approach due to the fact that medical anthropologists use very in depth methods to approach these health disparities. The image above displays Indians. The reason I chose this picture was to illustrate how culture is very significant in the medical system.
The Experiential Approach is the most helpful approach when studying health. I believe that it is very important for the doctor to understand how an individual describes, perceives, and experience an illness. Interviewing an individual allows a clinician or anthropologist to understand how an individual or a society reacts to an illness which can effect how one chooses to treat certain illnesses. Clinicians need to know how different cultures and the individuals within them express illness so that they can give the proper diagnosis and provide the right treatment. I also believe that ecological/ biological approach is very important when attempting to understand a disease professionally. As mentioned in the case study “Place Matters,” the environment where an individual lives can have a direct or indirect effect on one’s health. It is important for doctors to understand this so that when trying to find a cure for a disease or illness they take all factors such as political, social and economic into consideration.
Everything that I’ve learned in the course has been memorable. Learning that understanding a culture’s medical system and beliefs has a major influence on the way individuals seek medical care, or different healing methods. Culture is a very important part of the medical system and I believe that in order for medical professionals to conquer these health disparities they must focus on all aspects that can contribute to these issues. They have to start thinking outside of the box and not only focus on the biological aspects of a disease because some of the illnesses may be triggered by other factors. For example, the ethno medical approach demonstrates ways that professionals are now introducing different forms of healing methods into the Western culture. The article “A Doctor for a Disease: Shaman for a Soul,” gives a prime example of the way traditional healing methods for different cultures can be combined with other treatments in order to treat efficiently. I believe that Nancy Scheper-Hughes novel “Death Without Weeping” should have been included in the course materials. This novel gives a perfect example of how one’s culture and environment can have a direct effect on their health.
The Experiential Approach is the most helpful approach when studying health. I believe that it is very important for the doctor to understand how an individual describes, perceives, and experience an illness. Interviewing an individual allows a clinician or anthropologist to understand how an individual or a society reacts to an illness which can effect how one chooses to treat certain illnesses. Clinicians need to know how different cultures and the individuals within them express illness so that they can give the proper diagnosis and provide the right treatment. I also believe that ecological/ biological approach is very important when attempting to understand a disease professionally. As mentioned in the case study “Place Matters,” the environment where an individual lives can have a direct or indirect effect on one’s health. It is important for doctors to understand this so that when trying to find a cure for a disease or illness they take all factors such as political, social and economic into consideration.
Everything that I’ve learned in the course has been memorable. Learning that understanding a culture’s medical system and beliefs has a major influence on the way individuals seek medical care, or different healing methods. Culture is a very important part of the medical system and I believe that in order for medical professionals to conquer these health disparities they must focus on all aspects that can contribute to these issues. They have to start thinking outside of the box and not only focus on the biological aspects of a disease because some of the illnesses may be triggered by other factors. For example, the ethno medical approach demonstrates ways that professionals are now introducing different forms of healing methods into the Western culture. The article “A Doctor for a Disease: Shaman for a Soul,” gives a prime example of the way traditional healing methods for different cultures can be combined with other treatments in order to treat efficiently. I believe that Nancy Scheper-Hughes novel “Death Without Weeping” should have been included in the course materials. This novel gives a perfect example of how one’s culture and environment can have a direct effect on their health.