Native Americans And Western Medicine - 1413 Words

Understanding Native Americans and Western Medicine Essential Knowledge for Providing Culturally Competent Care to Native Americans Brittany Schelitzche Writing for Healthcare Hennepin Technical College Native Americans and Western Medicine: Essential Knowledge for Providing Culturally Competent Care to Native Americans Many Alaskan Natives and Native Indians, also known as American Indians, share the same or similar views on health and medicine. Their definition of â€Å"traditional medicine† incorporates medicine and religion, various chants and rituals, and being one with Earth (Broome, B., Broome, R., 2007). â€Å"In the United States we are challenged to think about health care from our tradition as a cultural melting pot. Therefore, we must address the large range of individual health care needs from populations living the inner-city and suburbia to those in rural environments.† (O Brien, Anslow, Begay, Pereira, Sullivan, 2002). It is important for healthcare workers to understand the views of American Indians in order to integrate their traditional medicine as well as western medicine. Examining areas such as common health conditions, treatments, and attitudes towards health, natural and alternative health will lead to a better capability of providing culturally competent car e. Introduction and Background Native Americans, such as Navajo and Cherokee, have been in the United States for the past 12,000 years (Horowitz, 2012). Although those are the two mostShow MoreRelatedNative American Healing Traditions Could Supplement Modern Western Medicine2054 Words   |  9 PagesMany 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 bringRead MoreHealthcare Considerations For The Native American Culture1563 Words   |  7 PagesHEALTHCARE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE 1 Healthcare Considerations for the Native American Culture Christina Seif Mid-State Technical College HEALTHCARE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE 2 Abstract The Native American culture is the original culture of the United States. Members of Native American tribes live throughout the country. â€Å"There are an estimated 4.9 million persons, in 565 federally recognized tribesRead MoreEssay on A Message of Hope in Love Medicine1005 Words   |  5 PagesA Message of Hope in Love Medicine   Love Medicine, by Louis Eldridge attempts to confront the popular stereotypes of American Indians. The novel generally follows the history of a family of Chippewa Indians who live on and off a reservation. In a thoroughly humanist approach, Ms. Eldrige narrates each chapter in a different voice, and through extremely varied characters effectively shows the diversity of the Indians. This is an important aspect of the novel, as it demonstrates that thereRead MoreHow Traditional Anishinaabe Medicine Can Be Integrated Into Western Medicine Essay1658 Words   |  7 Pagescommunity. Since traditional methods are not practiced in American healthcare, how information is perceived in the population as well as inclination to comply with different treatments are affected. How traditional practices can be incorporated in a Western healthcare setting as well as the challenges that exist in doing so will be evaluated. To begin to assess the different ways that traditional Anishinaabe medicine can be integrated into Western medicine, how the Anishinaabe culture was affected by colonizationRead MoreNative American Religion : Medicine And Spiritual Healing1694 Words   |  7 PagesErika Lenis-Abril REL-337 5/10/2015 Native American Religion: Medicine and Spiritual Healing 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 peopleRead MoreWesternization And Its Effects On Globalization And Westernization1134 Words   |  5 Pagesnations have struggled to preserve their history, beliefs and culture. Various examples of this can be seen throughout history - assimilation of conquered lands into the Roman Empire, of native South Americans and Africans into Christianity and European culture during colonization, and the assimilation of Native Americans into the culture of the United States. Assimilation can also create things, such as the religion of Vodun. However, this does not negate the fact that assimilation and its effects -Read MoreEuropean Colonization Of Europeans And Native Americans1503 Words   |  7 Pagesbetween Europeans and Native Americans led to a demographic calamity. The earliest explorations from European countries introduced a plethora of diseases; these diseases hindered the Native’s population and way of life. Not only early explorations of European countries impacted the indigenous people, but the settlement and encounters with Europeans in the twentieth century did as well. Before Europeans voyaged to the New World, the lands were occupied by Native Americans for thousands of yearsRead MoreHealth Care : The Hospital And / Or Healthcare Facilities917 Words   |  4 Pagesfor cultural, religious, spiritual and personal values. Healthcare professionals are entrusted to care for patients as whole persons- body, mind, and spirit. (Handzo 2009) People of different cultures avoid going to American healthcare facilities, with fear of Western medicine techniques. When they avoid or refuse care of the physicians, the medical condition/ illness remains uncared for and leads to health disparities of that community. In order to prevent refusal of care, hospitals and healthcareRead MoreEssay Culture Health Beliefs1609 Words   |  7 Pagesare many cultures out in the world today that practice beliefs different than those in the United States. America is based off Western Culture and traditional medicine practices which focus on preventative and curative medicine. Most cultures around the world practice folk medicine, which focus more on the person as a whole with remedies and ceremonies rather than medicine and treatment. Even though each one believes in a different practice, all medical professionals should have the knowledge andRead More Love Medicine Essay544 Words   |  3 PagesLove Medicine Since the beginning of colonization of America, there has been the problem of dealing with the indigenous people of the land. After the first attempts in eradicating the population, the American government changed its policy to integration. It is this integration into white society and the severance from the Indian culture that causes disenfranchisement in the modern Indian reservation. In Louise Erdrich’s Love Medicine, the contradictory efforts to isolate the Native Americans