Alternative Ways of Healing and Knowing

     When mainstream scientific methods do not work for patients, what would they do? When both conventional medical treatment and alternative medicine are available to patients, which therapeutic practice would they choose to seek help? I think it is largely relevant with cultural interest. Health, ideally, is a condition in accordance with our expectation and values. On the other hand, illness is a disturbance of this expectation. In this sense, how do people shape individuals’ expectation? I assume it maybe the outcome of historical purpose and culture cultivation. It suddenly comes to me that the term of “culture” is made up of “cultivation” and “nature”. Alternative medical traditions offer patients sense of trust and safe, because it comes from cultural ritual, corresponding with the ways of thinking and making meaning of patients. Culture not merely establishes belief pattern, but also have a function of sedatives which enable patients calm down. It is likely that cultural values are the foundation of human development, consistently playing a role on people’s growth over time. They are like the embrace of a mother, emotionally and cognitively upholding patients.

     As to alternative medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) might be a classical example. The view of the world and the body in TCM has its conceptual root. The human body is viewed as an entity in which organs and other parts function variously and interdependently. In this case, health and disease refer to balance or imbalance of the functions, yin and yang energy, either within the body or between the human body and environment. The practice of TCM includes the use of acupuncture, diet, herbal remedies, physical movement, and massage. Likewise, I found Ayurveda also stresses the concept of balance and harmony. This ancient ways of healing emphasizes the mind-body-spirit connection. The phase “flower power” in Zimmerman (1992) is interesting. Based on what I have read, I think it means gentleness of the practice – such as healing through meditation, yoga and diet, together with strong power to manage violence in patient’s humeral system. Thus, these traditional ways of healing represent the cultural heritage of China and India. I was thinking some questions. Whether they would be, could be, or should be utilized in global health care system? Are they meaningful and beneficial to patients from diverse cultures as well? Are these unconventional medicines weird to other cultural group, or novel? Why western medicine is more popular in global society, because it is “scientific”?

     In addition, spiritual concern is another alternative way of knowing that requires notice. Patients who have spiritual beliefs tend to contribute healing to God’s will. Thus building connection between physicians and God facilitate adherence of patients. Various ways of healing and knowing bring complication to physicians and caregivers’ work. They need to obtain deeper understand of patients’ religious beliefs and cultural beliefs, and identify patients place which belief as chief concern. So, how to be more sensitive to these ways of knowing? I think physicians should learn appropriate ways to help patients from other cultures feel comfortable; be perceptive of patients’ cues; learn how to identify patients’ agenda and underlying motivation and expectation. Human are complex entities. Patients are complex further, since they are the population who are suffering from disorder and pain. The interior struggle is obscure, and even unrevealed. Furthermore, cultural norms make their ways of knowing more elusory. This is a long way to explore, and a fantastic journey to enjoy as well.