Traditional healers in southern Africa.
Ann Intern Med
; 128(12 Pt 1): 1029-34, 1998 Jun 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9625666
ABSTRACT
One task of medical anthropologists is to search for similarities and differences among cultural conceptions of illness and healing. This search may identify common, if not universal, characteristics of healing and effective patient care. This paper describes traditional healing practices in southern Africa as related by six traditional healers. Despite the seemingly exotic nature of their practice, the traditional healers' underlying strategies (probing deeply into the psychological, spiritual, and social contexts of illness and using healing ceremonies and natural medicinal preparations) seem to be effective in certain circumstances. Perhaps more important, these strategies can leave both patient and practitioner with a sense of connection and satisfaction. A study of these strategies reveals some general qualities of the healing process that are more apparent in the absence of sophisticated technology.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Medicina Tradicional
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limite:
Humans
País como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
1998
Tipo de documento:
Article