Part 1
Introduction
Throughout the world there are universals of medical systems that pertain to all healing systems. These universals include a) integral part of the culture relating to a particular view of the body and the cosmos; b) has illness causation explanations; c) has diagnostic method and tools; d) has healers; e) has helpers; and, f) has treatments for both preventing and curing. The six universals vary from medical system to medical system, making each one unique. In this essay, the western medical model specifically will be used in contrast to Curanderismo and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices. Through the different cultures, we will show a distinction of how the six universals are used and their use of personalistic …show more content…
Curanderas, a term that is as varied with the Hispanic culture as are the methods these women use to cure (Perrone, 1989, p.85) Within its own form there are different methods due to the various regions this is practiced. Through the different types of Curanderas as stated from Pamela Godde’s lectures include Curandera total, Parteras (midwives), Sobardoras (massage specialists), and Yerberas (herbalists). Curandera total is the highest position on the hierarchal Hispanic ladder of healing (Perrone, 1989, p.90). A partera is a midwife, but she may also use herbs during the course of her prenatal care. Sobardoras heal with their hands and supplement their efforts with herbal medications when appropriate but rely more on acupressure applied to the affected areas for results than on curative properties of herbs to alleviate their patient’s ailments. As mentioned it is a complex system of folk medicine with its own theoretical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects (Perrone, 1989, …show more content…
As for someone who would be interested in practicing Western medicine, it would require them to do many years of schooling before starting their work. There is a similarity in types of illnesses between the two because they both treat those with physical, mental social and psychosocial. The difference is the root of the issue for curanderas would find it coming from a spiritual imbalance in their patient. In Western medicine, the causes of their patient’s illness would come internally from a certain imbalance in their body. Aside from their diagnosis and treatment the major difference would be through the help that each gets. The way in which patients are treated by curanderas through herbs or through a spiritual healing is similar in a sense to how Western medicine treats patients through different medications. Curanderas call on help from the spiritual world through saints and God to give them the power of healing. Whereas in Western Medicine they have helpers like nurses or other specialists that would be involved with helping treat their patients. Apart from the differences they both have one focus which is helping others get
Introduction
Throughout the world there are universals of medical systems that pertain to all healing systems. These universals include a) integral part of the culture relating to a particular view of the body and the cosmos; b) has illness causation explanations; c) has diagnostic method and tools; d) has healers; e) has helpers; and, f) has treatments for both preventing and curing. The six universals vary from medical system to medical system, making each one unique. In this essay, the western medical model specifically will be used in contrast to Curanderismo and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices. Through the different cultures, we will show a distinction of how the six universals are used and their use of personalistic …show more content…
Curanderas, a term that is as varied with the Hispanic culture as are the methods these women use to cure (Perrone, 1989, p.85) Within its own form there are different methods due to the various regions this is practiced. Through the different types of Curanderas as stated from Pamela Godde’s lectures include Curandera total, Parteras (midwives), Sobardoras (massage specialists), and Yerberas (herbalists). Curandera total is the highest position on the hierarchal Hispanic ladder of healing (Perrone, 1989, p.90). A partera is a midwife, but she may also use herbs during the course of her prenatal care. Sobardoras heal with their hands and supplement their efforts with herbal medications when appropriate but rely more on acupressure applied to the affected areas for results than on curative properties of herbs to alleviate their patient’s ailments. As mentioned it is a complex system of folk medicine with its own theoretical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects (Perrone, 1989, …show more content…
As for someone who would be interested in practicing Western medicine, it would require them to do many years of schooling before starting their work. There is a similarity in types of illnesses between the two because they both treat those with physical, mental social and psychosocial. The difference is the root of the issue for curanderas would find it coming from a spiritual imbalance in their patient. In Western medicine, the causes of their patient’s illness would come internally from a certain imbalance in their body. Aside from their diagnosis and treatment the major difference would be through the help that each gets. The way in which patients are treated by curanderas through herbs or through a spiritual healing is similar in a sense to how Western medicine treats patients through different medications. Curanderas call on help from the spiritual world through saints and God to give them the power of healing. Whereas in Western Medicine they have helpers like nurses or other specialists that would be involved with helping treat their patients. Apart from the differences they both have one focus which is helping others get