|
Folk medicineEvery disease has a hierarchy of resorts, and PD is no different. In the US, professional help is the dominant way of treating PD. However, in other cultures, a holistic approach fueled by folk science is often taken seriously. Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion and more acquired by a group of people in the course of generations. The video to the left shows the ancient chinese Tai Chi therapy. It has been shown to alleviate the tremor and pain symptoms that are associated with PD. Ayurvedic treatments have also gained popularity in India. Practiced for thousands of years, Ayurvedic medicine relies and focuses on maintaining health through the body, spirit, and mind. It focuses on figuring out one’s metabolic type, then examining other factors such as a person’s environment. It could fit well with what anthropologists would call the social body. The social body is a natural symbol for investigating the relationships between nature, society and culture (Sheper-Hughes and Lock 1987 ). It is a field that medical anthropologists have been studying for years.
|
Kleinman's explanatory modelKleinman's original approach involved asking questions through an exploratory process of qualitative enquiry. This leads to complex and multi-layered responses which carry with them information about social rituals, symbols in communication, forms of knowledge and illness narratives. The picture to the right show's a basic visual of this model. The patients' rich view of the world and of their illness within that world gives rise to a better understanding of their illness, including its meaning to them and their expected recovery process. Therefore, it is important to how the patient feels about their illness. Empirical evidence suggests that patients are most satisfied where their psychiatrist shares their model of understanding distress and treatment (Bhui and Bhugra 2002).
|
|
Professional MedicineIn the hierarchy of resorts, the professional field sits at the top. In America, this is the dominant way of treating many serious diseases like PD. In the case of this illness, Dopamine stimulating medication like L-DOPA are among the most popular forms of treatment. It is used and accepted so widely that it overlaps with the cultural field of things. However, PD has no cure and the prescribed medication is only a way to control the symptoms. Eventually the disease will reach an advanced stage in which medication is of no help. This is when more advanced treatments are required. Dr. Hazem Eltahawey is a neurosurgeon in Detroit who is experimenting with electrically stimulating parts of the brain to control the symptoms. The video to the left shows how successful these approaches can be. Today, deep brain stimulation and electrode implants are gaining popularity in the professional sector.
|
Bhui, Kamaldeep , and Dinesh Bhugra. "Explanatory models for mental distress: implications for clinical practice and research." The British Journal of Psychiatry 181 (2002): 6-7.
Scheper-Hughes, Nancy, and Margaret M. Lock. "The Mindful Body: A Prolegomenon To Future Work In Medical Anthropology." Medical Anthropology Quarterly 1, no. 1 (1987): 6-41.
"Study: Tai Chi Helps People with Parkinson's Disease - AARP Tech Beat", Youtube Video, 2:24, Posted by "AARP", Oct 23, 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzTqTqCyRUw.
"Revolutionary Treatment for Parkinson's", Youtube Video, 2:50, Posted by "DetroitMedicalCenter", April 5, 2007, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIS7k5W-iOQ.
Scheper-Hughes, Nancy, and Margaret M. Lock. "The Mindful Body: A Prolegomenon To Future Work In Medical Anthropology." Medical Anthropology Quarterly 1, no. 1 (1987): 6-41.
"Study: Tai Chi Helps People with Parkinson's Disease - AARP Tech Beat", Youtube Video, 2:24, Posted by "AARP", Oct 23, 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzTqTqCyRUw.
"Revolutionary Treatment for Parkinson's", Youtube Video, 2:50, Posted by "DetroitMedicalCenter", April 5, 2007, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIS7k5W-iOQ.