ETHNOMEDICAL APPROACH
Ethnomedical approach in anthropology is how illness is identified, understood and treated within particular cultural contexts. The United States, like most societies contain multiple ways of treating disorders and diseases through an ethnomedical approach. As described in lecture, in the United States biomedicine is the dominant system however there are overlapping systems like chiropractic, psychiatry, acupuncture, massage therapy and herbology that are also used. A patient suffering from PTSD might seek help by talking with their primary care physician and getting a prescription for anti-anxiety and/or anti-depression medication. These medications help the patient cope with the every day stressors that come as a result to their PTSD. Patients may also seek a different approach by getting acupuncture or doing yoga. Sgt. Lance Bradford found that he couldn’t cope after he came home from Baghdad in 2006 and didn’t want to take pills. He discovered acupuncture at the Warrior Resilience Center at the base he was stationed. Bradford said, “there’s no cure for PTSD, there are just control methods so you can live with it” (Holistic Treatments Help Soldiers Battle PTSD). Yoga is also a method to cope with PTSD. A controlled study found that short-term yoga program was associated with reducing trauma symptoms in women with PTSD (Trauma Center). As seen in the image above, patients that suffered from PTSD found that art therapy and exercise were the most effective forms of treatment (What Works for PTSD). So along with medical treatment, focus has also shifted to more holistic treatments.
PTSD in American culture is most commonly known within the military community. However, anyone that went through trauma like rape can have PTSD. It’s important to realize that not all people experience trauma the same way. Women in the United States don’t have to experience FGM (female genital mutilation) but might have experienced being raped. These traumas can effect individuals differently due to the cultural and spiritual beliefs that certain cultures have.
Ethnomedical approach in anthropology is how illness is identified, understood and treated within particular cultural contexts. The United States, like most societies contain multiple ways of treating disorders and diseases through an ethnomedical approach. As described in lecture, in the United States biomedicine is the dominant system however there are overlapping systems like chiropractic, psychiatry, acupuncture, massage therapy and herbology that are also used. A patient suffering from PTSD might seek help by talking with their primary care physician and getting a prescription for anti-anxiety and/or anti-depression medication. These medications help the patient cope with the every day stressors that come as a result to their PTSD. Patients may also seek a different approach by getting acupuncture or doing yoga. Sgt. Lance Bradford found that he couldn’t cope after he came home from Baghdad in 2006 and didn’t want to take pills. He discovered acupuncture at the Warrior Resilience Center at the base he was stationed. Bradford said, “there’s no cure for PTSD, there are just control methods so you can live with it” (Holistic Treatments Help Soldiers Battle PTSD). Yoga is also a method to cope with PTSD. A controlled study found that short-term yoga program was associated with reducing trauma symptoms in women with PTSD (Trauma Center). As seen in the image above, patients that suffered from PTSD found that art therapy and exercise were the most effective forms of treatment (What Works for PTSD). So along with medical treatment, focus has also shifted to more holistic treatments.
PTSD in American culture is most commonly known within the military community. However, anyone that went through trauma like rape can have PTSD. It’s important to realize that not all people experience trauma the same way. Women in the United States don’t have to experience FGM (female genital mutilation) but might have experienced being raped. These traumas can effect individuals differently due to the cultural and spiritual beliefs that certain cultures have.
REFERENCES
Mattson, Jennifer. "Holistic Treatment Help Soldiers Battle PTSD." U.S. Army. May 30, 2012. Accessed August 9, 2014. http://www.army.mil/article/80772/Holistic_treatments_help_Soldiers_battle_PTSD/.
"Yoga as a Complementary Treatment for Chronic PTSD." Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute. Accessed August 2, 2014. http://www.traumacenter.org/research/Yoga_Study.php.
Charmichael, Alexandra. "What Works for PTSD." 23 and Me Blog. March 20, 2013. Accessed August 9, 2014. http://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/what-works-for-ptsd/.
Mattson, Jennifer. "Holistic Treatment Help Soldiers Battle PTSD." U.S. Army. May 30, 2012. Accessed August 9, 2014. http://www.army.mil/article/80772/Holistic_treatments_help_Soldiers_battle_PTSD/.
"Yoga as a Complementary Treatment for Chronic PTSD." Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute. Accessed August 2, 2014. http://www.traumacenter.org/research/Yoga_Study.php.
Charmichael, Alexandra. "What Works for PTSD." 23 and Me Blog. March 20, 2013. Accessed August 9, 2014. http://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/what-works-for-ptsd/.