The Applied Approach in Medical Anthropology
The Applied approach in Medical Anthropology is just as it sounds, it is the application of an anthropologist’s specialized knowledge and tools to research and analyze a specific problem related to health and/or healthcare. Globalization is becoming increasingly important in understanding and contextualizing illnesses, such as epilepsy. As can be seen in the other sections of this site, epilepsy has a different meaning and understanding depending on the individual and the cultural context they are in. Globalization has brought a greater understanding and availability of treatments for epilepsy. Biomedical advances in its treatment have spread around the world and in turn treatments from other parts of the world have made their way to the United States.
In the article “An Anthropological Study about Epilepsy in Native Tribes from Central and South America” the authors preform fieldwork to gain an understanding of how the Tzeltal Maya, Kamayurá and Uru- Chipaya people perceive epilepsy. Knowing that epilepsy has been a recognized illness in many societies and cultures for quite some time, interviews conducted with shamans and medicine men are preformed to improve the understanding of the cultural beliefs and traditional healing methods surrounding this illness. The Tzeltal of Chiapas, Mexico believe that epileptic seizures are “caused by an attack suffered by the animal spirit who accompanies the person, after a fight between the spirits who serve the forces of good and evil” (Carod –Artal). The Kamayurá of Matto Frosso, Brazil believes epilepsy “is caused by the revenge of the spirit of the armadillo killed by a huntsman” (Carod- Artal). The Uru- Chipaya people believe epilepsy “is originated by a witchcraft that enters into the nose and the head as a wind” (Carod-Artal). Treatments in these cultures vary and can include: the application to skin of two types of roots/plants that are kneaded and diluted in water in the Kamayurá culture and the use of an animal sacrifice and the consumption of “dried insect infusions and bird’s blood” in the Chipaya culture (Carod-Artal). There is no cure for epilepsy in the Tzeltal culture because it is considered an illness the person is born with. The pictures in this section are of the location geographically of the three tribes and of Takumá, a Kamayurá paje (medicine man/shaman) and his family.
The ethnomedical and experiential approaches are used throughout this paper to examine and analyze the cultural beliefs and understanding of epilepsy in these tribes of Central and South America. The ethnomedical approach can be seen in use to compare the beliefs and healing methods of the three tribes. Descriptions of the rituals preformed in order to treat epilepsy are also evident as well as how these cultures religious beliefs coincide and effect how they view and treat this illness. The experiential approach can be seen in some brief illness narratives that give accounts of epileptic episodes people have encountered. They explain how a person may get epilepsy and the specific rituals used to treat it. These descriptions give meaning to and help make sense of their illness.
Medical anthropologists can provide incredible insight into how different cultures perceive and understand illness. They recognize that doctors and their patients may come from completely different cultures and backgrounds and that it is possible for there to be misinterpretations and misunderstandings regarding communication between the two. They can act as intermediaries in between doctors and patients and make sure everyone is on the same page. Medical anthropologists offer both an understanding and critical view on health and healthcare in there given cultural contexts.
In the article “An Anthropological Study about Epilepsy in Native Tribes from Central and South America” the authors preform fieldwork to gain an understanding of how the Tzeltal Maya, Kamayurá and Uru- Chipaya people perceive epilepsy. Knowing that epilepsy has been a recognized illness in many societies and cultures for quite some time, interviews conducted with shamans and medicine men are preformed to improve the understanding of the cultural beliefs and traditional healing methods surrounding this illness. The Tzeltal of Chiapas, Mexico believe that epileptic seizures are “caused by an attack suffered by the animal spirit who accompanies the person, after a fight between the spirits who serve the forces of good and evil” (Carod –Artal). The Kamayurá of Matto Frosso, Brazil believes epilepsy “is caused by the revenge of the spirit of the armadillo killed by a huntsman” (Carod- Artal). The Uru- Chipaya people believe epilepsy “is originated by a witchcraft that enters into the nose and the head as a wind” (Carod-Artal). Treatments in these cultures vary and can include: the application to skin of two types of roots/plants that are kneaded and diluted in water in the Kamayurá culture and the use of an animal sacrifice and the consumption of “dried insect infusions and bird’s blood” in the Chipaya culture (Carod-Artal). There is no cure for epilepsy in the Tzeltal culture because it is considered an illness the person is born with. The pictures in this section are of the location geographically of the three tribes and of Takumá, a Kamayurá paje (medicine man/shaman) and his family.
The ethnomedical and experiential approaches are used throughout this paper to examine and analyze the cultural beliefs and understanding of epilepsy in these tribes of Central and South America. The ethnomedical approach can be seen in use to compare the beliefs and healing methods of the three tribes. Descriptions of the rituals preformed in order to treat epilepsy are also evident as well as how these cultures religious beliefs coincide and effect how they view and treat this illness. The experiential approach can be seen in some brief illness narratives that give accounts of epileptic episodes people have encountered. They explain how a person may get epilepsy and the specific rituals used to treat it. These descriptions give meaning to and help make sense of their illness.
Medical anthropologists can provide incredible insight into how different cultures perceive and understand illness. They recognize that doctors and their patients may come from completely different cultures and backgrounds and that it is possible for there to be misinterpretations and misunderstandings regarding communication between the two. They can act as intermediaries in between doctors and patients and make sure everyone is on the same page. Medical anthropologists offer both an understanding and critical view on health and healthcare in there given cultural contexts.
Citations:
Carod-Artal, Francisco Javier, Vázquez-Cabrera, Carolinea Benigna, “An Anthropological Study about Epilepsy in Native Tribes from Central and South America,” Epilepsia, 48 (5): 886-893, 2007, accessed August 14, 2014. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01016.x/pdf
Karim, Taz. “Week 6: Lecture 6.1 Applied Medical Anthropology,” ANP 204: Introduction to Medical Anthropology. http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp204-us14/week-6-lecture-1/
Picture Citations:
Carod-Artal, Francisco Javier, Vázquez-Cabrera, Carolinea Benigna, “An Anthropological Study about Epilepsy in Native Tribes from Central and South America,” Epilepsia, 48 (5): 886-893, 2007, accessed August 14, 2014. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01016.x/pdf
Banner Citation:
“Health topics: Epilepsy,” WHO, accessed August 5, 2014. http://www.who.int/topics/epilepsy/en/