Traditional Healing System

Can traditional systems of healing survive?
Growing up in a modern, western society has a strong influence and impact on our views. In particular, our views on healing systems. We are often encouraged to seek healing or treatments based on a biomedical research, and practices. This is based on the economic status of the society and personal finances, politics, and access to resources. In general, this tends to be promoted throughout communities as being more effective and efficient. Although, western healing systems tend to be the most preferable, there are many people who are open to other forms of healing, in order to achieve the best treatment. There seems to be an increasing interest on traditional healings, such as herbal medicine or
Traditional healing, is based on indigenous people or tribes inhabiting a specific location (Struthers, Eschiti, & Patchell, 2004). Their communities, have a historical continuity in traditions, and preserving and developing future generations (Struthers, et al., 2004). The traditional healing practiced by indigenous people (in the United Sates), is often referred to as Native American medicine or healing. It is described as an "ancient, intact, complex holistic healthcare system practiced by indigenous people worldwide that is profound and more deeply rooted and complex than is commonly understood" (Struthers, et al., 2004, p. 142). Traditional healing focuses on the spiritual world, supernatural forces, and religion (Avery, 1991; as cited in Struthers, et al., 2004). Native American healing encompasses all aspects of an individual 's inner self, lifestyle, emotions, and natural surroundings, to ensure that the patient being treated is always a partner in the path towards balance and healing (White, 2003)."The principle of Native American culture is wholeness and interrelatedness, Everything is considered to have life, is interconnected, intertwined, and everything effects other things. Thus, the sum of the whole is greater than the parts and for health to ensue,
This is most likely due to differences between the two healing systems, and the lack of understanding from both sides (Kangwa, 2010). An example of this can be shown in Africa, in which some people may see going to the hospital as a place to go to die, or if one is critically ill. Biomedical viewpoints on healing tend to focus more on external causes for illnesses and treatments, and seeking explanations for causes of illness. There is more of an emphasis on biological explanations such as genetics and family history. Whereas traditional viewpoints focus more on internal causes of illnesses, and mostly excluding external causes. Treatments are influenced by the social, spiritual and/or the supernatural (Swami, Arteche, Chamorro-Premuzic, Makip, Stanistreet, & Furnham, 1994). Biomedical professionals need to acknowledge that in order for the most effective healing to occur, there must be a compromise and connection between the logical mind (scientific viewpoint) and the intuitive mind (traditional viewpoint) (Kangwa, 2010). Native American healers (and other traditional healers) understand that there are external causes affecting health that cannot be healed traditionally. However, there may not always be the same understanding for biomedical professionals or patients with a preference to western medication. In fact,