Susto, fright or soul loss is a folk illness mainly composes of symptoms of depression, weakness, and loss of appetite. It primarily reflects in Latin Americans cultures, but mostly Indian communities, especially Mexicans. Although, other cultures may suffer from similar symptoms it might not relate to susto. This reading focus on modern descriptions of the cultures affected and the symptoms they present. Also, describes the methods used to revoke the effects of susto on the individual. This investigation focuses primarily on the interviewing of individuals originally from Latin Americans, who have knowledge of susto or agonized from it; and the methods used by the curandero (a) to help the “patient”. The following research paper will response some question regarding the causes, symptoms and syndrome of susto, fright or soul loss. Susto, is “soul loss through magical fright” and is a Hispanic condition also identified as pasmo, espanto, and perdida de la sombra. They are some similar conditions recognized around the world, making believe these conditions might not just happen around the Latin Americas’ community; but until now susto is only familiar around Hispanics. The main population who experiences susto are Latin Americans mainly Mexicans and in its Indians communities. Susto it is not recognized as a disease by the United States medical health department, but it is by the culture. Women are in greater danger of suffering from susto than men, due to the advanced pressure from cultural responsibilities. Latin Americans described experiencing susto after traumatic or stressful situations affecting the espiritu (spirit) to leave the body. This folk illness described as susto is classified by the system in psych... ... middle of paper ... ...olk illness manifested mainly on Latin Americans and even though some characteristics differ from subgroups its shows a high similarity on the stress level and depression presented by the “patient”. Individuals suffer from lack of sleep, weakness, loss of appetite, also may occur vomiting, fever, and diarrhea. It is very important to appreciate the different folk illness amount rising cultures on the United States, since this will give us a better understanding of the ways to compare and treat cultural diseases. People who have a suffer Susto in the past, experienced simultaneity depression and stress disorders, than those who have not reported any cases of folk illness. There is a need to research folk illness, in order to better understand the symptoms and treated them efficiently. We cannot longer separate the mind from the body.
He describes the American health system and many aspects of the an American’s personal health as inhuman and uncivilized. Simply changing the way a word is spelled makes this culture seem far away and distant but in reality it is the culture in which we live every day. The article, “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” by Horace Miner makes the readers think about what they know to be true and evaluate how strange the many aspects of their lives
"Stories - Peru Journal - Part 2: Diseases of the Poor — International Reporting Project.”
The Hmong culture is evidence that health worlds exist. Health worlds exist in which health is understood in terms of its social and religious context (SITE BOOK). Spiritual beliefs in the Hmong culture are strongly connected to their view and description of health and illness (SITE 6). Illness in the Hmong culture is believed to be caused by evil spirits, a curse from an unhappy ancestor, or a separation of the soul from the body (California Department of Health Services, 2004). Paja Thao, the shaman in “The Split Horn” emphasizes his belief that a soul can separate from its body and the failure to return back to the body is a sign that the individual will become ill. Like the Chinese concept of ‘Ying and Yang’, Hmong people believe that the balance between the body and soul determines perfect health. Paja Thao believes that a body is attached to seven souls, and when there is a loss in a soul, illness occurs. In contrast to this holistic concept that the Hmong’s believe in, the Western culture is not able to predict when illnesses will occur. Instead, the dominant biomedical model of health focuses on preventing depression through a healthy life style, such as exercise and nutrition
The healthcare establishment has identified that often “the practitioner will encounter families whose beliefs and assumptions about the etiology and appropriate treatment for illness is markedly different from their own” (Cora-Bramble, Tielman, & Wright, 2004, p. 102). This will often cause difficulties in treatment and may in fact, cause actual harm when medical treatment and traditional remedies collide, and treatment may, in fact, be necessitated by the administration of traditional cures rather than the illness itself. For example, Cora-Bramble, Tielman, and Wright (2004) cite a traditional remedy in Hispanic culture for a stomach ailment include azarcon and greta, which are lead oxides, resulting in lead poisoning if
The Hmong culture is firmly rooted in their spiritual belief of animism, ancestral worship and reincarnation. These beliefs connect them to their sense of health and well-being. They view illness as having either a natural or a spiritual cause. A spiritual cause results in a “loss of souls” or is an action or misdeed that may have offended an ancestor’s spirit (California Department of Health Services, 2004, Purnell, 2013, p. 317). The soul escapes the body and may not be able to find its way back home. The Hmong also believe that a combination of natural and supernatural cause’s results in illness, and spells or curses, violation of taboos, accidents, fright, and infectious disease are other causes for illness (Centers for Disease Control
Many traditional Native medicines and healing practices were discouraged with the advent of Western medicine, but now there is a movement to return to traditional ways (Zubek, 1994, p. 1924). Modern Western medicine treats the symptoms to cure a diseased state when the body is out of homeostasis. Native American healing traditions do this as well with herbs and plants suited to the purpose. These Native healing traditions also include sacred rituals, chants, and purification rites to help bring the spirit and mind of the afflicted back into balance. In effect, treating the whole person, not only the disease. A blending of these two healing practices could bring about better prognoses for today's patients. The purpose of this paper is to show the views of practicing physicians and their patients in regards to Native American healing traditions. It also discusses a hot spring in Alaska, where participants go to experience holistic healing in the mineral springs and the success they have experienced using this form of healing process.
Throughout the first chapter of Open Veins of Latin America, Eduardo Galeano discusses the oppressio...
Through showing the different definitions of health, the authors explain how those different understandings affect patterns of behavior on health depend on different cultures. In addition, an analysis of the models of health demonstrates even western medical approaches to health have different cognitions, same as the Indigenous health beliefs. The most remarkable aspect is a balance, a corresponding core element in most cultures which is an important consideration in Indigenous health as well. From an Indigenous perspective, health is considered as being linked, and keeping the connection is a priority to preserve their health. Consequently, health is a very much culturally determined. Health practitioners should anticipate and respect the cultural differences when they encounter a patient from various cultures. In particular, this article is good to understand why the Indigenous health beliefs are not that different than western medicine views using appropriate examples and comparative composition, even though the implementation the authors indicated is a bit abstract, not
Health Promotion Among the Hispanic Minority Health is determined in the nation by the minority health. "Approximately 36 percent of the population belongs to a racial or ethnic minority group" (CDC, 2015).One of these are the "Hispanics or Latinos are the largest racial/ethnic minority population in the United States" (CDC, 2015). "About 1 in 6 people living in the US are Hispanic" (CDC, 2015). Therefore, this student will make the comparison between the status of the health of Hispanic minority and the nations ,barriers of health behavior This paper will compare the health status of the Hispanic minority with the nations, barriers to health seeking behaviors, and methods of promoting health among this population. Status of Health Among Hispanic Minority "Heart disease and cancer in Hispanics are the two leading causes of death, accounting for about 2 of 5 deaths, which is about the same for whites" (CDC, 2015). "Hispanics have more deaths from diabetes and chronic liver disease than whites, and similar numbers of deaths from kidney disease" (CDC, 2015). Even though the percentage of Hispanics suffering from high blood pressure are17% in comparison to 20% of whites. Hispanics are 68% that suffered poorly controlled high blood pressure compare to whites which are 54%. Even though Health risks may vary among Hispanic subgroup and whether they are US born or not. Lower death rate is suffered by the Hispanic than whites .But Hispanic has about 50% higher death rate from diabetes. Many deaths may be prevented within the Hispanic population with an increase in education and health screening . Barriers to Health Promotion in the Hispanic Minority "Social factors may play a major role in Hispanic health" (CDC, 2015). According to the art...
This means that the connection between mind, body and spirit mental cures are important. This healthcare belief can interfere with treatment in the case of an emergency, when holistic care can only do so much for a person. The people in this culture usually delay seeking medical advice and attention and often turn towards alternative forms of medicine. Sometimes they can even return to their original home to seek traditional forms of treatment. Delaying treatment and diagnosis can lead to chronic and more serious illnesses. The lack of education and knowledge about healthcare and preventative measures for some diseases, such as regular checkups and the need for medication can impair the journey to better
Despite the rapid advances of modern medicine, a large portion of developing countries points to herbal remedies as to curing ailments and other sicknesses needing medical attention. People around the world have been using herbal remedies since humans have existed on earth. They have used herbs, plant, and roots during their healing rituals in curing both physical and spiritual illnesses. Countries such as Africa, Asia, and the Mariana Islands still use traditional treatment as their primary healthcare. Guam, one of the most developed islands in the Mariana Islands, has been using traditional remedies since the Spaniards conquered the ancient Chamorros. Ancient Chamorros used plants found around the island to cure the sick and identified the people who used traditional remedies as suruhanus for men and suruhanas for women. They have come to believed that suruhanus or suruhanas as the doctors we have today. Other than the suruhanus and suruhanas, ancient Chamorros also had another type of healers: the makahna and kakahnas. Makahnas and kakahnas, believed by the Chamorros, are shamans who had the connection between in both physical and spiritual worlds, and had magical powers. Reading about these healers had caught my interest in doing an in dept research about the suruhanus of Guam, especially after stumbling upon Ann M. Pobutsky’s “Suruhanas: A Profile of Traditional Women Healers in the Village of Umatac, Guam.” Although stumbling to a chapter based on traditional healers was just pure coincidence, I have come to a decision of researching about these people. Doing this research had helped me identify the major factors leading to a sense of spiritual and ritual identity of Guam. It had aided me to recognize the cultural uniqueness...
In the article “Native Americans” Warren Skye, Robert Schore, and Rachel Levenson state “Traditionally, AI/AN believed all illness was caused by demoniacal interference, malignant spirits, sorcery, or failure to perform an important ritual” (Skye et al). Today that belief is gone. Native Americans now have a modern view about illnesses and medicine. In Bonnie Duran, Margaret Sanders, Betty Skipper, Howard Waitzkin, Lorraine Halinka Malcoa, Susan Paine, and Joel Yager article “Prevalence and Correlates of Mental Disorders Among Native American Women in Primary Care” they state “Available evidence suggests that mental illness, mental dysfunction, or self-destructive behavior affects approximately 21% of the total AIAN population, costing an estimated $1.07 billion and causing incalculable human suffering” (Duran et al, 71). In reservations there are n...
2011. p. 53). According to this theory the unconscious mind (id, ego and superego) as well as conscious mind which help us to decide what is right or wrong and take decisions play a role in human behavior. It also states that childhood events have a profound impact on people’s lives and how they develop throughout life; a person uses defense mechanisms to cope with traumatic or stressful events. In Jose’s case he first started coping with his diagnosis by repressing his emotions and feelings about his diagnosis. As a result of this he often became sick. It was not until he had a really bad gum infection that he decided to disclose his HIV status to his
Death it is something we all must face at one point in our lives or another. It is either a death of a loved one, friend or co-worker. Sometimes it’s the devastation from a natural disaster. No matter what makes us face the idea of death it is how we handle this realization that truly matters. When Gilgamesh is faced with the horrendous loss of his dear friend and comrade Enkidu he begins to fear death. In Gilgamesh’s youth he is proud without fear of death, it is not until he watches his friend die that his own mortality becomes a fear.
Spiritual need is an essential component in health and recovery. The interview with C. R. provides a useful insight of how the patient spiritual needs as well as practices helps them to handle challenges in their daily life in coping with stress and sickness. It is not the only method they may use but, it is clear that it may be the main factor. Although, such persons being spiritually inclined may not always be compliant with modern medicine, the possibility cannot be ignored. Therefore, the conclusion can be made that the spiritual needs of the patient is vital to their