Native Americans have kept their culture intact in many fields which include medicine. While most Americans today depend on western medical technology, most Native Americans are heavily dependent on their traditional Native American medicine. This is largely because of the expensive nature of the western medicine that prohibits access of most Native Americans to these services and also the attachment of this community to their culture. In recognition of the large population that is dependent on Native American medicine, there have been attempts to integrate this medicine practice with western medicine. However in order for this to be possible differences between these two healing practices must be well understood.
One major difference between western medicine and Native American medicine is that, while western medicine takes a scientific approach when delivering healthcare, Native American traditional medicine associate diseases with spirits and therefore takes a spiritual approach to healthcare (Broome & Broome, 2007). In western medicine knowledge of natural science creates an understanding of what causes a particular disease (for example a micro organism) and focus the treatment efforts towards eliminating this cause. On the other hand, Native American medicine associate illness with the spirituality of the patients and therefore healing is usually dependent on spiritual interventions rather than physical interventions. Therefore as Mr. Wolf’s practitioner, I would make efforts to learn what the cultural beliefs of the community towards the disease are and make sure I incorporate them when designing my interventions. I would also study the herbs that Mr. Wolves is going to take together with the medication to see whether they have adverse impacts on when combined with the western medication.
Similarly, while western medicine emphasize on finding means for destroying the disease, Native American medicine operate on the belief that diseases have certain lessons from which, the patient and the community at large are supposed to learn from (Broome & Broome, 2007). Western medicine looks at the microscopic causes of diseases and formulates antidotes for killing these organisms. It focuses on the getting on the spot result. Native American medicine is based on the belief that the universe is interlinked and that every occurrence has a reason behind it and every action has its effect.
Instead of focusing on destroying the disease or the micro-organism that causes the disease, the Native American medicine focuses on understand why the disease came at that particular time, what are the effects of taking any of the available alternative and what lesson they can derive from the illness. It is also important for Mr. Wolf practitioners to put this factor into consideration. The physician ought to understand what beliefs Mr. Wolf holds cornering prostrate cancer and whether it is going to interfere with treatment.
Western medicine also fosters the patient’s dependence on medications and medical technologies (Broome & Broome, 2007). When the patient goes to the hospital he is really informed why the illness occurred, how the procedure worked and how he can respond to a similar case in the future. Unlike western medicine, Native American medicine focuses on empowering the patients. The patient is informed on the origin of the disease and how he could take care of himself. In regard to these, apart from Mr. Wolf physician providing the required intervention to cure the condition, the physician must take his or her time to explain the nature of illness to Mr. Wolf. The practitioner aught to provide Mr. Wolf with information concerning the risk factors that might have contributed to the development of the condition, how to avoid the intervention is going to work and how he can take care of himself so that he can recover from this condition.
In conclusion, there are many differences between western medicine and Native American Medicine. These differences mainly relate to; understanding of diseases and their causes, approach to solving illness and the technology involved. These differences must be put into consideration when integrating western medicine and Native American medicine.
References
Broome B. & Broome R. (2007). Native Americans: Traditional Healing. Journal of Urologic Nursing. 27 (2)
