If you don't believe it, it won't help you
Use of bush medicine in treating cancer among Aboriginal people in Western Australia
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4720575 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Shaouli Shahid (0000-0002-1369-7084, Curtin University, corresponding author), Ryan Bleam (Curtin University), Dawn Bessarab (0000-0002-9716-1593, Curtin University), Suzanne C Thompson (0000-0003-0327-7155, The University of Western Australia), Sandra C Thompson |
| Year | 2010 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 18-18 |
| Publication date | 2010-12-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1746-4269 • E-ISSN: 1746-4269 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1186/1746-4269-6-18 |
| PMID | 20569478 |
| PMCID | PMC2902429 |
| OpenAlex | W1973512526 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 17 |
Background Little is known about the use of bush medicine and traditional healing among Aboriginal Australians for their treatment of cancer and the meanings attached to it. A qualitative study that explored Aboriginal Australians' perspectives and experiences of cancer and cancer services in Western Australia provided an opportunity to analyse the contemporary meanings attached and use of bush medicine by Aboriginal people with cancer in Western Australia Methods Data collection occurred in Perth, both rural and remote areas and included individual in-depth interviews, observations and field notes. Of the thirty-seven interviews with Aboriginal cancer patients, family members of people who died from cancer and some Aboriginal health care providers, 11 participants whose responses included substantial mention on the issue of bush medicine and traditional healing were selected for the analysis for this paper. Results The study findings have shown that as part of their healing some Aboriginal Australians use traditional medicine for treating their cancer. Such healing processes and medicines were preferred by some because it helped reconnect them with their heritage, land, culture and the spirits of their ancestors, bringing peace of mind during their illness. Spiritual beliefs and holistic health approaches and practices play an important role in the treatment choices for some patients. Conclusions Service providers need to acknowledge and understand the existence of Aboriginal knowledge (epistemology) and accept that traditional healing can be an important addition to an Aboriginal person's healing complementing Western medical treatment regimes. Allowing and supporting traditional approaches to treatment reflects a commitment by modern medical services to adopting an Aboriginal-friendly approach that is not only culturally appropriate but assists with the cultural security of the service
Alternative medicine · Pathology · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Australian Indigenous Culture and History · Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies · Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights · Medicine
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Aboriginal medical services cure more than illness
Building partnerships for linking biomedical science with traditional knowledge of customary medicines
| Citations per year | 0.38 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2013 - 2024 (12) |
| Highly cited | No |