Major Cultural And Societal Influence On Health †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Major Cultural And Societal Influence On Health. Answer: Introduction The Canadian Paediatric Society defines culture as a constantly evolving pattern of customs, ideas, and behaviours in a particular society by a particular people. Culture influences health and it affects perception of illness. Societal influences also affect the extent at which diseases develop. This reflective journal examines the major cultural and societal influences on health based on the lecture notes on the history and philosophy of natural medicine(Canadian Paedriatic Society, 2017). I was fascinated to learn the importance of traditional healers in traditional medicine and the immense impact that they had on the early society. They were depended on in the past, same way healthcare providers are depended on today. Moreover, I am fascinated by the ability of traditional healers to identify various plants as medicine or animals to provide medicine. It is important to appreciate the holistic approach adopted by the communities that combined traditional herbalism with spirituality as something new to be learnt. Furthermore, I learnt that culture and religion penetrated into the various aspects of existence and traditional medicine was never left out. Spirits used by traditional healers were ever consulted, various spirits were always at work at various times and they created harmony with ancestors in order to heal people. Impact on understanding medicine. Colonialism came to Africa, it had a major impact on the social, cultural and political ways of the people. The colonialists brought new socio-cultural customs such as new medicine in the name of hospitals. The new medicine clashed with the traditional medicine that was already present. Cultural ways changed, therefore, changing the traditional methods that were used in medicine such as indigenous herbs as they introduced new medicine to fight diseases. This outlines the history of natural medicine. Cultural effects on healing. It was fascinating to learn that culture was based on religious and magical beliefs. Religion was important in traditional livelihood. Moreover, it was important to learn the advent of diseases in traditional medicine. People believed that diseases emerged due to conflicts with gods or demons. Furthermore, they believed that evil demons and angered gods caused diseases. Therefore, they had to put in place mechanisms to avoid angering the gods. Traditional healers had to cast away evil spirits as a measure to prevent diseases. It is important to learn that early civilization started in Egypt and the Egyptians had doctors. The Egyptian culture had a belief in gods and goddesses who were consulted during healing. The healing practice was a combination of religion and hospitals. Pries combined with doctors to treat people through empirical and religious means. They conducted prayers to gods and the goddesses of healing. In addition, they cursed evil spirits and threatened them. A good initiative in understanding medicine and health in the past. Conclusion Cultural and societal influences on health have had major impacts on understanding the history and philosophy of natural medicine. It was important to learn how cultural values and societal influences contributed to understanding the origin of diseases. Furthermore, they also outlined the healing practices in traditional medicine since healing was a practice that depended on culture. The society and culture have influenced traditional medicine thus making it possible to understand history and philosophy of natural medicine.. References Canadian Paedriatic Society. (2017). Culture and Health. Retrieved October 14, 2017, from https://kidsnewtocanada.ca/culturei=/influence Hernandez, L. (2006). The Impact of Social and Cultural Environment on Health. Washington: National Academic Press.