ASIA
Health and illness in Asian Population
China
BACKGROUND:
China
- Chinese immigration to united states began over 100 years. In 1850 there were
only 1000 chinese inhabitants in this country and in 1880 there were well over
100,000. This rapid increase because of discovery of gold california and in part
because of the need for cheap labor to build the transcontinental railroads. But
before 1930, subsequently many of the workers and their kin returned to china.
Part of disharmony and disenchantment occurred because the immigrants were
not white and did not have the same culture and habits as whites. For these
reasons, they were not welcomed, and many jobs were excluded from many
mining, construction, and other hard-labor jobs even though the
transcontinental railroad was constructed mainly by chinese laborers. However,
on 1965 they were able to settled down in tightly knit groups in urban
neighborhoods that took the name “chinatown.” Here they were able to maintain
the ancient traditions of their homeland. They were hard workers, and in spite of
the dull, menial jobs usually available to them, they were able to survive.Now the
rate of increase since 1965 has been 10% per year.
TRADITIONAL DEFINITIONS OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS
Chinese medicine teaches that HEALTH is a state of spiritual and physical
harmony with nature. The task of the physician was to prevent ILLNESS.To
understand more the philosophy of HEALTH and ILLNESS, it is necessary to to
look back at the aged-old philosophies from which more current ideas evolved.
1. Taoism - Taoism is based upon the philosophy and teachings of Lao Tzu
(sometimes translated as "Laotse"), who was born in China about 604 b.c.e. Much of
the Asian perspective on health comes from Taoist thought. The central belief of
Taoism involves finding the "way," or tao. This is achieved by "flowing in
accordance with nature" and remaining in harmony with both the cosmological
(yin/yang) and natural spheres.
2. Buddhism. Buddhism, brought to China from India between 563 and 483 b.c.e.,
has also shaped the world view and values of most Asians. Out of Buddhist teachings
come many attitudes toward life and behavioral traits that may manifest themselves
during physician-patient interactions. These include acceptance of fate and suffering,
stoicism, behavioral reserve, and suppression of negative thoughts and complaints.
Zen Buddhism, which came to Japan from China in the thirteenth century, stresses
meditation and enlightenment, which result from intuitive thought, self-discipline, and
a direct style of life.
3. Confucianism. Confucianism (and neo-Confucianism) concentrates on
interpersonal rules and the proper way to conduct social interactions. It reminds
people to practice moderation and avoid excess, and to understand that they are
destined to fulfill their mission on earth and need to allow ming, or fate, to guide their
lives.
4. Yin and yang. Even older than the religious philosophies described above is the
cosmological principle of complementary duality, better known as the theory
of yin and yang. Yin, which represents the negative, dark, cold, feminine side of all
things, and yang, which represents the positive, bright, warm, masculine side of all
things, must remain in balance and harmony. When they are out of harmony, disease
and catastrophe occur.
TRADITIONAL
PROTECTION:
METHODS
OF
HEALTH
MAINTENANCE
AND
1.Amulets - o prevent evil spirits and protect HEALTH. The amulets consist of charm
with an idol or chinese character printed in red or black ink and written on a strip of
yellow paper. these amultes hung over a door or pasted on a curtain or wall, worn in
the hair, or placed in a red bag and pinned on clothing . The paper may be burned and
the ashes mixed in hot tea and swallowed to ward off evil. (insert video if available)
2.Jade - is believed to be the most precious of all stones because it is seen as the giver
of children, health, immortality, wisdom, power, victory, growth, and food. Jade
charms are worn to bring HEALTH, and should they turn dull or break, the wearer
will surely meet misfortune. The charm prevents harm and accidents. (insert video if
available)
TRADIONAL METHODS OF HEALTH RESTORATION
Most traditional medical interventions that may be sought by Asian patients living in
America are versions of healing practices that originated in China and then spread
throughout Asia
Ways to Restore “HEALTH
”:
1. Acupuncture - an ancient chinese practice of puncturing the body to cure
disease or relieve pain. Acupuncture is based on the on the therapeutic value of
cold. (insert pic)
List of needles and their purposes
1. Superficial pricking : arrowhead needle
2. Massaging: round needle
3. Knocking or pressing: blunt needle
4. Venous pricking: sharp three-edged needle
5. Evacuating pus: swordlike needle
6. Rapid Pricking: sharp, round needle
7. Puncturing thick muscle: sharp, round needle
8. Puncturing thick muscle: long needle
9. Treating arthritis: large needle
10. Most extensively used: filiform needle
2. Moxibustion - has been practiced for as long as acupuncture. Its purpose is to
restore the proper balance of yin and yang. Moxibustion is based on the on the
therapeutic value of heat. It is believed to be most useful during the period of
labor and delivery, if applied properly.(insert pic)
3. Cupping - involves creating a vacuum in a small glass by burning the oxygen
out of it, then promptly placing the glass on the person’s skin surface. The
purpose for doing this is to remove cold and damp “evils” from the body and/or
to assist blood circulation. The procedure is frequently used to treat lung
congestion. (insert pic)
4. Coining and pinching - A treatment in which a metal coin is dipped in oil,
heated, and then rubbed briskly over the skin until welts appear. These welts can
also be produced by pinching the skin between the thumb and index finger.
These procedures are used as a means of drawing out fever and illness. This
procedure leaves long lines of continuous dark bruises over the skin.
5. Bleeding - often done with the use of leeches. This performed to “remove heat
from the body.” Only a small amounts of blood are removed (insert pic)
6. Massage, Tui Na - “pushing and pulling” is a complex system of mssage or
manual acupuncture point stimulation that is used on orthopedic and nerological
conditions. (insert pic)
7. Herbal Remedies - were used widely in the practice of ancient chinese healing.
It was believed that some herbs are better if gathered at night and that others
were more effective if gathered at dawn.
Examples;
a. Ginseng Root - it must be harvested only at midnight in a full moon if it to
have therapeutic value. (insert pic)
b. Deer antlers - used to strengthen bones, increase a mans potency, and dispel
nightmares.
c.
Lime calcium - used to clear excessive mucus
d. Quicksilver - used externally to treat venereal diseases
e. Rhinoceros horns - highly effective when applied to pus boils, an anti-toxin
for snakebites
f.
Turtle shells - used to stimulate weak kidneys and to remove gallstones
g. Seashore - pulverized and used to treat gout
h. Boy’s Urine - In china it is used to cure lung diseases, soothe inflamed
throats, and dissolve blood clots in pregnant women. In Europe, it was used
during the two world wars as emergency treatment for open wounds.
Example of HEALERS
1. Traditional Healers - the “PHYSICIAN” is the primary healer in chinese
medicine. Physician who had to treat women encountered numerous difficulties
because men were not allowed to touch directly the women who were not family
members.
2. Chinese Pediatrics - babies are breast-fed beacuse neither cow’s milk is
acceptable to the chinese. Chinese have known about the practiced immunization
against smallpox.
CURRENT HEALTH PROBLEMS:
➢ China - Poor health is found among the residents of chinatowns partly
because of poor working and crowded living conditions. Language
difficulties and adherence to native chinese culture compound problems
already associated with poverty, crowding and poor health.
➢ American of Asian and Pacific Island heritage - frequently experienced
unique barriers, including linguistic and cultural differences, when they try
to access the unfamiliar health care system.
➢ Lack of knowledge or skills in mental health therapy is seen in the Asian
communities, as mental illness is much ignored in medical classics
Culture-Bound Mental HealtH Syndrome
TRADITIONAL
MALADY
1.
Hwa-byung
wool-hwa-byung
2. Koro
3. Qi-gong
reaction
SYMPTOMS
or “anger
syndrome”
attributed
to
the
suppression of anger;
insomnia, fatigue, fear of
impending
death,
indigestion anorexia, and
dyspnea
Sudden
and
intense
anxiety that causes the
penis (or, in female, the
vulva and nipples) to
recede into the body and
cause death
REGIONS LOCATED
KOREA
SOUTH AND EAST
ASIA WITH MANY
NAMES, SUCH AS
SHUK YANG, SHOOK
YONG, OR SUO YANG
IN CHINA
psychotic Dissociative, paranoid, or
other
psychotic
or
nonpsychotic symptoms
CHINA
An individual’s intense
fear that their body, its
parts, or its functions,
are offensive to others.
JAPAN
4. Tajiin kyofusho