"If you don't believe it, it won't help you": use of bush medicine in treating cancer among Aboriginal people in Western Australia

Abstract

BackgroundLittle 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 AustraliaMethodsData 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsService 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.

“I can’t do this, it’s too much”: building social inclusion in cancer diagnosis and treatment experiences of Aboriginal people, their carers and health workers

“…Engagement in cancer care for Aboriginal Australians is lower at all levels including screening, early presentation at diagnosis, continuity of care, compliance with treatment and five-year survival rates (Cunningham, Rumbold et al 2008). For example, Aboriginal Australians are less likely to be diagnosed with cancer, incidence rates of some cancers are significantly higher than for non-Aboriginal Australians (incidence of cervical cancer is three times higher for Aboriginal Australians and cancers of unknown primary site and of the lung are 2.0 and 1.6 times higher than non-Aboriginal Australians); Aboriginal women are less likely to be screened for breast cancer than non-Aboriginal women (36% vs 55%); and, Aboriginal Australians aged 35-64 years have higher cancer mortality rates than In recent years a significant body of work has emerged in Australia, particularly from Western Australia, examining the experience of Aboriginal people with cancer, including beliefs about cancer, communication issues, bush medicine and structural and practical concerns in relation to cancer treatment Shahid, Bleam et al 2010;Shahid, Finn et al 2011). This work critiqued current health systems for persisting with a focus on clinical competence of health professionals at the expense of psychosocial characteristics that engender trust in the patient ).…”

My body’s getting healthy and my mind is getting healthy with it. Considering Urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Conceptions of Health.

“…The expressions of health were multi-faceted and reflect a blending, negotiation and contesting of knowledge from different contexts in which Indigenous Australians live, that is, their cultural interface. 37 For instance, compared to previous research conducted with rural and remote Indig-enous Australians, 10,[23][24][25] the urban participants placed less emphasis on "connection to country", or articulated this differently. Nevertheless, they constructed contemporary expressions of the importance of being outdoors or engaging in 'grounding' activities such as gardening or fishing.…”

“…10,[23][24][25] Little is known about how Indigenous Australian's in urban areas conceptualize health, where a variety of views may exist. In addition, there is little research regarding health meanings from the perspective of Indigenous Australians already living with a chronic condition.…”

Perspectives of wild medicine harvesters from Cape Town, South Africa

“…48 Similar trends involving the fluid integration of multiple treatment approaches are seen around the world. [50][51][52] One traditional healer respondent illustrated this point stating that 'the clinic is for Western problems' with another stating that 'there are no tablets for a job at the clinic'. The health and well-being requirement fosters continued consumer demand for locally occurring wild resources and remains an important driver for local resource harvesters of all backgrounds.…”