Moving traditional Caribbean medicine practices into healthcare in Canada

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/ authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -This paper aims to describe Caribbean traditional medicine and to consider whether and how it could be integrated into health systems in Canada.Design/methodology/approach -This paper employs a literature review and synthesis.Findings -Caribbean traditional healing takes a variety of forms reflecting the diversity of histories of the people of the Caribbean. A number of arguments including quality, equity, cost, and social climate will be important factors in facilitating or hindering the expansion of these complementary therapies. However, linking an expansion of therapies to other policy imperatives such as developing stronger communities and expansion of trade may make success more likely.Research limitations/implications -This is a narrative and document review. It is an argument which aims to produce discussion rather than empirical research.Practical implications -Taking a discursive narrative approach to difficult policy issues may help in considering strategies for promoting change.Originality/value -This is the first study which has attempted to consider traditional Caribbean medicine in the Canadian context. It is also the first to consider the strategies for convincing health systems to adopt this form of complementary medicine.

The Lived Experiences of Folklore Healing Practices as a Health Patterning Modality

“…From an education perspective, because of the increasing population shifts in the United States and globalization, nursing practices as well as health care priorities have changed. Recent natural disasters around the world and economic and occupational mobility require nurses to broaden their understanding of the use of folklore healing practices and other complementary/alternative health healing modalities (McKenzie et al, 2011;Sealey & Hathorn, 2014). Therefore, nursing education needs to prepare nurses to address patient care holistically in order to meet the need of diverse groups of people including those who primarily rely on folklore healing practices (Heller, Oros, & Durney-Crowley, 2000;Sealey & Hathorn, 2014).…”

“…Another participant said that people should use natural before choosing to introduce chemicals into their bodies. In addition, McKenzie et al (2011), in talking about Caribbean immigrants living in Canada, stated that "traditional Caribbean medicine is often used as an early pathway to care before people visit their general practitioner" (p. 66). Some of the participants in the current study also stated that they used their bush/herbs before going to see a doctor.…”

“…Some of the participants in the current study also stated that they used their bush/herbs before going to see a doctor. McKenzie et al (2011) further suggested that using traditional Caribbean healing practices alongside other treatments has proven successful and could be considered for patients who would like this kind of treatment. In general, the participants conveyed that folklore healing practices were their heritage and legacy to use the things (fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices) in their environment around them to heal and maintain themselves.…”