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

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to understand the meaning of folklore as a health patterning modality and to uncover its unique characteristics in the life-health process. Design: Hermeneutic phenomenological. Method: Max van Manen’s methodology was used for this study. The sample was selected from the Afro-Caribbean American community in the United States. The criterion for selection was that participants used folklore healing practices for health and well-being on an ongoing basis. In-depth interviews were done. Purposive sampling with networking was done based on whether the participants used folk healing on a regular basis. Themes of the meaning of folklore healing practices were identified from participants’ verbatim data. Findings: The meaning of folklore healing practices was interpreted as phenomena with six interconnected essential themes. Additionally, Barrett’s nursing theory of power as knowing participation in change was used to reflect and understand the findings from a nursing perspective. Conclusion: The research findings have implications for nursing science, and the knowledge gleaned from the study may be applied to nursing practice.

Discourse of Folk Literature on Healthy Ageing: A Case Study in Sindh, Pakistan during the Pandemic Crisis

“…This research also makes a theoretical contribution to existing literature on how folk literature can be used as therapy to ensure healthy ageing. Unlike other researchers' findings (Joseph 2019;Hufford 1998), our findings relate to the role of Sindhi folk literature in enhancing the psychological, social, and spiritual wellbeing of senior citizens in Pakistan's Sindh province. We suggest that the public health sector in Sindh should hire the services of such senior citizens and encourage such conversations in informal settings (guest houses, open air theatres) and formal settings (clinics, educational institutions) so that the spiritual, psychological, and social health of everyone can be improved.…”

“…Many researchers have already identified the role of folklore in developing healthy ageing (Joseph 2019;Hufford 1998;Newton 2019;Puglisi et al 2017). Joseph's (2019) hermeneutic, phenomenological, and qualitative study showed how the Afro-Caribbean people use folklore practices as a health patterning modality.…”

“…Many researchers have already identified the role of folklore in developing healthy ageing (Joseph 2019;Hufford 1998;Newton 2019;Puglisi et al 2017). Joseph's (2019) hermeneutic, phenomenological, and qualitative study showed how the Afro-Caribbean people use folklore practices as a health patterning modality. According to Hufford (1998), the role of folklore is vital in facilitating and understanding links between cultural dynamics and biological processes, thus helping to solve problems posed by viral diseases.…”

Characterisation of Shirashulahara Lepa – A Non-Codified Formulation

“…According to the World Health Organization (2008), folklore is defined as the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the beliefs and experiences of a society. (1) The origin of Indian medicines are shrouded in myths. It can certainly be valuable source of clues to the usefulness of plants and the kinds of relationships that human communities have had with them.…”