Medicine; Modern or Traditional, Good or Evil

By: Joseph Eisch

As Americans, we believe that our modern medicine is the most extraordinary medicine
out there. We hold our standards of health care above all else, and we are proud of it. It seems to
be one of the founding factors of modern Americas pride; ford trucks, NASA, apple pie, Kim
Kardashian, and medicine. All humor aside, we do have an elevated sense of pride over our
healthcare system when compared to other nations. Do our synthetic drugs and prescription pills
really give us an upper hand when comparing to other forms of medicine? When you examine
culture as a context in which the medicine is being distributed, there isnt a clear cut answer. The
fact of the matter is; depending on which culture you associate with, your views on differing
medicines will be just that, different.
This is not to say that members of other cultures will totally dismiss other cultures forms
of medicine. It is , however, that it does take a critical approach to examining another cultures
views to fully understand the limitations that either culture may have on health care. The book
clearly states the differences between western culture and the traditional culture of the Hmong.
Much of the Hmong medical practices have to do with the soul and focuses mostly on this aspect
in contrast to the western practices that focus mainly on the physical body (Fadiman, 33). It is
this disconnect between the cultures that is so fascinating.
Coming from a western culture, we never really think of the spiritual self when it comes
to our health care, unless it has to do with psychological care where in that case we tend to look
the other way and not give much credit to the mental care. Realizing this, we neglect an aspect

that is so crucial to the way we function as human beings. When we neglect to recognize the
emotional and spiritual side of our beings we cause a heightened worth of the physical being.
With so much emphasis on our physical being we set ourselves up for disastrous mental
consequences when our bodies fail us, as human bodies tend to do from time to time. When that
happens we set ourselves up for disappointment, regret, and guilt that can lead to depression and
other mental disabilities.
The Hmong focus mainly on the spiritual self. Because of this focus, any physical
ailments are of just cause because of some spiritual aspect. The book discusses how Hmong
shaman and other healers spend an ample amount of time with individuals because they are not
only attending to the physical body but the spiritual entity as well. This time and attention shows
the vast cultural divide between American style of medicine and the Hmongs. The Hmong
believe that there is always some sort of spiritual reason for any sort of physical ailment and it is
because of this reasoning that they never put blame on the shaman, however they put the blame
on the evil spirit (Fadiman, 33). In strong contrast we almost always put the blame on our
physicians for ourselves not getting better, never accounting the extraneous factors that human
bodies can produce; i.e. body not reacting to treatment, allergic reaction to medicine, immune to
treatments. When we are at discontent with our health we want to push the blame on others, we
want a reason for our suffering and usually put it upon a concrete person, a physician usually
being the main facet of the health care facility that gives them order over their own bodies. The
Hmong place blame as well, however they place the blame on the spiritual aspects of their lives,
mainly demons, spirits and dabs, and they continue to live in the culture of superstition and old
tales. The book referenced this relation of spirit and body to Conquergoods experience in Ban
Vinai and how a shaman informed him that his dengue fever was a spiritual reaction to his soul

being homesick. (Fadiman, 37). This interconnectivity between the body and soul is what drives
the traditions and customs of the Hmong people.
The social stigma of psychological healthcare is still strongly uneasy in modern
American culture. Studies have shown that while Americans are aware that the mental health
can and does affect the physical self, they were less informed on the mental health care and were
at a greater reluctance to seek help. (Farberman). In contrast, while the the Hmongs methods
arent necessarily scientific, they do have certain ways of calming the mind and easing the soul,
even if the methods arent able to provide a scientific result as we Americans tend to demand
from our treatment. Although Americans vastly claim to understand the significance of
psychological care, the study found that the public has virtually no understanding of the impact
of psychology on our lives. (Farberman). This total disconnect sets the battle ground for
cultural feuds when the Lees or any other Hmong individual have contact with the hospital. The
fundamental misunderstanding of how each hold attitudes toward healing is the main reason they
cannot come to a common understanding of each other.
The text discusses how our identities are developed differently depending on the cultures
we are brought up to assimilate into and associate with. It is stated that Americans are clearly
individualistic and therefore depend on self dependability as a core attribute. Many Asian
cultures, like the Hmong, are collectivists and depend on the wellbeing of the whole group than
the importance of one individual (Book, 100). This is further exemplified in the book about the
Hmongs strong distaste for a single party ruling system. It clearly relates that the Hmongs
cultural history revolves around them fighting for their independent freedom and looking to not
be controlled by one nation or party (Fadiman, 13-19).

Through this cross-culture examination, we were given a broader view of the

world and how other cultures attitudes toward medicines directly reflects the customs of that
specific culture. When looking through our American based lenses, of course the majority of the
doctors would see the Hmong as supersticious and unreasonable when trying to help them in
their practice. However, for the Hmong, living in a totally different world than which they were
accustomed to, the American doctors seemed cold and detached to the spiritual aspects to
healing and general health.
Overseeing both sides play out, it is easy to criticize and question the motives of either
side. Until you truly are within that experience and fully comprehend each others cultures,
conflicts and misunderstandings are going to arise. Coming into contact with any other culture
can be challenging, especially if there is a language barrier. Once you can overcome those
barriers, each side has the opportunity to come out with a richer understanding of the world and
possibly have more support to help each other. In the end that is all we as humans are looking
for in this world, people to understand us, listen to us, love us, and appreciate us no matter the
culture, race, ethnicity, or any other factor. We all are simply human with a common goal.

Bibliography
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American Doctors, and
the Collision of Two Cultures. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1997.
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care: Research to guide
the american psychological association public education campaign.
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 28(2), 128-136.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.28.2.128
Martin, Judith N., and Thomas K. Nakayama. "Identity and Intercultural
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