Abstract
East Indian immigrants to the United States represent the diversity in religion, language, and culture that exists in India, so it is difficult to make unequivocal statements about their health beliefs and behaviors. Despite the diversity, an understanding of Ayurvedic humoral concepts of health and illness provides a key to some pervasive and persistent ideas and practices. India has a pluralistic medical system in which Western medicine, which is increasingly popular for some ailments, is one option among many. Even those who are familiar with the "Western" medical system in India may find American medicine alien.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Alexander C. A., Shivaswamy M. K. Traditional healers in a region of Mysore. Soc Sci Med. 1971 Dec;5(6):595–601. doi: 10.1016/0037-7856(71)90007-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Barnhoorn F., Adriaanse H. In search of factors responsible for noncompliance among tuberculosis patients in Wardha District, India. Soc Sci Med. 1992 Feb;34(3):291–306. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(92)90271-q. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bhatia J. C., Vir D., Timmappaya A., Chuttani C. S. Traditional healers and modern medicine. Soc Sci Med. 1975 Jan;9(1):15–21. doi: 10.1016/0037-7856(75)90153-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Greenhalgh T. Drug prescription and self-medication in India: an exploratory survey. Soc Sci Med. 1987;25(3):307–318. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(87)90233-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kapur R. L. The role of traditional healers in mental health care in rural India. Soc Sci Med Med Anthropol. 1979 Jan;13 B(1):27–31. doi: 10.1016/0160-7987(79)90015-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nichter M. Idioms of distress: alternatives in the expression of psychosocial distress: a case study from South India. Cult Med Psychiatry. 1981 Dec;5(4):379–408. doi: 10.1007/BF00054782. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pool R. Hot and cold as an explanatory model: the example of Bharuch district in Gujarat, India. Soc Sci Med. 1987;25(4):389–399. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(87)90277-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pugh J. F. The semantics of pain in Indian culture and medicine. Cult Med Psychiatry. 1991 Mar;15(1):19–43. doi: 10.1007/BF00050826. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Reeler A. V. Injections: a fatal attraction? Soc Sci Med. 1990;31(10):1119–1125. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(90)90233-i. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sachs L., Tomson G. Medicines and culture--a double perspective on drug utilization in a developing country. Soc Sci Med. 1992 Feb;34(3):307–315. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(92)90272-r. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Skultans V. Women and affliction in Maharashtra: a hydraulic model of health and illness. Cult Med Psychiatry. 1991 Sep;15(3):321–359. doi: 10.1007/BF00046542. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Skultans V. Women and affliction in Maharashtra: a hydraulic model of health and illness. Cult Med Psychiatry. 1991 Sep;15(3):321–359. doi: 10.1007/BF00046542. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tomson G., Sterky G. Self-prescribing by way of pharmacies in three Asian developing countries. Lancet. 1986 Sep 13;2(8507):620–622. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)92438-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Unschuld P. U. Medico-cultural conflicts in Asian settings: An explanatory theory. Soc Sci Med. 1975 Jun;9(6):303–312. doi: 10.1016/0037-7856(75)90002-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Weiss M. G., Desai A., Jadhav S., Gupta L., Channabasavanna S. M., Doongaji D. R., Behere P. B. Humoral concepts of mental illness in India. Soc Sci Med. 1988;27(5):471–477. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(88)90370-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Weiss M. G., Sharma S. D., Gaur R. K., Sharma J. S., Desai A., Doongaji D. R. Traditional concepts of mental disorder among Indian psychiatric patients: preliminary report of work in progress. Soc Sci Med. 1986;23(4):379–386. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(86)90080-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]