Ethnomedicine
Ethnomedicine
Ethnomedicine (/ˌɛθnoʊˈmɛdɪsɪn/; from the Greek ethnos, meaning "people" or "nation", and medicine) is a study or comparison of the traditional medicine practiced by various ethnic groups, and especially by indigenous peoples. The word ethnomedicine is sometimes used as a synonym for traditional medicine.
Ethnomedicine is a sub-field of medical anthropology and deals with the cultural interpretations of health, disease and illness and also addresses the healthcare-seeking process and healing practices.
Etymology
The term "ethnomedicine" is derived from the Greek words ethnos (people or nation) and medicine. It was first used in the early 20th century to describe the study of the medical practices of different ethnic groups.
Related Terms
- Ethnobotany: The scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants.
- Ethnopharmacology: A related study of ethnic groups and their use of drugs. Ethnopharmacology is closely related to plant and animal taxonomy, ethnobotany and anthropology.
- Medical Anthropology: A sub-field of anthropology that provides a biological and cultural perspective to the study of human health and disease.
- Traditional Medicine: The sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ethnomedicine
- Wikipedia's article - Ethnomedicine
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