APPROACHES TO HEALTH CARE

• World Health Organization defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.” • This state was regarded as the

fundamental right of all human beings “without distinctions of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.

Video – “What does being healthy mean to you?• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geX1V1Q1BHY

We will be looking at 4 different approaches towards health:

1)Western Medicine most popular in North America and Western European countries. It is based on the use of drugs and surgery to treat symptoms as well as clinical research.

encompasses all types of conventional medical treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy radiation, physical therapy and prescription drugs.

Western Medicine – EmployeesThis form of treatment would be administered by the following professionals

•Doctors (M.D.) •Registered Nurses (R.N.)•Licensed Practical Nurses (L.P.N.)•Dentists (D.D.S) •Nurse Practitioners •Pharmacists

2) Traditional/Holistic Medicine

• is a form of healing that considers the whole person -- body, mind, spirit, and emotions

Traditional/Holistic Medicine

• Treatment plans in holistic medicine have a completely different approach than western medicine. • Treatment involves fixing the cause

of the condition, not just alleviating the symptoms

Treatments may include:

•Eating healthier/more natural foods •Acupuncture •Magnet therapy •Herbal therapy •Yoga •Meditation •Feng Shui •Aromatherapy •Light therapy

This form of treatment would be administered by the following professionals:

•Naturopathic doctors •Acupuncturist•Homeopath

Acupuncture – Oprah Winfrey Show

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wivupyEDnTs

Dr. Andrew Lipton – What is holistic medicine? (Fox News)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHUIQGJKUBY

3) Indigenous Medicine focuses on the balance between the 4 directions of the medicine wheel The medicine wheel may have different

interpretations for different people, however one thing that remains constant is that it represents the alignment and continuous interaction of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realities.

The circle shape represents the interconnectivity of all aspects of one’s being, including the connection with the natural world. 

Treatment in Indigenous Medicine would include things like:

•Medicinal plant therapy •Gold thread – Purifying blood •Wild Ginger – chest colds & heart disease•Sweetgrass- Smudging & Thinning blood •Bearberry – Diarrhea & kidney infections

4) Alternative Medicine

Is the exclusion of Western Medicine from a treatment plan.An individual who relies solely on

traditional/indigenous/holistic medical approach

5) Complementary Medicine

may involve traditional/holistic/indigenous medical practices, but is done along with Western healing approachesHence the Western and non-Western compliment

one anotherOver 70% of Canadians use some form of

complementary medicine• Including things such as:• Acupuncture • Massage • Naturopathy • Yoga • Reiki

Approaches to Health Care

• Sometimes it is difficult to determine which type of medicine falls under each category.

• Some people use one or more of the approaches together to ensure their health and well-being.

• Humanity’s beliefs about health, wellness, disease and treatment have changed over time, which has led to such a wide variety of options in present day.

Medical vs. Holistic

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GgEHwgrQUI

David Foster – Western Medicine (Comedian)• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIsm9YljWlk

Alternative Medicine - Acupuncture• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M7x9wuKswI

Case Study• How do you think the following situation would be

handled using the different approaches to medicine?