Traditional Healing Approaches to Health and Illness

Running head: PUBLIC HEALTH
Public Health
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1PUBLIC HEALTH
Traditional healing approaches to health and illness have been under assessment since the
concept of medical science emerged. Researchers and scholars from across the world have taken
much interest to understand the applicability of such healing approaches, and the extent of its
usefulness has been well documented. The present essay describes the principle of a traditional
approach towards health and illness, as described by Aggleton (1990), with suitable examples.
Traditional healing is considered to be the health practices, beliefs, knowledge and
approaches incorporating conventional medicines based on plants, animals and minerals, and
energetic therapies (Chao et al. 2017). According to Aggleton (1990), traditional healing takes
into consideration the idea that human bodies are organisms with strong recuperative and self-
healing capabilities. When this is maintained in optimal condition, the body endures longevity
due to ongoing health. Traditional healers view illness and diseases as a preventable occurrence
that can be resisted if the immutable ad basic laws of nature are followed. The idea of traditional
healing is the correction of external disharmonies together with internal imbalances in a proper
manner for enhancing the natural healing power of the body. Restoration of health is thought to
be the key to prevent illness and poor health conditions. The claim is not to cure the disease, but
to restore the existing balance between the external and internal relationships forces.
Though the traditional methods adhered to by healers might vary from one country to
another, the basic treatment principles are similar across the globe. The first and basic approach
is counseling of the patient the focuses on correction of the emotional or mental disharmonies.
The second step is to correct the nutritional status together with the lifestyle of the patient. The
third method is herbal medicines that act as a powerful health restoring agent. Physical
approaches make up the fourth element of the traditional healing process that treats the patient
based on their energy points.