Analysis of Cultural and Societal Influences on Health Report

This report delves into the significant cultural and societal influences on health, drawing from the lecture notes on the history and philosophy of natural medicine. It highlights the importance of traditional healers and their role in early societies, as well as the holistic approach that combined herbalism with spirituality. The report further examines how culture and religion permeated traditional medicine, with spirits and ancestors playing a crucial role in healing practices. It also addresses the impact of colonialism on traditional medicine in Africa, the cultural beliefs surrounding disease, and the healing practices of ancient civilizations like Egypt. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding how cultural values and societal influences have shaped the history and philosophy of natural medicine, and how they continue to impact our understanding of health and illness.

Running Head: Major cultural and societal influence on health
Major cultural and societal influence on health.
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1The major cultural and societal influences on health.
Introduction
The Canadian Paediatric Society defines culture as a constantly evolving pattern of
customs, ideas, and behaviours in a particular society by a particular people. Culture influences
health and it affects perception of illness. Societal influences also affect the extent at which
diseases develop. This reflective journal examines the major cultural and societal influences on
health based on the lecture notes on the history and philosophy of natural medicine (Canadian
Paedriatic Society, 2017).
I was fascinated to learn the importance of traditional healers in traditional medicine and
the immense impact that they had on the early society. They were depended on in the past, same
way healthcare providers are depended on today. Moreover, I am fascinated by the ability of
traditional healers to identify various plants as medicine or animals to provide medicine. It is
important to appreciate the holistic approach adopted by the communities that combined
traditional herbalism with spirituality as something new to be learnt.
Furthermore, I learnt that culture and religion penetrated into the various aspects of
existence and traditional medicine was never left out. Spirits used by traditional healers were
ever consulted, various spirits were always at work at various times and they created harmony
with ancestors in order to heal people.
Impact on understanding medicine.
Colonialism came to Africa, it had a major impact on the social, cultural and political
ways of the people. The colonialists brought new socio-cultural customs such as new medicine in
the name of hospitals. The new medicine clashed with the traditional medicine that was already
present. Cultural ways changed, therefore, changing the traditional methods that were used in

2The major cultural and societal influences on health.
medicine such as indigenous herbs as they introduced new medicine to fight diseases. This
outlines the history of natural medicine.
Cultural effects on healing.
It was fascinating to learn that culture was based on religious and magical beliefs.
Religion was important in traditional livelihood. Moreover, it was important to learn the advent
of diseases in traditional medicine. People believed that diseases emerged due to conflicts with
gods or demons. Furthermore, they believed that evil demons and angered gods caused diseases.
Therefore, they had to put in place mechanisms to avoid angering the gods. Traditional healers
had to cast away evil spirits as a measure to prevent diseases.
It is important to learn that early civilization started in Egypt and the Egyptians had
doctors. The Egyptian culture had a belief in gods and goddesses who were consulted during
healing. The healing practice was a combination of religion and hospitals. Pries combined with
doctors to treat people through empirical and religious means. They conducted prayers to gods
and the goddesses of healing. In addition, they cursed evil spirits and threatened them. A good
initiative in understanding medicine and health in the past.
Conclusion
Cultural and societal influences on health have had major impacts on understanding the
history and philosophy of natural medicine. It was important to learn how cultural values and
societal influences contributed to understanding the origin of diseases. Furthermore, they also
outlined the healing practices in traditional medicine since healing was a practice that depended
on culture. The society and culture have influenced traditional medicine thus making it possible
to understand history and philosophy of natural medicine..

3The major cultural and societal influences on health.
References
Canadian Paedriatic Society. (2017). Culture and Health. Retrieved October 14, 2017, from
https://kidsnewtocanada.ca/culturei=/influence
Hernandez, L. (2006). The Impact of Social and Cultural Environment on Health. Washington:
National Academic Press.