Analysis of the Global Health System (Essay Sample)

Analysis of a Global Health System
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Analysis of a Global Health System
Good health is the primary concern of human beings. This has particularly become crucial owing to the increasing cases of chronic diseases. Culture and traditions ply a crucial role in determining health the altitude of and individual towards treatment. Traditional medical practices played a crucial role in combating illnesses before the invention of modern medicine. Notably, traditional medicine is still held in prestige by many societies. However, with the invention of modern medicine, the use of these alternative medicines is diminishing. Despite the differences between the two paradigms, there are several areas of convergent between traditional and western medicine. This essay will focus on the similarities and differences between traditional and western medicine in combatting illness. To affect this, we will employ the transcultural theoretical model.
Summary and Interpretation of Field Work
By studying the traditional and western medicine paradigms, several similarities, as well as differences, come handy. Whereas the traditional medicine relies on natural remedies, western medicine emphasizes on conventional pharmaceutical drugs. In many societies, traditional medicine has continued to garner popularity owing to its cost friendly nature as well as the cultural attachment. Notably, there are several aspects of traditional medicine that have been adopted by western medicine in treating various chronic illnesses. However, some aspects of traditional medicine are still under probation to probe their authenticity. One major area of divergent between the traditional medicine and western medicine is the relationship between ailment and spirituality held by the traditional medicine practitioners. However, both paradigms agree on of the crucial role played by environment and culture in shaping the health of an individual.
Similarities
Despite the numerous differences between the Western medicine and the traditional medicine, there are notable elements shared between the two in combating illnesses. One of the striking similarities between the traditional and modern medicine is the use of similar herbs. Researchers have established the healing value of the traditional herbs that have been processed and incorporated in modern medicine. It is noted that both traditional and western medicines employ inspection and palpation methods though in different contexts. Additionally, the massage treatment that is widely employed by Western medicine has its roots in the traditional medicine. Acupuncture anesthesia, which is widely employed in western medicine, has its roots in the traditional Chinese Acupuncture. Additionally, the Artemisia, annua, a traditional medicine, has been employed in the treatment of malaria in the western medicine (Hickman, Nelson, Perrin, Moss, Hammes, & Tolle, 2010). The other notable traditional medicine is the air stabilizer that is utilized by western health practitioners to treat asthma and cough.
Both the traditional and western medicines employ diaphoresis and reinforcement in combating illnesses. The regular indigo formula used in combating Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) is the other traditional medicine that has been adopted by the western medicine practitioners. In addition to treating leukemia, the medicine has been known to impede the development of cancerous cells. The other notable similarity lies on pathogenesis (Jones, 2004). Both western and traditional medicines hold that some diseases exhibit similar developmental paradigms and hence can be treated with similar medical procedures. The other point of convergent between the two paradigms lies in the relationship between man and the universe. It is noted that the biological life and the biological clock theories base their origin from the concept of the relationship between man and the universe in the traditional medicine.
Differences
Whereas the traditional medicines rely on natural and spiritual remedies, western medicine incorporates modern technology in combating diseases. As such, several striking differences come out between the two paradigms. Whereas the western medicine treats only the affected body part, the traditional medicine takes into account the holistic person. On illness, the western medication views it as symptoms in need of treatment by prescription. This may be contrasted with the traditional medicine that considers illness as an indication of body imbalance in need of restoration. Additionally, whereas the western medication attaches all diseases to a biological origin, the traditional medicine attaches some of the illness to spiritualism. Further, it is noted that the western medicine targets the elimination of particular symptoms as opposed to the traditional medicine that is holistic.
Importantly, whereas the Western medicine aims at eliminating the disease, the traditional medicine aims at deriving lessons from the disease. Also, crucial differences arise in disease diagnosis. Whereas western medication focuses on the patient and family background, traditional medicine places an additional emphasis on the environment that the patient interacts with (Sagar, 2012). On side effects, western medicine is prone to creating undesirable outcomes on the patient's body as opposed to the traditional medicine that work well with the body. Notably, whereas in western medication patients are prompted to adhere strictly to the physician's recommendations, in traditional medicine, patients are empowered to value personal care of their bodies. The other notable difference is noted on the availability of the two types of medications, whereas the western medication is highly ...