Discussion: Osteopathic Medicine
Many people’s beliefs systems are a combination of these three theories. The theories are used by people to understand and respond to the illness. Through communication, patients and providers can work together and combine the theories to try to achieve a positive outcome for the patient.
Personalistic Theories In the personalistic belief system, illness is believed to be caused by the person’s misbehavior. The behavior could be related to violations of social or religious norms. As a result of moral or spiritual failings, the person may have punishment invoked in the form of illness by a supernatural being or a human with special powers. The supernatural being may be a dead ancestor or a deity (Carteret, 2011). A dead ancestor may retaliate for not carrying out proper rituals of respect for the dead ancestor. The deity may retaliate for breaching a religious taboo. Bad luck or karma also may cause illness.
Illness also can be caused by people who have the power to make others ill, such as witches, practitioners of voodoo, and sorcerers. These malevolent human beings manipulate secret rituals and charms to cause illness in their enemies.
Recovery from the illness involves healers using supernatural means to understand what is wrong with their patients and to return them to health. These supernatural means usually involves rituals or symbolisms used by healers, such as shaman, who are trained in the healing methods. Native Americans and people from Latin America and Asia often hold the personalistic belief system
(Carteret, 2011). Preventing personalistic illness includes avoiding situations that can provoke jealousy or envy, wearing certain amulets, adhering to social norms and moral behaviors, adhering to food taboos and restrictions, and performing certain rituals. Several personalistic beliefs and practices are reviewed in later chapters.
Did You Know?
Osteopathic medicine is a form of medical care based on the philosophy that all body systems are interrelated and dependent upon one another for good health. In 1874, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, who recognized the importance of treating illness within the context of the whole body, developed the philosophy of osteopathic medicine. In 1892, Dr. Still opened the first school of osteopathic medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. Physicians licensed as Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) must pass a national or state medical board examination to obtain a license to practice medicine (American College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2014).
Osteopathic
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