Mexican American Approaches to Health Essay

Mexican American, or Latino, traditional views on wellness and ameliorate practices argon influenced by several another(prenominal) finishings that they own historically had some kind of contact with, such as the Spanish colonizers, indigenous Indian populations, and westerly medical practitioners. This wide-ranging background accounts for their holistic healing methods and their belief that good health stems from internal balance, a eliminate conscience, and a strong spiritual relationship with God. The underlying theme in traditional Mexican American health is that there needs to be a balance between the body and Earths elements.Equilibrium of each elementfire, water, air, and land melts to an overall healthy nation. (Molina, 1994) Traditionalists tie this balance concept in with the intellection that all health states are associated with either hot or cold, and one may be used to heal the other. A state of health is characterized by a warm, wet body, and any word picture to extreme conditions on either side of this scale leads to illness. It is important to point out that the generalizations assumed in this paper are based on very traditional Mexican American individuals and do non span the entire population within the US.In regards to health care, traditional Mexican Americans hold the belief that their healing methods are either superior to or the same as those practiced by Western providers, so they tend to rely primarily on home remedies and cultural healers before seeking out other forms of medicine. Furthermore, their healing approach is firmly rooted in their specific values. It is important to be aware of Latino cultural values in order to understand their views on healthcare, as the latter is based on the other.In general, there are three basic values that crucially exists within most Mexican American relationships individualisedismo, respeto, and dignidad. (Molina, 1994) Personalismo is the trust and rapport that is established with othe rs. Latin Americans respond better to warm, friendly interactions, and prefer personal relationships to professional ones. Therefore, the best ways to earn trust is for a provider to show interest in the endurings personal life, exercise empathy, and avoid formal interactions.It is also important for a provider to show respeto (respect) by dressing according to their profession and addressing the patient with the formal greeting usted. This makes the patient rule as through they are taken seriously and cared for at the same time. A Latino patient tends to want a provider to embrace and exemplify their role as a professional they plain prefer more intimate interactions. And although they appreciate empathy, they expect a blatant regard for their digidad (dignity) as with some(prenominal) individuals, Latinos place an emphasis on being swear outed as equals and human beings.Furthermore, Mexican Americans value family and smash off their interdependent relationships with them. ( Molina, 1994) In fact, most traditional Latinos rely more on their relatives for health advice than healthcare providers as a result, it is common for a family member to accompany a patient to their visit with a provider. Mexican Americans cultural definition of health is outlined by the three major states that they believe are the causes for all illness and unhealthiness. Additionally, poor health is culturally associated with imbalances within the bodys natural states that lead to problems.According to traditional beliefs, poor health can be attributed to one or more of the side by side(p) (1) Psychological State, (2) Environment and Natural Causes, or (3) Supernatural beings. (Molina, 1994) The psychological state includes any mental state that may be disrupting ones peace of mind, including worry, anger, envy, or stress, all of which can lead to the unsafe state of susto (fright), or soul loss. Natural causes fall under environmental elements, such as dust, pollution, or germ sall of the things that Western medicine believes to be the only causes of illness.Finally, supernatural beings include malevolent spirits, witchcraft, or mal de ojo, the bad eye, any of which can cause disease or illness. Because Mexican American views on health differ from those of mainstream US medicine, there are several folk illnesses that exist within the culture that have no diagnosis within Western medicine, and are, therefore, remedied by traditional methods. Many of these illnesses fall under the idea of their imbalance theory. For example, an imbalance or conflict within social relationships opens ones spirit up to mal de ojo symptoms include fever, headache, and sleeplessness.The traditional treatment for this is rubbing the entire body with egg yolk. Empacho is an illness characterized by die hard pains, and results from feeling psychological stress while eating. Ataque de nervios literally translates to attack of the nerves and is caused by extreme delirious stress b rought on by a traumatic event. Those scathe from this illness often engage in fits of swearing and convulsions. The treatments are praying over the affected individual and rubbing alcohol over their face.Caida is an infant disease that occurs when the fontanelle is dislodged from the childs skull, and can result in death. (Molina, 1994) In Western medicine, providers may gibe this with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which even in the most skilled American facilities has no biologic explanation. Since galore(postnominal) of the illnesses recognized in the Mexican American culture are undiagnosed and not understood in Western medicine, a majority of this group employs home remedies or purchases medicines in a botanica, or a store that sells folk medicine and herbal treatments.(Profiles of Health, 1994) Although some recent studies have shown that many Latinos view cost as the number one barrier to healthcare in America, most traditionalists prefer to seek out the assistanc e of their cultural healers through a healing practice known as Curanderismo. (Profiles of Health, 1994) This practice is one of the most prominent healing practices in the Mexican American culture. It approaches health from a holistic point of view and encompasses physical, social, psychological, and spiritual healing.(Johnston, 2006) A Curandero is a revered, spiritual being that treats those suffering from biologically inexplicable illnesses and can have gifts in several areas, including massage, midwife, counselor, spinal adjustment (similar to a Chiropractor), or espiritualistasomeone who channels help from spirits. (Molina, 1994) They specialize in a number of areas of medicine, such as naturopaths, herbalists, treat readers, or psychotherapists. Some research suggests that Curanderos arose out of a need for health care from poverty impaired communities that could not afford it.Traditionally, many sought out the help of Curanderos however, according to recent studies, very f ew Mexican Americans utilize the services of a Curandero, and those who do use it as supplemental treatment to Western medicine. The main differences between Mexican American cultural healing methods and Western medicine are the varied definitions of similar illnesses, as well as the explanations for the causes of diseases. However, since most illnesses that are recognized in Latino culture also exist within the framework of American healthcare, then treatment can be utilize uniformly.Therefore, the emphasis needs to be placed on cultural competence, which would incorporate a system for arrest other point of views of health. It is imperative for providers to develop both trust with and respect for their patients in order to treat them and to increase adherence to medical plans. Western medical providers must learn to listen to and understand the traditions of the Mexican American patient population so that they will be better equipped to serve them. in one case this is accomplishe d within the American healthcare system, society will see health disparities begin to diminish.