Filipino Culture In The Philippines

Espiritu’s interviews with almost one hundred Filipino Americans searches how gender factors into minority understandings of whiteness and their own personal, cultural identity. Filipino immigrant families stress cultural superiority over white Americans by declaring that their daughters have higher moral standards. They believe they have greater values when it comes to family commitment and sexuality. Also, Filipinos felt their culture was superior to white American culture because their lives revolved around their close-knit families while white families were seen as detached or individualistic. The responsibility for maintaining family ties and cultural traditions was put on Filipino women, which usually falls on women of all cultures. Carrying out responsibility reinforces patriarchy among Filipinos. Nearly all cultures blend” proper” femininity with sexual

America is a melting pot filled with many different cultures; moreover, the changing color of America has made it one of the most diverse place to live. Though rich in culture, minority groups suffer from health disparities due to their socioeconomic status, education, language, and political beliefs. As most minority group will find they have similar barriers that they face during the assimilation to the main stream culture. The minority group that will be focused for this discussion will be Vietnamese Americans.

The Native American woman interviewed has a strong holistic approach when viewing medicine compared to Western civilization. Before seeking any medical attention she states she will first try teas, herbs and other supplements in soothing common ailments. She often bakes

Cultural, traditional, and religious values have an influence on health patterns and behaviors exhibited by the community. Hispanic culture is dominant due to the close proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. Fifty-two percent of households use a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau, 2015). Therefore, an understanding of Hispanic culture is necessary for health care workers to effectively care for patients in this community.

The cultural values, beliefs, and practices of the AI/AN, influence health care practices within their community. For example, healing is sacred work, the spiritual aspect of the individual needs to be considered to be effective. Contemporary Indians might use “white man’s medicine” to treat “white man’s disease” such as diabetes, cancer, and gallbladder disease and “native medicine” was used to treat “native problems” such as pain, family relationship issues, mental illness and alcoholism aka “sickness of the spirit” (Alvord, 1997; Hendrix, 1999). Many Western medicines were based on Indian herbal medications. For instance, aspirin is derived from willow bark (Alvord, 1997; Hendrix,

Often, Asian Americans will first utilize CAM prior to seeking professional medical care out of convenience. The most common CAM used across various Asian ethnic groups including the Chinese and Japanese medicine is the use of herbs. The Chinese believe that “herbal medication regulate the natural balance of the body and restore health” (QUOTE NEWSLETTER/new source). The specific herbs used vary among the ethnic groups and may come in many different forms of use. The use of herbal medicine is not always reported to healthcare professionals which can be hazardous to one’s health if a medication is prescribed with serious drug-herbal interactions (Mehta, Phillips, Davis & McCarthy, 2007, p. 5). The accurate reporting of herbal medicine use can prevent these sometimes life-threatening interactions. Many Asian communities use a CAM known as cupping in which cups typically made of horn, bamboo or glass cups are suctioned to a person’s skin. It is believed to improve energy and blood flow. Cupping is used to treat various conditions including respiratory illnesses, indigestions problems and skin conditions (QUOTE online). Traditional Vietnamese medicine (TVM) focuses on nourishing the blood and energy as key to maintaining good health (QUOTE). TVM also utilize herbal medicine as well as acupuncture. Acupuncture is becoming widely

Health restoration. Many American’s used western type of medicine such as pharmaceuticals to help restore their health; nurses have seen the use of alternative therapies such as yoga, acupuncture, herbs and oils used to try and alleviate pain or halt the disease process, which are all a part of health restorations. Pacific Islander families that

Vietnamese will often combine traditional healing techniques such as steaming, coining, and cupping with western medicine to promote health restoration (Kemp & Rasbridge, 2014). Hai explains that her parents view on health restoration is somewhat different then her own beliefs. Her parents see western medicine as useful for treatment to relieve symptoms of illness, but believe that illness is “cured” with the relief of symptoms. Hai states that she will often find that her parents will readjust dosage of medication or discontinue them when symptoms subside. She contributes this to their belief that oral medications can affect the bodies balance and therefore use of these medications should be minimal. Hai works in health care and has a knowledge of the usefulness of prescribed medications, however attempts to treatment are first made through holistic means and medications are used as a last resort (T. Hai, personal communication August 17, 2015).

Parents are being wrongfully accused and trail for abusing their children when they have attempted to use traditional healing techniques on their sick kids. Many Americans are alarm to find the folk remedy to appear harsh, abusive, and hurtful, but are unaware that the healing practice cures a particular sickness or disease and pain like a child common cold, stomach problems, or a little headache. This book relates to my topic because it is found that more and more people are now not using cao gio when they live in western society in fear that they might go to jail and at the same time, they are not seeking other health care because they’re not familiar to the western health care system, especially to those who newly immigrated into the country. In the article by Davis, Ruth E, the author suggest that physicians, doctors, as well as teachers, friends, and neighbor should have knowledge of these cultural practices to be culturally aware of cao gio, rather than pointing fingers of bad parenting which then takes it to far, tears the family apart, and would only be hurting the kids

Cambodian patients tend to mistrust Western medicine and consider homeopathic options first when experiencing illness. In a personal interview, Cambodian born immigrant C.H. noted, “many people die in the hospital and few are healed” (C. Heinrich, personal

When my step mother and I first walked into the VFW we were automatically surrounded by Filipino-American people. The party that I am attending is called an International/ Fil-Am Club party and was the Saturday before father’s day. According to Melcar they have these parties monthly for different occasions. I was excited to come not only to spend time with my stepmother and my father, but I was also excited to learn more about her culture. When we walked in I saw many small groups sitting at long tables laughing and talking with each other in a different language that I could not understand. It was around six o’clock and I was extremely hungry. The whole gymnasium smelt amazing and I made a V-line for the food area shortly after we found our seats. The tables were full of food that I have never seen before and some that I was kind of familiar with. They were very colorful, vibrant, and interesting food. Some I had seen Melcar make before, like the spring rolls for example. I have watched her take all the ingredients from scratch and mush them together with her bare hands very tightly. They form into tight perfect little rolls and she fries them in bubbling hot oil. I filled my plate full, because I was familiar with them and knew what was in them. Mel came up behind me and I started asking her about the other food. She did her best to explain to me what they were and many of them I had never heard of before. We laughed as I poked the octopus with a

The doctors that practice this try to find the underlying cause of the illness, which may not always be found within the body. Thus it is believed that the underlying cause must be dealt with in order to permanently cure the illness. Avoiding certain kinds of foods and fasting regularly are necessary measures in preventing illness. Massaging with oil in combination with hot or cold fomentation is an important method of treatment for acute or chronic pain. Other two different modalities of treatments are Homeopathy and Acupuncture. Breaking these traditions is considered to be highly disrespectful in this culture. These methods of treatments are probably the reason why Asian Americans a healthier population in comparison with other ethnic groups in America (Edelman & Mandel, 2006).

Culture is the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive constructs, and affective understanding that is learned through a process of socialization. These shared patterns, identify the members of a culture group while also distinguishing those of another group. Five major characteristics of a Philippine culture include family, beliefs, customs, food, and language. In this essay geography and military conflict history, weather analysis, and civil considerations will be discussed. I will also cover how the terrain and infrastructure, communication, and past military conflicts impacted their society. Population, agriculture, smuggling, and insurgency effected by the weather. How areas,

In the Asian culture, health is defined as the harmonious balance between conditions of cold (yang) and hot (yin). Asians believe that an illness occurs as a result of an upset of the harmonious balance, implying that diseases can only be treated if that balance is restored back to its normal state. As a result, most traditional medical interventions in the Asian culture entail the search for the cause of the imbalance within the patient’s mental and physical composition. Asians believe that hot and cold diseases should be treated by cold and hot medicines respectively to restore the normal balanced state of the patient. For instance, penicillin, which causes rashes and diarrhea, is considered a hot treatment, while linden tea, which is served cold, is regarded as a cold medicine that is suitable for treating cold ailment. Although not all Asians subscribe to the hot and cold philosophy, it is important for a physician to consider the belief when handling such patients (Muto, Nakahara, & Nam, 2010).

Alternative healthcare options or alternative medicine is “any of various systems of healing or treating disease (such as acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, or faith healing) that is not included under traditional medical practice in the United States and Britain” (Webster dictionary). Alternative medicine is the term used for medical products and practices that are not part of the standard of care. Standard of care is what medical doctors, doctors of traditional medicine, and allied health professionals, such as nurses and physical therapists, practice. Alternative medicine is used in place of standard medical care. Examples of alternative practices that do not include traditional medicine are aroma therapy, diet therapy, herbalism, homeopathy, massage therapy, reflexology, chiropractic therapy, cannabis, faith or spiritual healing and acupuncture amongst others (Medicine.net). Alternative medical systems are built upon complete systems of theory and practice sometimes these systems develop into something substantial; some if these systems have even developed in western cultures. Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed in Western cultures are homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda (Medicine.net). There are more than a hundred different types of alternative medicine but there are five key types of alternative