Fadiman Essay

The two cultures 1. Do you think the author was evenhanded in her presentation of Hmong culture and medical culture? I absolutely believe that the author was evenhanded in her presentation of the two cultures. Throughout the book it was clear that she tried to look at everything from as many perspectives as possible to accurately portray the Hmong culture and medical culture. 3. Over the centuries, the Hmong fought against many different peoples who claimed sovereignty over their lands. What

Alternative medicine has been considered the “hidden mainstream” of patient care in America. As biomedicine increased in popularity, alternative methods of healing arose as a response to the treatments used by physicians. Historically, alternative (or “complementary”) medicine conveyed itself by highlighting its “natural” attributes. These characteristics attracted those who were wary of the chemicals used in allopathic medicines. Much of the skepticism that has accompanied complementary alternative

Psychedelics are an uncommon topic brought up in medicine. Because of the status of psychedelic drugs being restricted for recreational use, in developed countries such as The United States of America and The United Kingdom, it is hardly studied and looked at (Wolfson, 2015). However, with prior history with psychedelic drugs such as Methamphetamine, Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide, there is proof that these drugs have positive effects on treating mental disorders. Only because of modern

sewing the cloth and the beautiful embroideries. Several Hmong women use a rare method of reverse appliqué, "designs made by sewing on a patch to the underside of a fabric and then cutting away and turning under the edge of the top fabric" (Fadiman ). The design is extremely difficult and takes years to acquire this skill. Hmong dresses are elaborated with trimmings, coins, and a variety of colorful yarns. The dresses were highly decorative and added bulk to the man or woman wearing the dress

Traditionally, a common Hmong’s custom is that a soul can separate from its body and a shaman possesses power to control spiritual forces. Therefore, a shaman is capable of healing illnesses at the spiritual level. The Hmong have a belief that ancestral spirits, including the spirits of shamans are reincarnated into the same family tree. The Hmong’s believe in their Shaman more than western doctors. They prefer to perform their treatment by hosting their rituals to save and cure their sicknesses

Kind of like in the book “the spirit catches you and you fall down,” by Anne Fadiman. Fadiman described how the Hmong’s and the doctors had different point of views; because of their differences in culture and the language barrier they had trouble communicating and understanding one another. In the Banes family, Jackie was responsible

Substance abuse in an all too common occurrence. It can truly change a person, and leave a person addicted often alone with little to no support from others. A client seeking help is a client taking a large step, and help can be seen as taking a big risk. Cormier and Hackney (2012) detail the stages of change developed by Prochaska, DiClemente, and Norcross. Because Bill is seeking help, he is showing that is ready to at least begin contemplation of change, which is the second stage of change. (p

In The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Fadiman describes the “explanatory model”, developed by Arthur Klienman. This model posits eight question aimed at ascertaining the patient’s and their family’s interpretation and analysis of the illness affecting the patient. Although these questions may seem fairly simple and evident at first, the knowledge gained by them, especially when dealing with patients from a greatly different cultural background than the medical personnel, can offer great insight

The book Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson from the time it published to 1901 was estimated to had sold around two hundred fifty thousand copies. This was in the United States alone. This shows that people valued it and liked the author’s work. People still think this way of it. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a classic because it has a question, the author is well respected, and it has withstood the test of time. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has many aspects of a classic. One is that

life of Lia Lee, two beliefs were in consideration of Lia’s health, Western holistic Medicine and Hmong religious expression. A question stated by Fadiman, in Spirit Catches You, states, “If you can’t see that your own culture has its own set of interests, emotions, and biases, how can you expect to deal successfully with someone else’s culture?” (Fadiman, 261) This question would have changed the life of Lia Lee. By using Eliade’s definition of religion as presented earlier, “a mythical time, that