Traditional health beliefs and practices

In this section, some of the traditional beliefs and natural remedies practiced by traditional Chinese, Indian, and Korean families in New Zealand are discussed.

The belief in body balance is similar to homeostasis in that there are external influences, which can affect your health. The four main elements are wind, heat, dampness and toxins, which can exist in every type of activity, environment or food. If the body has an excess of any one of these elements, or a disruption of internal harmonies, it can lead to ill health. For example, western medicines are believed to have a heat nature to them. To counter this, patients may take herbal teas or medicines to reduce the effect of heat in their bodies.

Usually alternative medicines or treatments are used to target the root cause of a disease or to re-establish body balance. The types of alternative treatments used are:

• Daily diet, herbal teas, herbal tonics/medicines, supplements.
• Homeopathy, relaxation.
• Qi Qong, Tai Chi.
• Acupuncture, acupressure.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurvedic Medicine.

Yin-Yang

Yin-Yang is about believing in two opposing forces consisting of five material agents.  These opposite forces either produce one another or overcome one another cyclically and constantly.  Therefore all opposites of experience, such as health and sickness, wealth and poverty, can be explained in reference to the temporary dominance or one principle over the other.  Since no one principle dominates eternally, that means that all conditions are subject to change into their opposites.

Qi Qong

(Chi Kung) The name means to cultivate energy or to do energy work. It is an integration of physical postures, breathing techniques and mental focus all of which are aimed at easing or increasing the flow of chi, or directing chi to specific systems or organs within the body. It is sometimes classified as a marital art, and can have medical and spiritual effects.

Acupressure

It is a form of touch therapy that utilises the principles of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. In acupressure, the same points on the body are used as in acupuncture, but are stimulated with finger pressure (or a blunt tool) instead of with the insertion of needles. It is used to relieve a variety of symptoms and pain.

Scraping

(Scraping Sand) Scraping was a popular treatment around 3,000 years again in rural areas of China. The technique was slowly forgotten with the advance of modern medicine, but is still sometimes practiced by housewives.

The theory behind this treatment is that scraping will re-activate the body’s healing mechanism in order to help clear any blockages due to dead blood cells and debris from accident areas and to allow proper circulation. Scraped areas are chosen according to acupuncture points and affected sites.

This treatment is used for physical discomforts such as headaches, joint pain, muscle aches and even bloating. (It may leave marks on the body, not to be assumed a result of physical abuse).

Coining

Coining (gua sha), is a traditional Chinese medical treatment in which the skin is scraped to produce light bruising. Practitioners believe gua sha releases unhealthy elements from injured areas and stimulates blood flow and healing (Wikipedia, 2016).

Gua sha was transferred and translated into Vietnamese from China as cạo gió. This term translates roughly "to scrape wind", as in Vietnamese culture "catching a cold" or fever is often referred to as trúng gió, "to catch wind". Cạo gió is an extremely common remedy in Vietnam and for expatriate Vietnamese. There are many variants of cạo gió. Some methods use oil balm and a coin to apply pressure to the skin. Others use a boiled egg with a coin inserted in the middle of the yolk. The egg is wrapped in a piece of cloth and rubbed over the forehead (in the case of a fever) and other areas of skin. After the rubbing, the coin is removed from the egg and will appear blackened (Wikipedia, 2016).

Ayurvedic

Restores and maintains the balance of the 3 elements in the body (aspects of the Life Force) referred to as doshas: pitta, vatta, and kapha. The rhythms of the pulse as well as clinical history and observation are used in diagnosis. Herbs, oils, dietary management, detoxification, and some massage regimes are included in treatment.

This medicine system is traditional in India and there are a number of practitioners in New Zealand (including Westerners who are being locally trained).

In some Asian culture there are strong beliefs in fate or predestination and therefore the use of techniques such as Feng Shui, Palmistry or fortune telling is common. The purpose of these techniques is not only to increase or bring good luck to a person, but also to find out how to avoid bad luck and to enhance health, wealth and prosperity.

Feng Shui

(Fong Shway) Feng Shui is a Chinese philosophy about the relationship between humans and their environment. It is about how everything is connected and affects your well-being. It is believed that the practice of Feng Shui can help to enhance your good fortune.

http://megafengshuishop.com/feng-shui-bagua-formula.

Palmistry

The beliefs about Palmistry are similar to western practices, where the lines on the palms of the hand can predict a person’s fortune, attitude, health, character, marriage, fortune, etc.

http://psychiclibrary.com/beyondBooks/palmistry-room/

Superstitions

With those who believe in fate, there are a lot of superstitions around what can bring you bad luck. For example, the number 4 for Chinese and Koreans has the same connotations as the number 13 for western cultures. The main reason is that the pronunciation of the number is very similar to the pronunciation for death in the respective languages. Therefore there are many buildings without a 4^th floor in countries that use these languages.

Some remedies that are used to avoid bad luck are changing your environment, changing the directions of windows or doors, using charms or talismans to ward off evil spirits, carrying out specific acts. For example a lot of Chinese people will have number plates with 8 because the number 8 sounds like the word for lucky in Chinese languages/dialects.

Asians have very diverse religious belief systems. Religious beliefs are not universal among all Asians. In the healthcare setting, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of the individual patient’s chosen religion and how the person practices and lives out that faith. The following are the religious affiliations identified by the following Asian groups in New Zealand (Mehta, 2012).

• Chinese: 57% no religion; 21% Christian; 13% Buddhism.
• Indians: 56% Hindu; 16% Christian, 13% Muslim, 10% Other religion, 3% no religion.
• Sri Lankan: 24% Christian; 42% Buddhist; 26% Hindu; 3% Muslim; 3% no religion
• Koreans: 71% Christian; 5% Buddhist; 19% no religion.
• Japanese: 11% Christian; 18% Buddhist; 61% no religion
• Cambodians: 74% Buddhist; 8% Christian; 12% no religion.
• Vietnamese: 50% Buddhist; 26% Christian; 20% no religion.

The following are some aspects of the religious/philosophical belief systems which impact on Asian health beliefs and behaviours:

• Confucianism is a religion/philosophical system, which emphasizes devotion to parents, family, friends, and ancestral worship. Also central to Confucianism is ethicality and the maintenance of justice and peace.

• Taoism is a philosophical/religious system which advocates harmony, simplicity, and selflessness.

• Buddhism is a religious and philosophical system based on the teachings of Gautama Siddharta (also spelled Siddhartha), the Buddha (in Sanskrit, "The Awakened," "The Enlightened"). The branch of Buddhism most commonly practiced by Koreans is Mahayana Buddhism, or the "greater vehicle," which also is practiced in Korea, Vietnam, China, and Japan.

The teachings of the above three religions/philosophical systems are quite similar in some ways, teaching three different routes to the truth, new beliefs grafted onto old beliefs, harmony with nature, acceptance of what life brings. Thus a patient believing in this teaching may feel that they have to accept what life brings to them.

• Hinduism teaches the law of behaviour and consequences in which actions in past live(s) affects the circumstances in which one is born and lives in this life (Karma).

A Hindu patient may feel that his or her illness is caused by karma (even though there may be complete understanding of biological causes of illness).

• It is not uncommon for Koreans to encompass several spiritual views into their religious belief systems. Among the religious views embraced by Koreans are Confucianism, Shamanism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Shamanism is a belief in good and evil spirits which can be influenced by Shamans, ie religious/spiritual practitioners with a special relationship or insight into the spirit world.

• The shamanistic health practice of healing the body and soul is called hanyak in Korean, which is the use of herbal medicine to create personal harmony. Shamans are consulted as a last resort for treatment or spiritual options. Although shamans provide profound spiritual services to people, they are considered part of the lowest class by Koreans.

Suggested approaches:

• Assess, acknowledge and respect traditional health and religious beliefs and views about health and illness; health seeking behaviours and treatments. Negotiate a mutually acceptable outcome and integrate the traditional practices or beliefs which are not harmful. Traditional practices can be beneficial for improving patient outcomes when incorporated into the patient’s treatment or recovery plans.
• If the beliefs and practices are harmful or impact on the child’s health or development, it is important to explore the reason(s) for the practice/belief and to make every effort to explain serious consequences to the family in a way that they understand. NB Some Asian families are not familiar with what may be considered child neglect or child abuse in New Zealand.