Illness and Medicine in Culture
Illness, health, medicine and other related terms are culturally defined. The terms are consistent within a culture but are often inconsistent between cultures. Before studying and attempting to understand medicinal plants, ethnobotanists must study and attempt to understand the cultural context in which the plants are used. This episode presents anthropological theories used to discuss different ways cultures perceive sickness, health and medicine. These perspectives are important for understanding uses of medicinal plants.
Video Options (38 min)
Readings
Balick, M. & P.Cox. 1996. Plants, People, and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany. Scientific American, New York. Pages 25-32.
Audio (38 min)
Production Credits
Presented by: Will McClatchey
Themes and Content by:Isabella Abbott, Al Keali'i Chock, Will McClatchey, My Lien Nguyen, Tamara Ticktin, and David Webb
Series Special Presentations and Content by: Tony A.B. Cunningham, Catherine Davenport, Orou Gaoue, Lisa X. Gollin, Y. Han Lau, Spencer Leinweber, Mark Merlin, Levon ‘ohai, Joseph Ostraff, Melinda Ostraff, Orlo Steele, Clay Trauernicht, Art Whistler, Namaka Whitehead, and Kawika Winter
Post Production Critique by: Al Keali'i Chock, Momi Kamahele, Kiope Raymond, and University of Hawai`i at Manoa Botany 105 Students (Fall 2005)
Camera Work by: David Reedy, David Strauch, and Michael B. Thomas
Video and Sound Editing by: Markus Faigle, David Reedy, David Strauch, and Michael B. Thomas
Audio Production by: Will McClatchey and David Reedy
Consulting by: Edo Biagoni, Kim Bridges, Pauline Chinn, Valerie McClatchey, Hae Okimoto, Nelda Quinsell, and Ingelia White
Funding provided by: University of Hawai'i, Department of Botany; University of Hawai'i, Information Technology Services; University of Hawai'i, College of Natural Sciences; University of Hawai'i, Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs; National Center for Academic Transformation; and University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Chancellor
Inspiration from: Isabella Abbott, Michael Balick, Brad Bennett, Brent Berlin, Paul Cox, Memory Elvin-Lewis, Timothy Johns, Beatrice Krauss, Walter Lewis, Richard Evans Schultes, Gail Wagner and the members of The Society for Economic Botany.