Illness & Medicine in a Cultural Setting

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Multimedia Resources for Ethnobotany Curriculum

Illness and Medicine in Cultural Settings

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.

Production Credits

Presented by:

    • Will McClatchey

Themes and Content by:

    • Isabella Abbott
    • Al Keali'i Chock
    • Will McClatchey
    • Mylien T. Nguyen
    • Tamara Ticktin
    • David Webb

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
    • Kawika Winter

Post Production Critique by:

    • Al Keali'i Chock
    • Momi Kamahele
    • Kiope Raymond
    • Botany 105 Students (Fall 2005)

Camera Work by:

    • David Reedy
    • David Strauch
    • Michael B. Thomas

Video and Sound Editing by:

    • Markus Faigle
    • David Reedy
    • David Strauch
    • Michael B. Thomas

Audio Production by:

    • Will McClatchey
    • David Reedy

Consulting by:

    • Edo Biagoni
    • Kim Bridges
    • Pauline Chinn
    • Valerie McClatchey
    • Hae Okimoto
    • Nelda Quinsell
    • 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
    • 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
    • The Society for Economic Botany