Understanding Tsimane' Medicine: Local vs. Western Treatments
Author Information
Author(s): Laura Calvet-Mir, Victoria Reyes-García, Susan Tanner
Primary Institution: Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Hypothesis
Do Tsimane' integrate local medicinal knowledge with Western medicine?
Conclusion
Tsimane' do not view Western medicine as part of their medical treatments, but they do use both local and Western remedies in practice.
Supporting Evidence
- Tsimane' do not include Western treatments in their lists of medical remedies.
- Tsimane' healers and Western doctors expressed willingness to cooperate.
- 73.5% of surveyed Tsimane' reported being sick the week before the interview.
Takeaway
The Tsimane' people have their own way of treating sickness using plants, but they also use Western medicine when needed. They think both can help them stay healthy.
Methodology
The study used participant observation, semi-structured interviews, free-listing, pile-sorting, surveys, and a participatory workshop.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from reliance on translators and the limited scope of ailments studied.
Limitations
Data collection relied on translators, which may have introduced language barriers, and the focus on gastrointestinal affections may not represent other diseases.
Participant Demographics
Participants were Tsimane' individuals over the age of 16 from three villages.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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