Traditional medicine practice (TMP) or traditional healing practices in aboriginal healthcare have been in existence within the aboriginal community for a very long time. This traditional form of medicine encompasses a holistic view in medicine and healthcare, which is practiced among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia.

With the introduction of western medicine, TMP is either being used in isolation or incorporated into modern medicine.

Colonization and indigenous traditional healing

The disparities in health between indigenous and non-indigenous communities are well documented in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Before colonization, indigenous medicine was primarily used in these regions. This traditional form of medicine integrated knowledge on food and medicine to create a spiritual and physical relationship with land resources. It has been known be to be highly effective in treating a wide range of medical conditions. Indigenous people are often prone to historical trauma, greater burden of illness, and lower life expectancy than non-indigenous people.

Traditional aboriginal medicine within Australia

TMP is at risk of being lost due to the impact of colonization in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. This knowledge is transferred from general to general among Indigenous communities. This has led them to flourish, socially, politically, economically, and spiritually. However, during the time of colonization band and suppression of cultural practices we put in place.

Midwifery, antenatal, and prenatal care

Birthing is a highly-prioritized event in the life of the indigenous people. The doulas extended their hand towards carrying out a safe birth and delivery plan for the safety of the mother and the baby. A doula is a person who provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support for expectant mothers and their families during the pregnancy period. Indigenous birth centers and indigenous birth support worker programs aim at providing the required midwifery service for mothers belonging to the indigenous community. These centers and programs also work towards improving antenatal, prenatal, and midwifery services along with birthing experiences of indigenous women and families.

Diabetic services

Consultation with indigenous healers and incorporating indigenous traditional healing models have helped to control diabetes among indigenous people. Wellness programs created through consultation with indigenous healers incorporates traditional healing into modern healthcare. These aboriginal wellness clinics provide services such as culturally-based education programs that include accommodation, meals, and follow-ups on new and existing patients. Similar programs are in place for cardiovascular and kidney-related problems. These programs have shown a vast improvement in patient and community satisfaction. It is one of the main benefits of incorporating a holistic approach in modern medicine and healthcare.

Palliative care

Death is as vital as birth within the indigenous community. Indigenous people consider death as entering the spiritual world and not the end of life. Cultural practices and ceremonies are conducted for the dying person and as his spirit is guided towards the spiritual world. Appropriate palliative care in indigenous healthcare practices helps patients and their families deal with the situation.

Practitioners

Spiritualists and traditional healers play crucial roles within the indigenous traditional healing model. They provide healing services and spiritual guidance for the affected. The network of traditional healers work together with the ministry in supporting the health of the indigenous communities within the health and disability sector.

Healthcare funding

Funding traditional healthcare is important to ensure it longevity. It is also done as a part of supporting and recognizing traditional healing within modern healthcare practices. It helps to provide affordable and easily accessible healthcare services to patients. For example, The New Zealand Ministry of Health funds 20 healthcare providers to deliver Traditional Healing services across the country, including the Raukura Hauora O Tainui Trust, the Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki Incorporated, Whaioranga Trust, Ng? Kete M?tauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust, and Te Roopu Tautoko Ki Te Tonga Incorporated. In Australia too, the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) provides healthcare funding to the indigenous community that is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

License and regulatory requirements

Western medicine is based on evidence-based medicine, which requires medicine to be investigates and licensed for therapeutic use. Traditional practitioners or healers are reluctant to share their indigenous healthcare traditions due to the fear of exploitation. Therefore, traditional healing is not subject to regulation as a support to the traditional healers.

The use of Indigenous Traditional Healing practices as the primary or treatment of choice within the support program

Modern medicine and healthcare services that offered Indigenous Traditional Healing practices as main treatment included prenatal and antenatal services, midwifery, mental health and addiction, and other healthcare services.

The use of Indigenous Traditional Healing practices to support Western biomedical treatment options

Traditional medicine and healing is not based solely on the treatment of illnesses and ailments. It incorporates cultural practices, beliefs, and traditions. These beliefs and traditions were used to treat western biomedical treatment in diabetes, mental health services, etc. The healthcare environment must be able to accommodate these beliefs, traditions, and cultural practices to incorporate traditional healing practices into modern western healthcare practices.

The adoption of Indigenous Traditional knowledge in the provision of services within the support program

As stated above, indigenous traditional medicine and healing practices have been utilized in multiple programs to provide healthcare services and treatments that support western medical treatment. The healing practices, cultural practices, and traditions are transferred from generation to generation to avoid exploitation and remain constant. These healing practices are proven to be extremely beneficial for multiple health conditions.

Traditional Healing within modern medicinal practices and healthcare systems exemplifies how Indigenous Traditional Healing and modern healthcare practices can be merged to provide for the medical, cultural, and spiritual needs of the indigenous communities.

Established primary healthcare clinics

There are different types of primary healthcare clinics that offer modern healthcare services, indigenous traditional healing services, or both.

Clinics offering TMP alone or in combination with biomedicine

Clinics offering only biomedicine

Traditional healers - In an ordinary scenario, a patient will consult a western doctor who then refers the patient to a traditional healer for treatment.

The role of TMP can be qualitatively and quantitatively. The percentage of overall service provision acts as a helpful tool examine the extent of TMP.

Sharing of knowledge

There is a lack of written documentation for traditional medicine, which is generally passed down generations through stories and songs. The other limitation is the reluctance to share the knowledge of traditional healing with outsiders. It could be due to cultural beliefs and traditions or mistrust in others outside of their circle. The lack of building trust relationships with aboriginal people has also results in the researched finding it difficult to collect relevant information on TMP. The goal of overall healthcare systems is to integrate traditional healing methods with modern medicine to achieve a state of healing that can prevent and cure many diseases in people.

As a reputed healthcare recruitment agency, Medfuture has been in the forefront in providing high-paying medical jobs to candidates in Australia, New Zealand, and across different regions in the world.  Visit the Medfuture website to find out the latest medical jobs available. Medfuture provides job opportunities to candidates across all states and suburbs in Australia including Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.