University:
Liberty University
Course:
BIOM 500 | Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
Academic year:

2024
Views:

451

Pages:

6
Author:

Sheha A.

**Indian Cultural Practices Relationship Related to Food** * Food such as meat, fish, eggs and jaggery are considered heat producing foods while foods like milk, vegetables and lemon are thought of as cold producing foods. * The practice of vegetarianism or non-vegetarianism is directly linked to the status of religion. People from Jain religion do not consume garlic and onion. * Fasting is a common cultural practice among Hindus. Women during festivals and on several other occasions, it may either mean limiting to drinking water during the whole day or consuming pulses alone as salt and spice restricted diet or single meal a day. * Muslims observe fast during the Ramzan festival. **Cultural Beliefs and Customs Related to Management and Coping with Illness** * People of certain culture may perceive home remedies than allopathic medicine. For example, a patient from Kerala region may prefer the use of Ayurveda or herbal medicines to treat illness rather than opt for allopathic medicine. **A person's religion may determine what healthcare is acceptable to him. For example, some religions do not accept abortion.** **Culture influences a person's healthcare decisions as well as his view of illness.** **Most cultures have diverse ways of health and healing.** **All cultures have disease theory systems which explain illness concepts. These commonly held models of disease across cultures are: Naturalistic, Personalistic, and Animistic.** **Naturalistic disease theory explains illness in scientific terms. This model views disease as originating inside the body due to some identifiable cause or pathology.** **Personalistic disease theory attributes illness to intervention **Culture Bound Syndromes** * Culture-bound syndromes are considered to be illness within the specific culture. For example, Dhat is a disorder affecting Indian males involving an intense fear that losing semen will result in the depletion of vital energy. * Eating disorders are especially high in industrialized societies. In such societies women being thin and slim are cultural ideals. * Somatization and emotional distress are common, especially in societies where people avoid expressing psychological complaints.