Response to peers
Response to peers
People of Egyptian & Filipino Heritage Running head: PEOPLE OF EGYPT & FILIPINO HERITAGE Discussion # 6 Elsa Sosa Florida National University 1 People of Egyptian & Filipino Heritage 2 Abstract The definition of health according to the “World Health Organization” is a “state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease. Health care in Egypt live in a central place both in peoples’ concerns and in state priorities. There is a big network of public hospitals in major towns and cities all over the country. In the Filipino
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culture they believe the definition of health is considered to be in a state of balance. People of Egyptian and Filipine Heritage People of Egyptian & Filipino Heritage 3 Egyptian Heritage The most common of the medical service is variable; however, people find themselves having to get treatment in private hospitals and clinics. In Egyptian communities there is a health unit offering basic medical services in practically every village. Egyptians tend to mix modern health systems with traditional practices. In villages, the midwife, for example, plays a key role in not just during childbirth and the related ceremonial activities, but also in providing general medical advice to women. There are other traditional health care practitioners such a seers and spiritual healers (Younis, 2013). The Zar ceremony marks a form of spirit possession cult that establishes a relationship between afflicted person and the spirits afflicting him or her. This relationship must be periodically reaffirmed, with the help of specialties. The ancient Egyptians experienced the same wide array of disease that people do in the present day, but unlike most people in modern era, they attributed the experience to supernatural causes. The common cold, for example, was prevalent, but one’s symptoms would not have been treated with medicine and bed rest, or not these alone, but with magical spells and incantations. The longest and most complete medical text extant, clearly expresses the Egyptian view of medical treatment: “Magic is effective together with medicine. Medicine is effective together with magic”. The magic referred to took the form of spells, incantations, and rituals, which called on higher supernatural powers to cure the patient or treat the symptoms. The most common reason for disease were thought to be sin, evil spirits, an angry ghost, or the will of the gods to teach someone and important lesson. Doctors were People of Egyptian & Filipino Heritage 4 aware that the heart was a pump and that veins and arteries supplied the body with blood, but they did not know how. They were aware of liver disease but not the function of the liver. The brain was considered a useless organ; all thought, feeling, one’s character, was believed to come from the heart. A woman’s uterus was believed to be a free-floating organ which could affect every other part of the body. Still, although their understanding of physiology was limited, Egyptian physicians seem to have been quite successful in treating their patients and were highly regarded by other cultures. The gods were present in every aspect of the ancient Egyptians’ lives. When it came to determining the root cause of disease, therefore, they looked to the same source and implemented spells and rituals to call upon gods for health and well-being with the same confidence people in the present day submit to any treatment prescribed by the modern medicine professional. Filipino Heritage According to the Filipino population, illness is also defined as the body being out of balance which usually pertains to a rapid change of hot and cold. Factors that play a role in balance include hot and cold factors, food, and diet. Illness on the other hand is when the body, mind, and spirit are out of balance or when the person and the environment are in sense of disharmony (Spector, 2013). People of Egyptian & Filipino Heritage 5 Balance is a key concept in the Filipino culture. It is also referred to as Timbang and relates to hot and cold shifts and diet. When there are too many hot and cold shifts, then the person may become ill. Balance is disrupted when a person becomes ill. Another factor that can affect the balance of someone is sudden changes in weather patterns. Along with this, the body is very vulnerable when it is overheated, but optimal health is best maintained in warm environment. There are many beliefs regarding hot and cold shifts and how to maintain this sense of balance to avoid falling ill. For example, in the morning cold drinks and food is avoided. Also, in order to maintain body warmth and protect energy, a layer of fat is often preferred on people. There are many methods that can be sued to restore balance. Prayers and rituals are often used here as well as herbal plants, massage of bones and body tissue. Taboos of the Filipino population evolve around three theories of illness. These include mystical, personalistic, and naturalistic. Mystical theory is that if there are unfulfilled obligations from ancestors then this could result in mystical experiences and behaviors. It also goes as far as to say that during sleep the soul can be lost or if you are having nightmares then they are often the result of consuming a heavy meal and it could eventually lead to death. The personalistic theory is that evil spirits or witches seeking retribution or social punishment can cause illness. This theory can be protected by wearing religious objects or by using holy oils (McBride, n. d.). The last theory is naturalistic. This theory states that stress, infection, food and drugs, and natural events such as thunder, lightning, and drafts are all causes of illness. These are the main taboos and practices that can be found about the Filipino population. People of Egyptian & Filipino Heritage 6 Filipino older adults tend to cope with illness with the help of family and friends, and by faith in God. Complete cure or even the slightest improvement in a malady or illness is viewed as a miracle. Filipino families greatly influence patients’ decisions about health care. Patients subjugate personal needs and tend to go along with the demands of a more authoritative family figure in order to maintain group harmony. Before seeking professional help, Filipino older adults tend to manage their illness by self-monitoring of symptoms, ascertaining possible causes, determining the severity and threat to functional capacity and considering the financial and emotional burden to the family. They may discuss their concerns with a trusted family member, friend, spiritual counselor or healer. Seeking medical advice from family members or friends who are health professionals is also a common practice among Filipino older adults and their family members, especially if severe symptoms arise. References Lehner, M., & Cayce, E. (1984). The Egyptian heritage: Based on the Edgar Cayce readings. VA Beach, VA: A.R.E. Press. Root, M. P. (n.d.). Contemporary Mixed-Heritage Filipino Americans: Fighting Colonized Identities. Filipino Americans: Transformation and Identity Filipino Americans. Smith, S. (1932). An Egyptian in Babylonia. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology,18(1), 28-32. doi:10.1177/030751333201800104
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