Holistic Healers

by | Oct 21, 2024 | Analysis

 

 

Describe the three types of holistic healers below. Include information about their training, approaches to healing, and evidence-based patient outcomes. How do these compare to biomedical systems of care?

Shamans
Medicine Men
Acupuncturists

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Holistic Healing: A Comparison with Biomedical Systems

Holistic healing practices emphasize the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit in health and illness. They often seek to address the root causes of disease, rather than just focusing on symptoms. While these practices can be highly diverse, here’s a look at three types:

1. Shamans:

  • Training: Shamans typically undergo apprenticeships with experienced healers, learning through oral tradition, rituals, and spiritual guidance. Their training often involves intense spiritual practices and ceremonies.

  • Approach to Healing: Shamans view illness as a disruption of the individual’s connection with the spiritual realm. They use a variety of techniques to restore balance, such as:

    • Rituals and ceremonies: These may involve drumming, chanting, dancing, and the use of sacred plants or substances.

    • Spirit communication: Connecting with spirit guides or ancestors to understand the cause of illness and facilitate healing.

    • Herbal remedies: Utilizing plants and herbs with medicinal properties to address specific symptoms or imbalances.

  • Evidence-Based Outcomes: Rigorous scientific studies of shamanic practices are limited due to their cultural context and spiritual nature. However, anecdotal evidence and personal testimonies suggest potential benefits for conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, and depression.

  • Comparison to Biomedical Systems: Shamans offer a different perspective on health and illness, incorporating spiritual and cultural beliefs. They may work alongside biomedical practitioners or offer complementary therapies, but their approach is fundamentally different.

Holistic Healing: A Comparison with Biomedical Systems

Holistic healing practices emphasize the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit in health and illness. They often seek to address the root causes of disease, rather than just focusing on symptoms. While these practices can be highly diverse, here’s a look at three types:

1. Shamans:

  • Training: Shamans typically undergo apprenticeships with experienced healers, learning through oral tradition, rituals, and spiritual guidance. Their training often involves intense spiritual practices and ceremonies.

  • Approach to Healing: Shamans view illness as a disruption of the individual’s connection with the spiritual realm. They use a variety of techniques to restore balance, such as:

    • Rituals and ceremonies: These may involve drumming, chanting, dancing, and the use of sacred plants or substances.

    • Spirit communication: Connecting with spirit guides or ancestors to understand the cause of illness and facilitate healing.

    • Herbal remedies: Utilizing plants and herbs with medicinal properties to address specific symptoms or imbalances.

  • Evidence-Based Outcomes: Rigorous scientific studies of shamanic practices are limited due to their cultural context and spiritual nature. However, anecdotal evidence and personal testimonies suggest potential benefits for conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, and depression.

  • Comparison to Biomedical Systems: Shamans offer a different perspective on health and illness, incorporating spiritual and cultural beliefs. They may work alongside biomedical practitioners or offer complementary therapies, but their approach is fundamentally different.

  1. Medicine Men:
  • Training: Medicine men, often found in indigenous cultures, traditionally receive training through apprenticeship and cultural transmission. Their knowledge is passed down through generations, emphasizing connection to nature and ancestral wisdom.
  • Approach to Healing: Medicine men view healing as a holistic process that involves understanding the individual’s connection to nature, their community, and their spiritual beliefs. They use methods like:
    • Herbal remedies: Using plants and herbs with medicinal properties based on traditional knowledge.
    • Spiritual practices: Engaging in ceremonies, prayers, and rituals to restore balance and well-being.
    • Energy healing: Using techniques like laying on of hands or massage to manipulate energy fields and promote healing.
  • Evidence-Based Outcomes: Scientific research on medicine men’s practices is limited, but anecdotal evidence suggests potential benefits for various ailments.
  • Comparison to Biomedical Systems: Medicine men offer a culturally specific and spiritually informed approach to healing. Their practices may overlap with biomedical treatments in some cases, but they often emphasize a deeper connection to nature and spiritual traditions.
  1. Acupuncturists:
  • Training: Acupuncturists typically undergo rigorous training programs, involving coursework, clinical practice, and licensing examinations. They learn about the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the use of acupuncture needles to stimulate specific acupoints.
  • Approach to Healing: Acupuncture is based on the belief that vital energy (Qi) flows through meridians in the body, and disruptions in this flow can lead to illness. Acupuncturists aim to restore balance to the energy flow through the insertion of needles at specific points on the body.
  • Evidence-Based Outcomes: Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of acupuncture for various conditions, including:
    • Pain Management: Chronic pain, including back pain, headaches, and arthritis.
    • Nausea and Vomiting: Treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
    • Anxiety and Depression: Alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
  • Comparison to Biomedical Systems: Acupuncture can be considered a complementary therapy that can be used alongside biomedical treatments. It has a strong evidence base and is often integrated into healthcare systems.

Comparison with Biomedical Systems:

  • Focus: Biomedical systems primarily focus on treating disease through scientific methods, interventions, and pharmaceuticals. Holistic approaches focus on the individual’s overall well-being, including their mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects.
  • Underlying Beliefs: Biomedicine is based on the scientific understanding of the human body and its systems. Holistic healing systems often incorporate beliefs about energy flow, spiritual connection, and the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.
  • Evidence Base: Biomedical interventions generally have a strong evidence base, backed by rigorous clinical trials and research. Evidence for holistic healing practices is often anecdotal or based on smaller studies.

Conclusion:

Holistic healing practices offer valuable alternatives or complementary approaches to biomedical care. They often address the root causes of illness, incorporate cultural and spiritual beliefs, and focus on overall well-being. While the scientific evidence for these practices varies, they provide valuable options for individuals seeking a more holistic approach to health and healing.

 

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