Integration of Aboriginal Traditional Medical Practice into Mainstream Health Services

Aboriginal traditional medical practice defies the medical norm by defining health as the general human well-being. In contrast, most organizations and individuals view health as the presence or absence of a disease, a perception that aboriginal practice seems to change by suggesting an overall practice that sustains the physical and mental wholeness of a person, even when they are not sick. Aboriginal practices, when incorporated into mainstream healthcare services, will benefit some communities in Australia since it would combine traditional and modern practices to satisfy cultural and global health needs.

Incorporating the Aboriginal practice will be necessary to promote equality of healthcare and, therefore, the general well-being of all citizens within the Australian population. The indigenous communities, including the Aboriginal people in Australia, experience difficulty accessing primary healthcare due to various reasons, including unfamiliar healthcare environments and treatment plans that do not align with their beliefs. Aboriginal communities were found to express little trust in the healthcare options and treatment received in local health centers (Beks et al., 2020). Aboriginal treatment practice involves using herbs, tree barks, and other plants to maintain health and combat health anomalies within the body. They are not just prescribed within indigenous communities when a person is sick but are part of their lifestyle (Beks et al., 2020). However, the Aboriginal people have demonstrated lower expectancy than non-Aboriginal cultures, with common cases of kidney failure and diabetes (Wilson et al., 2020). Inclusion of their health practices in mainstream healthcare will increase familiarity since some of their effective herb treatments will be included and promote general healthcare since they will be encouraged to take regular check-ups and receive equal treatment. Therefore, including the Aboriginal traditional practice will promote the general wellness of the Aboriginal communities.

Including the traditional Aboriginal practices promotes healthcare for those communities since it incorporates both modern and traditional treatment methods for better health outcomes. The Aboriginal people receive fewer treatment options than other non-Aboriginal communities in Australia, reducing their life expectancy. Incorporating their traditional practices will reduce the disparities between the two sections of the population and promote health within the Aboriginal community.

References

Beks, H., Ewing, G., Charles, J. A., Mitchell, F., Paradies, Y., Clark, R. A., & Versace, V. L. (2020). Mobile primary health care clinics for Indigenous populations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States: a systematic scoping review. International journal for equity in health, 19(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-020-01306-0

Wilson, A. M., Kelly, J., Jones, M., O’Donnell, K., Wilson, S., Tonkin, E., & Magarey, A. (2020). Working together in Aboriginal health: a framework to guide health professional practice. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05462-5