Question

When a 35-year-old Native American man arrived at the chiropractic clinic and was asked what problem brought him to see the provider, he gave a story about his neighbor’s back problem whose symptoms were much like his. His response to questions was slow, indicating careful consideration to each question. When asked about pain he only responded, “Something doesn’t feel right.”

1. Using the Internet and your favorite search engine, research Native American culture with attention to their communication style, primary caregiver, time orientation, and expression of pain.
2. Are there health-related practices followed by this culture that you should be aware of (i.e., wearing a medicine bag, traditional healers performing rituals)?

Answer 1

Native Americans are normally quite people. They won't talk much and do not express their emotions. Native Americans felt a problem when communicating with other culture people. The primary physician faces difficulty in analyzing patient pain as they do not report verbally. The physician will use numerous techniques to compare the current pain with previous pain. Native Americans are strict in following of time. They are punctual to the appointments and mostly oriented to the present condition.

Native Americans are more believed in religious and traditional practices. They mostly use herbal products because it is safer to use. The tribal community of Native Americans wears medicinal bag that contains bundles of objects which are used to protect them during hunting. The healing practice involves various rituals and differs from tribes to tribes. These practices are transmitted from one generation to the next generation. They believed that an individual's spirit plays an important part in the promotion of health and causing illness. Traditional healer provides a wide variety of treatment such as midwifery, general herbal medicine, bone setting, etc.