African American folk medicine: a form of alternative therapy

Illness and healing are not discrete phenomena that can be isolated and considered outside their social, cultural and political contexts. When people develop a health problem and/or need, they secure relief by means of various options, all of which are social, cultural or political. As access to health care becomes increasingly difficult and Americans' lifestyles are becoming more fast pace, many people are literally going "back to nature" in their search for improved health and well being. As health care reform is forever changing and is being debated at the highest policy levels, many rural residents struggle with the distinctive features of their environment that can make obtaining good health care a challenge While many of these residents have long recognized self-care as a means of meeting this challenge, others have simply practiced self-care in the context of their cultural heritage. The purposes of this manuscript are (a) to identify some commonly used folk remedies, (b) to examine the relationships between health beliefs and the outcomes of these beliefs, and (c) educate healthcare professionals as to the importance of recognizing and accepting culturally diverse folk remedies.