Cleansing and Building in Rastafari Healing in London: Health Sovereignty for a Hostile Environment

Area of Science:

• Medical Anthropology
• Public Health
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Health sovereignty is a core biopolitical objective of the Rastafari movement, emphasizing rights to culturally appropriate healthcare and medicines.
• The UK's "hostile environment" immigration policies disproportionately affect migrant health, creating barriers to accessing conventional healthcare.
• Rastafari communities in south London utilize traditional healing practices as a response to these systemic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the enactment of health sovereignty by Rastafari herbalists in south London.
• To investigate the contributions of these traditional healers to the health and well-being of their community, particularly migrants.
• To understand how herbal medicines are employed to achieve Rastafari movement's political, spiritual, and personal healing aims.

Main Methods:

• Ethnographic research methods were employed, including in-depth interviews and participant observation.
• Focus on the use of specific herbal preparations, such as "bitters" and "roots tonics."
• Analysis of how these practices intersect with Rastafari beliefs and the socio-political context of immigration policies.

Main Results:

• Rastafari herbalists actively facilitate health sovereignty by providing culturally relevant and accessible healthcare alternatives.
• Traditional herbal medicines serve as vital tools for achieving both individual healing and collective political and spiritual goals within the movement.
• These practices offer a crucial source of support for migrants navigating the complexities of the UK's "hostile environment" policies.

Conclusions:

• Rastafari herbalists in south London are key agents in promoting health sovereignty, offering essential healthcare services and fostering community resilience.
• The study highlights the significance of traditional medicine in addressing health disparities exacerbated by restrictive immigration policies.
• Empirical evidence demonstrates the multifaceted role of herbalism in supporting the Rastafari movement's broader objectives of self-determination and well-being.