TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, SHAMANISM AND FOLK ILLNESS IN LATIN AMERICA M264: Latin American Studies/Anthropology/Community Health Sciences Mondays, 12:00-2:50pm, CHS 61-262 Spring 2013 Dr. Bonnie Taub Office Hours: Mondays, 3pm and by appointment Office Location: 36-078A, CHS- School of Public Health Tel. (310) 206-2117 Email: [email protected] COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS This course examines the role of traditional medicine and shamanism in Latin America. We will explore how indigenous and mestizo groups throughout the region diagnose and treat folk illness and Western defined diseases with a variety of methods. Culturally defined illnesses such as soul loss, nervios and evil eye will be explored. Several case examples of shamanistic traditions and healing practices of bonesetters, midwives, healers of witchcraft, soul loss and other medicine women/men will be explored through lecture, readings, film. We will examine the use of art, music and ritual as well as psychotropic plants as part of the very heart of many Latin American cultural traditions. Course Learning Objectives 1) To obtain an understanding of health status, beliefs and practices with an emphasis on cultural, psychological, political, social, historical and economic influences at the individual, family and community levels in a regional global context 2) In depth exploration of health promotion strategies and activities, including traditional, clinical, grass roots, social, educational at the community level 3) Opportunity to critically research and assess cross-cultural health issues CHS 264: Learning Objectives linked to ASPH competencies Learning Objectives Competencies (Source in Parentheses) 1. To provide students with Diversity and Culture #1 (ASPH MPH) understanding of historical, cultural, Social & Behavioral Sciences # 2 ,#6, #10 (ASPH MPH) social and educational influences on health at the individual, family, community and international levels in a regional global context. 2. To learn about health practices and Social & Behavioral Sciences # 7 (ASPH MPH) participatory community involvement Communication and Informatics # 10(ASPH MPH) with regards to local healing techniques, clinical services, grass roots, and traditional means of health communication in the Americas region. 3. To learn to critically assess the Social & Behavioral Sciences # 8 (ASPH MPH) literature on the role of culture in health Communication and Informatics # 7(ASPH MPH) promotion in an international context. 1 M264: ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION 1. Class participation and weekly attendance (10%) Readings Discussion Leader- students to prepare discussion questions and a 1 to 2 page summary about books and lead a discussion with others, during one of the following sessions: Week 4: Peyote Hunt Week 5: Way of the Shaman Week 7: Tobacco & Shamanism 3. Animal Guide Paper- write a two page paper describing, from an animal’s point of view, how as a shaman you might transform into that animal, move and sound like it, and the meaning associated with it. Choose an animal that you feel a kinship with. Be prepared to discuss paper and attach a photo or drawing of your animal and turn in to class. Due Week 5 (10%) 4.Summary Discussion (5 pages long, double spaced) of an Interview you Conduct with a traditional or alternative health practitioner in Latin America or in Los Angeles, of Latin American or other cultural origin (ie: curandero, bonesetter, herbalist, masseuse, priestess, shaman, oriental medicine doctor, acupuncturist, etc.) Attach notes/ & topic guide. Due Week 7 in class (20%) 5.Final Paper on a topic of your choice related to traditional medicine, folk illness and shamanism in Latin America. Paper to be 12-14 pages long, double-spaced. Paper due finals week, on Monday, June 10 to Taub mailbox on A level, at School of Public Health or emailed (50%). Your interview and paper topic may coincide. A one paragraph description of your paper topic with list of three references is due Week 6. 6. Oral Presentation to the class about your final paper topic, lasting 15 minutes, including a one page handout summary. Student presentations to be given during class, weeks 8 and 10 (10%). READINGS Weekly reading assignments will be required (see later). The course reader will be available for purchase from Westwood Copies on Gayley Avenue in Westwood village. Books will be available for purchase at the Health Sciences Bookstore. Books: Eliade, Mircea. Shamanism, Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, Princeton U Press, 1964/2000 Meyerhoff, B. Peyote Hunt, Cornell University Press, 1976 Furst, Peter. Hallucinogens and Culture, 1976(1998) Wilbert, Johannes. Tobacco & Shamanism in South America, Harvard Press, 1993 Harner, Michael. The Way of the Shaman, Harper Collins Publishers, 2006 Recommended: Schultes, R. Plants of the Gods, Healing Art Press, 2001 2 SCHEDULE – Spring 2013 LAS/Anthro/CHS M264: Traditional medicine, Shamanism and Folk Illness in Latin America Dr. Bonnie Taub SESSION DATE TOPIC 2013 Mondays 1 April 1 Introduction to the study of Traditional Medicine, Folk Illness and Shamanism in the Americas 2 April 8 Indigenous Healers & Folk Illnesses- Mexico, Mesoamerica, Andes Spirit Possession of Alejandro Mamami 3 April 15 Shamanic Traditions/Mapuche(Guzman) Films: Eduardo the Healer;Huichol Sacred Pilgrimage toWirikuta View films at Powell Media Lab, Room 270 4 April 22 Hallucinogenic Plants & Shamanism Mushrooms/ Mazatec & Peyote/Huichol; San Pedro-Peru Peyote Hunt Discussion 5 April 29 Trance and Altered States of Consciousness; Shamanism and Nahuales Way of the Shaman Discussion Animal Guides Paper Due 6 May 6 Afro-Brazilian and Caribbean Spiritism/Santeria Healing States 7 May 13 Shamanism in South America; Warao & Yanomamo; RainForest, Magical Death, Tobacco and Shamanism Discussion, Interview Paper Due 8 May 20 Healing Artifacts- Meet at Fowler Museum of Cultural History Student Presentations 9 May 27 Memorial day- University Holiday /No Class 10 June 3 Student presentations 3 CHS/LAS M264/ Spring 2013/ Dr. Bonnie Taub REQUIRED READINGS Week 1 Introduction Eliade,Mircea, Shamanism, Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy Chapters 1,2 Week 2 Traditional Healers/Folk Illness Eliade,Mircea, Shamanism, Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy Remainder of book Recommended: Bohigian, George, The history of the evil eye and its influence on opthamology, medicine and social customs, Documenta Opthalmologica 94 91-100, 1997, Netherlands. Baer, R. et al. Mexican Use of Lead in the Treatment of Empacho: Community, Clinic, and Longitudinal Patterns, Soc. Sci. Med. Vol. 47/9, pp 1263-66, 1998 Granich, Reuben, et al. Patterns of health seeking behavior during episodes of childhood diarrhea: a study of Tzotzil-speaking Mayans in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, Soc. Sci. Med. 48, pp 489-495, 1999 Lang, Jennifer & Elkin, Elizabeth, “A Study of the Beliefs and Birthing Practices of Traditional Midwives in Rural Guatemala”, Journal of Nurse-Midwifery, Vol. 42, 1, Jan./Feb. 1997. Week 3: Shamanic traditions BOOK – Meyerhoff, B. Peyote Hunt (first half) Recommended: Article on Mapuche Week 4-Hallucinogenic Plants/Discussion Meyerhoff, B. Peyote Hunt- finish Furst, Peter, Chapter 11: “To Find our Life”: Peyote Hunt of the Huichols of Mexico; Chapter 7: The Sacred Mushrooms: Rediscovery in Mexico, in Hallucinations and Culture, Chandler and Sharp Publishers, 1999 (1976). Fabrega, H. and Nutini, H. Witchcraft Explained Childhood Tragedies in Tlaxcala and their Medical Sequelae, Soc. Sci. Med. Vol. 36/6, pp. 793-805, 1993. Recommended: Schultes, Plants of the Gods, (Peyote/Mushrooms sections). 4 CHS/Anthro/LAS M264/ Spring 2013/ Dr. Bonnie Taub Week 5 Trance and Altered States Eliade, Mircea, Shamanism, Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, Chapters 3, 4, 9 Harner, Michael Way of the Shaman, Harper Collins Publishers, 2006 Week 6 Afro-Brazilian/Candomble/Spiritism/Santeria Furst, P. Hallucinogens and Culture, Chandler and Sharp Publishers, Tenth Printing, 2000 Introduction, pp. 1-18; Chapter 10: The Diabolic Root. Chapter from Voeks, Robert, Candomble Medicine in Sacred Leaves of Candomble:African Magic, Medicine, and Religion in Brazil, U of Texas Press, 1997 .Brown, Diana, Chapters 5 and 6 in Umbanda: Religion and Politics in Urban Brazil, Colombia University Press, New York, 1994. Jorge, Angela (1995), Mesa blanca: A Puerto Rican Healing Tradition, from Spirit Versus Scalpel, Chapter 8 (pp. 109-120), L. Loeb Adler & B. Runi Mukherji, Eds., Bergin & Garvey, Wesport, CT. and London. Spires-Robin, Regina & McGarrahan, Peggy (1995). The Healing Practices of Mexican Spiritualism, from Spirit Versus Scalpel, Chapter 9 (pp. 1121-135, L. Loeb Adler & B. Runi Mukherji, Eds., Bergin & Garvey, Wesport, CT. and London. Week 7 South America-Shamanism Wilbert, Johannes. Tobacco & Shamanism in South America, Harvard Press, 1993 “Cosmos”, The Matsigenka, Chapter by Allen Johnson, from book Families of the Forest 2003. Furst chapter Recommended: Plants of the Gods: on ayahuasca, datura, etc. Week 8- Healing Artifacts/Fowler Museum/Student Presentations Furst, Peter:Remaining chapters Recommended: Schultes book Week 9 Memorial day/Review Articles for paper Week 10 Student Presentations 5 .