For Hmong who maintain their traditional beliefs in America, the scientific worldview and Western medicine, have challenged their entire means of understanding the world. Likewise, Hmong beliefs have done the same to Western medical practice. The coexistence of sacred space and medical space has created a need for mutual understanding of worldviews. Through stories drawn from Symonds and Fadiman, it is possible to see how Hmong practice has created a therapeutic myth that closely resembles American medical practice of sickness and health. Through analysis of these two worldviews, I will demonstrate how Hmong cosmology and American medical practice are closely related in the story of Lia Lee.
For the Hmong, the shaman plays a crucial role in …show more content…
Ernst and Dr. Phillips, cleaved just as strongly to another tradition: that of western medicine. Just as western religion found its way into Hmong culture, so too did western medicine, but traditional medicine has still remained the major practice among the Hmong. According to Maichou Lou, modern health care is believed to be beneficial to the Hmong, but traditional diagnosis and treatment (either herbal or spiritual) may be used first. Classification of illness and its perceived effectiveness caused Hmong to seek out traditional practice or that of Western medicine (Maichou Lou, Western or Traditional Healers page 7). In the story of Lia Lee, her convulsions were considered spiritual and non-spiritual, a mixture of worry and pride (Fadiman, page 21). The simple fact that having such seizers were a good thing would have been stunning to American doctors if the message could have been conveyed. Dr. Ernst and Foua largely disagreed. Often, Lia’s treatment seemed merciless to her parents, as it included securing her to her bed where she could not move and giving her medicines that caused terrible side effects (Fadiman, page 43, 49-51). The Lee’s wanted Lia's doctors to help control her seizures; however, they also felt she should be treated using shamanic ritual, which could be hindered by too much medication. Lia’s pediatricians …show more content…
Their own tvix neeb (shaman) spent many hours with a sick person, traveled to the patient's home, never ask personal questions that could offend, or ask a patient to undress. They could diagnose a patient immediately, and knew that to treat the body, you have to treat the soul (Fadiman, page 33). While Western doctors, on the other hand, seemed to spend as little time as possible with the patient, required the patient to come to the hospital, often took blood samples, required many days for a diagnosis, and never even mentioned the soul. The Hmong worldview seemed to possess both power and beauty and in general medical practice simply was rational (Fadiman, page 29). The shaman is to the soul as the doctor is to disease. Both these healers fix the “out of balance,” but in entirely different