The Symbolic and Cultural Dimensions of the Therapeutic Narratives of Users of Alternative Medicine

Authors

  • Matilde Panadero Díaz Universidad de Sevilla (US)

Keywords:

alternative medicine, body, energy, illness, self-realisation, spirituality

Abstract

The use of alternative medicine entails a new approach to health and healthcare whose underlying views and values connect with a post-materialist philosophy and overall worldview. Some authors (Shilling 2003) see current healthcare trends as indicative of a new way of understanding the body as individualised, the expression of individual identity. Others (Crawford 1980) establish a connection between holistic healthcare and ecological lifestyles. Finally, Martin Dinges (2002) states that choosing alternative therapies evidences people’s search for personal self-realisation. The present article offers an analysis of therapeutic narratives by focusing on five main dimensions: body, energy, illness, spirituality and self-realisation. In order to carry out this research, in-depth interviews have been conducted with users of alternative medicine.

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Published

2020-11-05

How to Cite

Panadero Díaz, M. . (2020). The Symbolic and Cultural Dimensions of the Therapeutic Narratives of Users of Alternative Medicine. Quaderns De l’Institut Català d’Antropologia, (36 (1), 7–20. Retrieved from https://publicacions.antropologia.cat/quaderns/article/view/227

Issue

No. 36 (1) (2020): Health and spirituality

Section

MONOGRAPHIC

License

Distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Use and Distribution License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)