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Integrative Cancer Therapies, Vol. 3, No. 1, 13-23 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1534735403261833

The Experience of Indigenous Traditional Healing and Cancer

Roxanne Struthers, PhD, RN, HNC

University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, strut005{at}umn.edu

Valerie S. Eschiti, RN, MSN, CHTP, HNC

College of Nursing, University of Oklahoma, Lawton

Indigenous traditional healing is an ancient, deeply rooted, complex holistic health care system practiced by indigenous people worldwide. However, scant information exists to explain the phenomenon of indigenous medicine and indigenous health. Even less is known about how indigenous healing takes place. The purpose of this study is to describe the meaning and essence of the lived experience of 4 indigenous people who have been diagnosed with cancer and have used indigenous traditional healing during their healing journey. The researcher used a qualitative phenomenological methodology to collect and analyze interview data. Interviews were conducted with 4 self-identified indigenous people, ages 49 to 61, from diverse tribes. Time since cancer diagnosis varied from 2 to 20 years; types of cancer included lung, prostate, sarcoma of the leg, and breast. Four themes and 2 subthemes emerged (1) receiving the cancer diagnosis (with subthemes of knowing something was wrong and hearing something was wrong), (2) seeking healing, (3) connecting to indigenous culture, and (4) contemplating life’s future. This study demonstrates that 4 individuals with cancer integrated Western medicine and traditional healing to treat their cancer. This knowledge provides necessary data about the phenomena of being healed by indigenous healers. Such data may serve as an initial guide for health care professionals while interacting with indigenous people diagnosed with cancer. Accordingly, traditional healing may be used to decrease health disparities.

Key Words: indigenous healing • traditional healing • cancer • American Indian • complementary and alternative medicine • integrative medicine


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