Seeking Cures With No Prescription

[flashl]

Undocumented immigrants, afraid to use the mainstream health care system, are turning to traditional healers for their health care needs.

MADERA, Calif. — The curandera is weary from work. Three, four, five times a day, the immigrant farm workers knock on her apartment door, begging her to cure their ailments.

They complain of indigestion, of rashes, of post-traumatic panic attacks. Then there are the house calls that compel her to crate up her potions and herbs and drive across town, often after midnight, to escape the notice of immigration police.

...

The people need help because they are in the United States illegally and because they are poor. Few have health insurance, but the backbreaking nature of their work, along with the toxicity of American poverty, insure that many are ailing.

They may visit a clinic or hospital if they are severely ill. But for many illegal immigrants, particularly indigenous Mexican groups like the Mixtecs, much of their health care is provided by a parallel system of spiritual healers, home remedies and self-medication.

Video

NY Times

[glowing]

1. I know a lot of Americans using alt healers as well... And its not all

quackery.. it would be nice if Doctors would use both.. There are many natural treatments for many ailments...(except herbs can't be patented)... At the same time, a trained Dr. with access to testing, prescriptions, etc. is also needed... It would be nice if there was a better understanding of healing in this country.. Way too many people rely on prescriptions for everything.

[flashl]

2. Small changes and alternates to Allopathic medicine is most readily seen in use of adjunct therapies

[midnight]

3. There has been a ramp up of interest in medical care

from law enforcement for years . It is chilling,so many years later,that this are the effects .

[bobbolink]

4. I firmly believe that Chinese medicine should be included in any national health care plan.

There are so many things that Western medicine fails with.

The richest country in the world should have ALL medicine available for ALL it's citizens.

May we have an Amen?

[flashl]

6. Amen. nt

[readyforreason]

5. advococy

We have a local group that was started by an ex-health dept. nurse to provide care for those turned away due to their status as an illegal immigrant. It would be wonderful to see this idea spread to other communities.

[cutlassmama]

7. They can go to any herb shop and get herbs themselves.

Chinese medicines need a "practitioner" to prescribe them to people which can sometimes cost a lot of money. They are both good alternatives to Western medicine.