Sometimes it’s easy to envision the interrelatedness of medicine and magic. I feel a sense
of wonder, of awe, at the elegant mechanisms by which new technologies are formed, our
bodies work, and people interact in social settings. And that wonder, that mystery makes
me appreciate the things that I do know just that much more.
Prior to departing for Malawi, I had (somewhat) mentally prepared myself for the culture
shock of local attitudes towards health and medicine. Granted, my own perspectives on
what health is, what medicine is, and how best to deliver care to people are not very well
defined… but even so, I knew that my own subconscious presuppositions would probably
be refined here. And so they have!
Case in point: I have heard stories (and read stories) about the clash between traditional
medicine and “Westernized” medicine. But it’s very different reading a story in a book and
actually hearing said story first hand.
Story 1: Newly diagnosed cancer patient receives his morphine dose at his weekly
outpatient visit at the hospital palliative care unit and goes home. He decides that maybe
his diagnosis is wrong; after all, cancer is a disease that kills… and he certainly doesn’t
feel like he’s dying. So he goes to visit the local medicine man, bringing along his
questions and worries and his bottle of morphine. “Ha!” says the medicine man– “you don’t
have cancer! Give me that bottle the doctor gave you. I can make your pain go away.”
Bottle handed over, medicine man turns to make his pills… by mixing the morphine with
crushed herbs. And voila, the new medicine works! No more pain.
–> but he still has cancer, and his morphine is all gone, and he doesn’t go back to the
hospital for any more checkups. outcome? not good.
Story 2: Woman arrives at hospital claiming that she is in labor. She delivers… a stone. Surprise!
She and her new husband (she had already borne four children by a previous husband)
wanted a child. Visited one health clinic when she thought she was pregnant; was told that
she was not. Visited another, same thing. Visited a local traditional medicine man,
received some magic, and delivers a stone at the hospital.
Sometimes faith and medicine go hand in hand. Other times, they work against one another.
The lesson I gather is to listen and to learn — how to understand a patient’s worldview, and how to work with him to give him the best care possible.
Like dancing with a partner, medicine requires give-and-take, requires balance.
Belief is powerful.