ANT 381 - Seminar in Anthropology: Traditional Asian Medical Systems

Although biomedicine is the most popular medical system in the world due to globalization, modernization, and Western cultural and political hegemony, aspects of Asian medical systems will continue to influence and gain popularity in developed nations. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, shamans, chi, Buddhist monks, and holistic care are common conceptions of Asian medical systems. However, the geographic area regarded as Asia is vast and diverse, as are its peoples and their practices. This course explores the various medical systems in the Asian continent and the health and illness etiology, and diagnostic and treatment methodologies within each system and within the context of other social institutions and history. The format of the course is mainly class discussion.