Page 10 - NAMAH Oct 2015

Namah Vol. 23, Issue 3, 15th October 2015

Knowledge frameworks in medicine and health

Dr. Natalie Tobert

Abstract
A special problem is faced in the West, whereby people who have anomalous experiences were often
assumed to have a mental health condition. However, survivors (of the mental health system) are
rising up, claiming they want a more spiritual interpretation of their experiences. In the field of
mental health in particular, problems result from an adherence to a dominant Western knowledge
base, and its assumed ‘truth’ over cultural wisdoms. This article discusses the popular demand for a
new paradigm for interpreting human experience. It explores cultural truths and presents examples
of the urgent call for change in healthcare.

Introduction Popular demand for a new paradigm

A diverse range of knowledge frameworks In the West, people are demanding a new
exist within medicine and healthcare. Today, spiritual paradigm for psychiatry and
we face a dilemma in countries where Western healthcare. They claim allopathic models of
opinions dominate cultural wisdoms. This is a health for extreme or ‘anomalous’ experiences
particular problem in the West for those who are not universal and not working. Some are
have anomalous experiences or are considered collecting evidence on perceived harm from
to have symptoms of mental ill-health. This psychiatric practice and pharmacology (1) .
article explores the assumption that biomedical The call has gone out for different ways of
models of mental health are universal. It addressing extreme experiences. At the same
presents claimants, who suggest unusual time, the biological origins of symptoms of
experiences are spiritual phenomena and not mental distress are being questioned (2,3)
indicative of pathology or mental ill-health. It as is the science behind medication reports
explores the nature of ‘religious experiences’ (4,5).
and the assumptions around them. Finally it
invites us to consider practical therapeutic In contrast, during visits to Mumbai in India,
examples from India, the UK and USA, which I observed physicians who already embodied
are being used today to address the dilemma of the spiritual change the West would like to
hierarchies of knowledge. see. In addition, in my recent book, Spiritual

10