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Traditional Medicine Practised in Myanmar

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Traditional Medicine Practised in Myanmar

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Traditional medicine in Myanmar has evolved over millennia, influenced by Buddhist healing practices, traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda, all promoting holistic well-being.

During the colonial period (1885-1948), traditional medicine declined due to the rise of Western allopathic practices. However, it experienced a revival during World War II when Western medicines became scarce (UNESCO, 2024). After independence in 1948, the Burmese government launched a project to promote and standardize traditional medicine, emphasizing its preservation and accessibility as a national heritage (Coderey, 2021).

UNESCO. (2024). Individual case study. Intangible Heritage intangible heritage - Culture Sector - UNESCO. https://ich.unesco.org/en/individual-case-study-00988?id=00036

Coderey, C. (2021, May 27). Myanmar traditional medicine: The making of a national heritage. Cambridge Core. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/modern-asian-studies/article/myanmar-traditional-medicine-the-making-of-a-national-heritage/C7283D4B35D7C2B83397E931B4C4B06E

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Myanmar is a diverse multi-religious country consisting of Buddhism, Christians, Islam, Hinduism, Animism and Non Religion.

Buddhism in Myanmar is primarily of the Theravada tradition. Theravāda Buddhism in Myanmar involves the incorporation of spirit (nat) worship, which includes appeasing spirits believed to contain power to influence worldly matters. Christianity is the second-largest religion in Myanmar, with most of its followers belonging to indigenous ethnic minorities such as the Kachin, Chin, and Naga. The largest Muslim population in Myanmar is Rakhine State, where Rohingya Muslims are often seen as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, despite many having lived there for generations. Anti-Muslim sentiment is widespread in Myanmar. Despite Myanmar's strong Buddhist majority, both "Myanmar" and "Burma" are derived from "Brahma," a Hindu deity with four heads (Hoang, 2020). Additionally, the king of the nats, Thagyamin, is based on the Hindu god Indra. Animism is the belief that spirits exist and inhabit all things.

Hoang, T. (2020, December 11). Religions in Myanmar (Burma). Myanmar Travel. https://myanmartravel.com/religions-in-myanmar-burma/

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Current Australian guidelines recommend that all patients with falciparum malaria be admitted to the hospital, at least for the initial phase of their treatment. However, individuals with non-severe malaria can be treated entirely as outpatients (Phillips & Francis, 2024). Patients diagnosed with Falciparum Malaria with the ability to tolerate oral medications should be treated with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). In Australia, artemether-lumefantrine is the only available treatment for falciparum infections.

Phillips, C., & Francis, J. (2024). Malaria » Australian refugee health. Australian Refugee Health » Primary Care for People of Refugee Backgrounds. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/malaria/

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WHO Determinant regarding Social Inclusion and Non Discrimination

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WHO Determinant regarding Social Inclusion and Non Discrimination

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Refugees generally have poorer health outcomes and face additional challenges accessing healthcare due to language barriers, lack of transport, and unfamiliar health systems. Low health literacy and cultural differences further complicate access.

The socio-ecological model (SEM) helps understand how social, cultural, and environmental factors influence refugee health. Research using SEM involves migrant communities to stay culturally relevant.

Knowledge of the health needs of Myanmar refugees in Australia is limited, and ineffective health programs are reported due to lack of community engagement (Wong et al., 2019).

Wong, C. K., White, C., Thay, B., & Lassemillante, A. M. (2019, December 23). Living a healthy life in Australia: Exploring influences on health for refugees from Myanmar. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6982124/

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(Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership, 2024)

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I feel fortunate to have grown up in a country that has increasingly embraced multiculturalism over the years. As I reflect on my understanding of Myanmarese culture (formerly Burma), I realise that my knowledge is quite limited. However, I am eager to learn and delve into understanding some areas of this culture. I have begun to develop some basic awareness of Myanmarese culture upon researching for this assessment. For me, the most important aspect as I think about my future nursing career is to not judge or assume that due to an individuals specific culture they must all be similar. I aim to focus my practice as a more person centred approach and listen attentively to the choices and preferences and critically think how I will deliver the best holistic care with respect to beliefs, religious, spiritual and linguistic elements (COMPETENCY STANDARDS FRAMEWORK FOR CLINICIANS, 2019).

COMPETENCY STANDARDS FRAMEWORK FOR CLINICIANS. (2019, January). Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: Working with People from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds. https://moodleprod.murdoch.edu.au/pluginfile.php/4119639/mod_resource/content/3/Culturally-responsive-clinical-practice-Working-with-people-from-migrant-and-refugee-backgrounds-Jan2019.pdf

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One of Myanmar's most popular dishes as pictured above, "Mohinga" is a fish-based soup with rice noodles and flavoured lemongrass and is considered the national dish in Myanmar. Listed below is the nutritional information...

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 1,150.6

Total Fat 30.3 g

Saturated Fat 4.6 g

Polyunsaturated Fat 4.4 g

Monounsaturated Fat 9.0 g

Cholesterol 305.0 mg

Sodium 664.1 mg

Potassium 581.1 mg

Total Carbohydrate 152.2 g

Dietary Fiber 9.9 g

Sugars 10.2 g

Protein 68.6 g

Vitamin A 6.2 %

Vitamin B 129.8 %

Vitamin B 638.5 %

Vitamin C 33.5 %

Vitamin D 0.0 %

Vitamin E 16.4 %

Calcium 16.3 %

Copper 11.6 %

Folate 88.3 %

Iron. 48.2 %

Magnesium 13.5 %

Manganese 37.8 %

Niacin 48.0 %

Pantothenic Acid 11.8 %

Phosphorus 19.7 %

Riboflavin 52.1 %

Selenium 47.0 %

Thiamin 98.1 %

Zinc 8.6 %

(SparkRecipes, 2021)

Unfortunately studies have shown that since 2022, food security and nutrition has rapidly deteriorated in Myanmar. Approximately April-June 2023 over 3% of households reported they were in moderate to severe hunger (European Commission, 2023).

European Commission. (2023). The state of food security and nutrition in Myanmar 2022-23: Findings from five rounds of the Myanmar household welfare survey. Knowledge for policy. https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/publication/state-food-security-nutrition-myanmar-2022-23-findings-five-rounds-myanmar-household_en

SparkRecipes. (2021, August). Calories in Burmese fish noodle soup (Mohinga). https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calories.asp?recipe=2327265

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How Muslim athletes keep training while fasting for Ramadan | ABC News (ABC News, 2024).

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Following on from religion... Ramadan is the ninth month of the muslim calendar and begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. Ramadan is more broadly interpreted as the obligation to abstain from food, drink, sexual activity, and all forms of immoral behaviour, including impure or unkind thoughts, between dawn and dusk (Brittanica, 2024).

ABC News. (2024, March 12). How Muslim athletes keep training while fasting for Ramadan | ABC News. YouTube. https://youtu.be/gHyAcFCTm0M?si=PEc9WyWeH_XlETEk

Brittanica. (2024, August 31). Ramadan. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramadan

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How Muslim athletes keep training while fasting for Ramadan | ABC News