TY - JOUR
T1 - Traditional medicine among people of Pakistani descent in the capital region of Copenhagen
AU - Ramzan, Sara
AU - Soelberg, Jens
AU - Jäger, Anna K
AU - Cantarero-Arévalo, Lourdes
N1 - Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/1/20
Y1 - 2017/1/20
N2 - Ethnopharmacological relevance Studies show that ethnic minorities continue to use their cultural traditional medicines also after migration to the West. Research in this field is necessary, given that little is known about traditional medicines’ impact on health-related problems. This study sheds light on the issue through a qualitative study among ethnic Pakistanis residing in Denmark. Aim of the study The study addresses perception, knowledge and attitudes regarding the use of medicinal plants among Pakistanis living in Copenhagen. We furthermore document and identify the medicinal plants used in households. Materials and methods Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with sixteen ethnic Pakistanis aged 30–80 years. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed through Emerson's two-phased analysis method. Medicinal plant products in the interviewees’ households were collected, photographed, identified and deposited at Museum of Natural Medicine at University of Copenhagen. Results A total number of 121 Pakistani traditional medicines were identified, and found to represent both medicinal plants and foods. The average number of quoted Pakistani Traditional Medicines was 18 (N=16). Interviewees independently reported the same traditions for preparation and consumption of Pakistani traditional medicines. Factors that play a role in choosing to use Pakistani traditional medicines are frequent visits to Pakistan, belief in the healing power of totkas (homemade medicinal preparation), religious knowledge and the occurrence of recent illness within the family. Further, the upkeep of traditional use depends on the availability of Pakistani traditional medicines. Conclusion The study enhanced understanding of ethnic Pakistanis’ perception and continued use of traditional medicines within the household after migration to the West. In the context of Western biomedicine, little is known of the potential toxicity and side-effects of many of the Pakistani traditional medicines found to be used in households in Copenhagen.
AB - Ethnopharmacological relevance Studies show that ethnic minorities continue to use their cultural traditional medicines also after migration to the West. Research in this field is necessary, given that little is known about traditional medicines’ impact on health-related problems. This study sheds light on the issue through a qualitative study among ethnic Pakistanis residing in Denmark. Aim of the study The study addresses perception, knowledge and attitudes regarding the use of medicinal plants among Pakistanis living in Copenhagen. We furthermore document and identify the medicinal plants used in households. Materials and methods Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with sixteen ethnic Pakistanis aged 30–80 years. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed through Emerson's two-phased analysis method. Medicinal plant products in the interviewees’ households were collected, photographed, identified and deposited at Museum of Natural Medicine at University of Copenhagen. Results A total number of 121 Pakistani traditional medicines were identified, and found to represent both medicinal plants and foods. The average number of quoted Pakistani Traditional Medicines was 18 (N=16). Interviewees independently reported the same traditions for preparation and consumption of Pakistani traditional medicines. Factors that play a role in choosing to use Pakistani traditional medicines are frequent visits to Pakistan, belief in the healing power of totkas (homemade medicinal preparation), religious knowledge and the occurrence of recent illness within the family. Further, the upkeep of traditional use depends on the availability of Pakistani traditional medicines. Conclusion The study enhanced understanding of ethnic Pakistanis’ perception and continued use of traditional medicines within the household after migration to the West. In the context of Western biomedicine, little is known of the potential toxicity and side-effects of many of the Pakistani traditional medicines found to be used in households in Copenhagen.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jep.2016.11.048
DO - 10.1016/j.jep.2016.11.048
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 27939419
SN - 0378-8741
VL - 196
SP - 267
EP - 280
JO - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
JF - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
ER -