Culture, Conscious Well-being
Mirjam Hirch
Volume 8, Number 1 (2025) 8 (1): 19-33
Keywords Primary Health Care, Global Health Disparities, Indigenous Health, Colonialism, Complementary Medicine, Traditional Medicine, Biodiversity, Health Care Systems, Human Health, Culture, Community Cohesion, Swiss Healthcare System, Empowerment of Indigenous Communities, Indigeneous Knowledge, Healthcare Systems, Social Action, Species Loss, Health Systems Commodification, Indigenous Healing Practices Integration, Impact of Colonialism on Health, Traditional Medicine in Switzerland, Human Health and Biodiversity Connection, Community Participation in Health, Empowerment through Narratives, Health Equity
Abstract
Global health disparities persist, exacerbated by interlinked food, climate, and economic crises, and healthcare commercialization. Indigenous communities face compounded challenges due to colonial disruptions, leading to substance abuse and mental health issues. Emphasizing holistic well-being, the article advocates for integrating indigenous healing practices with Western medicine, community-led initiatives, and policy reforms. Empowerment through self-definition is crucial for improving indigenous health outcomes. The interconnectedness of health, biodiversity, and ecosystem services is highlighted, noting species loss impacts on indigenous well-being. While complementary medicine (e.g., Switzerland’s framework) offers insights, achieving health equity requires cultural-environmental perspectives and urgent action. The analysis questions the feasibility of equitable health systems amid structural barriers.
Mirjam Hirch
Published August 13, 2025
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mirjam Hirch (Author)
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