Panelists: Traditional, modern medicine can work side by side

Traditional medicine and modern medicine can co-exist, but the man’amko must pass down their methods to younger generations, panelists with traditional medicine knowledge said Saturday.

Seven panelists were part of the Inetnon Amot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch Native Medicine Symposium held at the Man’amko Center.

“Traditional healers need to speak up and share their information to medical doctors,” Ignacia T. Demapan said, reading excerpts from an essay she wrote.

She said indigenous citizens need to document their healing methods.

“In this way, traditional medicine will be able to be recognized in our health care system,” Demapan, who is working toward her Ph.D in psychology, said.

Apprenticeships or schools are a good way to pass the knowledge to younger generations, Demapan told the crowd of approximately 30 people.

Sen. Maria Frica Pangelinan said that, like modern medicine, users must believe in the healing powers for traditional medicine to work. But caution needs to be used as well, she added.

“Just because it’s a local medicine, we think it’s all good,” she said. “It should be used with guides and instruction.”

Dr. Daniel C. Lamar spoke of his admiration for plants. “I developed a relationship with plants,” said Lamar, who is a medical doctor but also studied botanical medicine. “I think of them as spiritual beings. There are a lot of plants that have some way touched my soul.”

Plants need to be studied and learned about, he said. “Plants are alive,” he said. “They are a part of our spiritual world as well as our visual world. And we need to try to understand them in that way.”

When an audience member asked about homebirths, Pangelinan said the practice was initially used because there was no alternative. If homebirths were to become more common, there would need to be safety regulations.

“As of right now, the hospital is still the safest place,” she added.

Lamar, who said he has delivered numerous babies at home, said there must be training involved with a homebirth. “The question of safety is the biggest issue,” he said.

Studies have shown that homebirths are as safe as hospitals births, but extra caution must be taken—not just for the baby, but for the mother as well, Lamar said.

“Women must have more screening and be watched closely,” he said.