Background
Methods
1. What is your experience of TM in New Zealand What do you consider to be TM? What do you know about the TM? | |
2. Do you use any TM for dental/non-dental pathologies affecting the orofacial region? This can be from orofacial pain to oral mucosal diseases If so what are they and what do they treat? How long do you use it for? | |
3. TM can have lots of values and significance for people for different reasons. What are some of the reasons you use TM? Why not? What situation is TM used in? what situations aren’t | |
4. What are the ways that you access the TM? How does this differ to when in NZ vs your home country? What barriers exist to accessing TM? How has access to TM changed over time? Were there any changes in the use of TM after immigrating to New Zealand? | |
5. How do people in your community view traditional medicine? How have others responded to your use of TM? What is your experience of the health care professionals and TM? How has this changed the way you use traditional or NZ medical systems? |
Results
N (%) | ||
---|---|---|
Gender | Male | 6 (43%) |
Female | 8 (57%) | |
Age (years) | 30–39 | 4 (29%) |
40–49 | 1 (7%) | |
50–59 | 6 (43%) | |
> 60 | 3 (21%) | |
Ethnicity | Chinese | 5 (36%) |
Pacific Islanders | 4 (29%) | |
Maori | 3 (21%) | |
European | 2 (14%) |
1. Perspectives of TM a. Different definition of TM b. Involvement of spirituality c. Involvement with the environment d. Knowledge and usage of TM | |
2. Current practice and experience with TM a. TM practices in dental/non dental pathologies in New Zealand b. Relationship between traditional and western Medicine | |
3. Barriers to accessing TM in New Zealand a. Lack of Traditional Healers b. Lack of Traditional Plants c. Cost of TM d. Adaptation and substitution |
Theme 1: perspectives of TM
Sub-theme 1a: different definition of TM
“To me TM is all about non-pharmaceutical medicine, it’s about natural source of remedies and use any plant-based medicine….TM is mainly like extracting from the plant and use it” P13.
“Chinese herbs” P1.
“Herbal medicine comes from plants” p5.
“Herbs/weeds grown from home for home use” P6.
My experience of TM is traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, massage therapy, kinesiology, energetic medicine, herbal remedies, flower essences, essential oil remedies. I consider TM to be all of the above, anything other than allopathic medicine” P7.
“TM is the use of natural resources, native plants, and traditional remedies.” P9.
“TMs are not medication per se they are herbal types of medicines that we use for remedies” P12.
“Made by my ancestors/rongoā practitioners, was made pre-pharmaceutical medications” P8.
“TM was used by our ancestors – pre-colonisation, it was the role of Tohunga to practise or use medicinal properties from native flora to heal any wounds or cure illness” P9.
“Anything and everything that our ancestors use or made (all-natural ingredients) to help treat and prevent any ailment or disease. Just what my grandparents and parents have used or taught me.” P11.
“Tai Chi Kung Fu” P1.
“Massaging is good and sometimes we like to go to hot pools, it also helps with well-being and reduce stress” P2.
“Rongoā Maori, Acupuncture, homeopathy iridology, massage, essential oil, yoga, reiki, forest and garden time – Stress reduction” P6.
Sub-theme 1b: involvement of spirituality
“ummm, just through spiritual, and that’s why we use to help cure any pathologies that we encountered. But at the same time, it’s spiritual healing and passing down from the ancestor. That is something we just so used to it and it’s not explained to us properly”. P13.
“Our body is governed by the five elements fire, water, air, earth, and spirit, and if any of these is not balanced then it is likely to cause problem in the body” P1.
“There are healers who use some sort of prayers and calling spirits to help with healing” P12.
“My ancestors have used them and passed down to me…I’ve seen it work so I use it” P11.
“…you are with your elders; you are obliged to use it as it has been passed on from generation….” P12.
Sub-theme 1c: involvement with the environment
“Indigenous people had cures from land. Majority of the natural ingredients are from the land/sea” P8.
“Back at my home county, majority of herbs or plants with medicinal properties are readily available in the backyard or the nearby bush and trees.” P11.
“TMs are made from plants, leaves, the tree and the roots that grew from our land….they are very effective and are compatible with the body with less side effects…“P14.
Sub-theme 1d: knowledge and usage of TM
“It has been passed down from the past, and because it worked in the past, so we use it” P4.
“The Chinese doctors prescribe TM, and I just follow their instructions” P5.
“I use any TM because I believe in prevention rather than cure” P7.
“Rongoā practitioners have knowledge about TM as they use natural resources, native plants and traditional remedies to heal any wounds or cure illness” P8.
“For the elders, they will be able to see the tree and tell whether it is the right tree, whereas for me, I won’t be able to tell whether the tree is use for TM or not” P12.
“We usually take our family/relatives all the way back home, and they will stay there for a week or two to get treatment from the elders” P13.
“TM has been around for a long time and I think it is quite reliable. I think western medicine is not very reliable as it hasn’t been used long enough compared to TM” P3.
“TM can regulate the body and we use it as a preventative measure” P4.
“I use it to raise levels of wellness e.g. to recover faster from or avoid catching colds/flue” P6.
“My parents used it on me and now I use it on my nieces” P11.
“I believe when a child gets a fever, it is likely that they may have some bruises. So, when my daughter gets fever, I will do some massage to smoother the bruises. So that’s what we do, we use oil and the water and massage the child from the head all the way down to the toe. Only did it once and my daughter got better” P14.
“TM is more natural, and we have been using it for a long time” P1.
“…. they are very effective and is compatible with the body with less side effects” P14.“Unless studies have said it is carcinogenic then I will stop, otherwise I will use it even though there is no evidence behind it”. P12.
Theme 2: current practice and experience with TM
Sub-theme 2a: TM practices in dental/non-dental pathologies in New Zealand
Toothache:
“Clove oil for toothache” P7.
“Clove on sore tooth to relieve pain” P8.
“I understand there have been various bark teas available for toothache” P10.
“…you know the bark of the paw paw tree; we will scrape it and boil it with hot water and then gargle to kill off pain for toothache” P12.
“so we use the paw paw tree for toothache….normally use the paw paw bark….boil it and try get the juice out of the paw paw bark and gargle it but you don’t drink it” P13.
Mouth ulcers:
“Saltwater to gargle or apply salt on the ulcer. Use it for a few days and usually once or twice a day, normally before sleep” P1.
“I use a Chinese TM called watermelon powder for mouth ulcer.” P4.
“I use Kawakawa leaf three times daily for mouth ulcers” P6.
“For ulcers, there is a type of leave we use called the bell tree. They mix the leaves with water and use as a mouthwash and they use it for oral thrush too” P12.
Gingivitis:
“The saltwater can also be used for gum diseases as the gum diseases are usually caused by bacteria” P1.
“Coconut oil brushing for tooth and gum health” P7.
“Boil the leaves of the nonu tree and use the juice to gargle” P14.
Nasal decongestion:
“There is a Chinese herbal spray that I was prescribed by my doctor which I use for blocked nose” P5.
“For sinusitis or nasal decongestion, they will use lemon leaves and another sort of plants we used back home called Uci.” P12.
Teething:
“Clove leaves for treating teething, you grind clover leaves and place them in a piece of cloth and rub it on the gum for about 3 to 5 days.” P11.
Sore throat:
“If we have sore throat, we will gargle with saltwater” P2.
Temporomandibular joint pain:
“Massage for TMJ malfunctions, neck and shoulder issues which have a direct influence on the TMJ” P7.
Headache:
“I use Chinese essential oil for my headache” P4.
Neck pain:
“I have used a Chinese herbal patch that was prescribed by the Chinese doctor for neck pain and I apply it morning and night”. P3.
Sub-theme 2b: Relationship between Traditional and Western Medicine.
“There is some situation where TM is not helpful, e.g. tooth extractions, fillings, heart attacks” P7.
“We normally start with the TM for minor problems…if there are no improvement with TMs then we will seek western medicine” P1.
“I would use TM first, but if it doesn’t get better than I would go for western medicine” P3.
“When TM has not resolved the condition then I use allopathic treatments” P7.
“I still this day use TM because of it values and my beliefs” P11.
“It is something I was born with, so I actually believe in it. I’m like all for it. P12”.
“…. when it comes to surgical sort of treatment, I’d rather go for the hospital but when it comes to medicines I would go for TM.” P13.
“I would use TM in conjunction with doctor prescribed medications” P8.
“Advised by a Rongoa practitioner not to stop the prescribed meds and use the TM in conjunction with the western meds” P8.
“I would use TM in situation where I have seen it work. If I am double minded and I am not very sure, then theoretically if I know it is not supposed to work that way then I wouldn’t use it” P1.
“TM treat the root, whereas western medicines treat the symptoms” P1.
“TM helps with healing whereas western medicines are used to treat acute conditions” P9.
“Western medicine is like some kind of poison. They said it will damage your kidney, and if you have kidney problems, don’t take it, whereas this is not the case with TM” P2.
“I always question my doctor about TM, and he said because of the profession as a doctor of modern medicines, they don’t recommend patient to use or take TM but they aren’t against it and say it should be taken as an additional medicine” P11.
“I usually work with my doctor when taking TM…if he asks me to stop, then I will stop” P6.
Theme 3: barriers to accessing TM in New Zealand
Sub-theme 3a: lack of traditional practitioners
“There are a lot of Chinese doctors in New Zealand, however, they aren’t as good as the doctors back home” P1.
“The only option to be treated with TM is to hop on the plane and go over to Samoa to be treated” P13.
Sub-theme 3b: lack of traditional plants
“In New Zealand, it is very different, back home you can use TMs until you are normal as there are more varieties of TM compared to here…the herbal medicines are usually lower grade in New Zealand” P2.
“Immigration doesn’t allow plant/tree/foods into New Zealand, so it is hard to import herbal plants from overseas to New Zealand” P8.
“Access to TM in New Zealand is a challenge as it is hard to find the herbal plants…. back home, they are readily available in the backyard” P11.
“Due to the climate in New Zealand, some plants are not grown here…the only thing I could bring to New Zealand is the oil which I use it for massage” P12.
“Due to different climates, the plants in New Zealand are foreign to us and I can’t find the same plants I use back home” P14.
Sub-theme 3c: cost of TM
“It is not subsidised by the government, so it is quite expensive” P2.
“Seeing a naturopath and buying supplements are costly” P6.
“If the herbal medicines were available in New Zealand, they are usually very expensive” P11.
Sub-theme 3d: adaptation and substitution
“If I can find TMs then I would use it if I can’t find it then I will find alternative if not then I will use western medicines.” P3.
“The use of TM has stopped while living in New Zealand as it is hard to access…” P12.
“If I was back home I would use TM but since I am in New Zealand and have no access to TM, so I will have to use pharmaceutical medicines.” P13.
Discussion
Traditional medicine perspectives
Use of TM in different conditions
Conditions | Current study | Previous studies |
---|---|---|
Toothache | Clove oil Bark teas Paw paw | Clove oil [2] Peppermint [2] Acalypha sp. Leave [18] |
Mouth ulcers | Watermelon powder Salt water Kawakawa leaf Leaves from bell tree | Tree tea oil [2] Watermelon frost powder [19] Myrtle [20] |
Gingivitis | Salt water Coconut oil Boil the leaves of nonu tree and gargle | Coconut oil [15] Ocimum sanctum 6% w/w [16] Aloe vera mouthwash [17] |
Nasal decongestion | Chinese herbal spray Lemon leaves Uci plants | Moxibustion with Chinese herbal [24] Lemon juice [25] Acupuncture [26] |
Teething | Clove leaves | None |
Sore throat | Salt water | Pawpaw [18] Thyme [21] |
Temporomandibular joint pain | Massage | Eucalyptus tree [18] Massage therapy [22] Acupuncture [23] |
Headache | Chinese essential oil | Chinese herbal concoction [27] Hijama [28] Head banding [28] |
Neck pain | Chinese herbal patch | Chinese herbal patches [29] Acupuncture [30] Acupressure [30] Cupping [30] |