Folk/Traditional healer use among Latinos with chronic illnesses: Psychosocial sequelae support

The presence of chronic and debilitating illness has been consistently found to be a reason people are attracted to and seek out alternative treatment options congruent with their values, culture, and worldview. There is growing evidence that Latinos commonly utilize folk/traditional healers as a main resource in attending to the psychosocial sequelae of chronic illnesses. This work examines Latinos' particular use of folk/traditional healers as informal psychosocial sequelae support by 1) exploring the motivation of Latinos' use of this ethnic specific form of complementary and alternative medicine modality, and 2) delineating the specific characteristics of the healers and processes utilized by folk/traditional healers that render such informal treatments effective among this population. Folk/traditional healers contain the same three common components that render a formal mental health professional as effective: shared worldview, positive personal qualities, and patient expectations. Evidence suggests folk/traditional healing is sought beyond the scope of barriers to access. It is instead a socially-sanctioned psychosocial and mental health service responding to the lack of quality racial or ethnic appropriate formal care services. Latinos therefore, turn to this accepted “CAM” practice found in their community to find culturally congruent psychosocial sequelae support that effectively incorporates Latino worldview and cultural variables.