Is herbal therapy a challenge to integration? Insights from Cyprus’ folk medicine
(2018) 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration — Location: New York
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- Abstract
- In Cyprus’ millenary tradition of folk medicine, “psychotherapy” and herbal therapy did not need to be integrated, because they were never disjunct. A sign of this holistic approach can be found in the Iatrosophikon (Filaretos, 1924-1925), a manual of practical medicine collecting prescriptions for the treatment of physical as well as mental problems. In this volume, refined psychotherapeutic indications are recorded, such as an ante-litteram formulation of the Exposure Therapy for phobias - “and in this way fear drives out fear” (p. 169) - and a procedure for the management of anniversary reactions. It is noteworthy, however, that the ancient treatments were always being administered together with biological or physical ones (e.g., dieting, bathing, physical exercise), and particularly with the use of herbs. Nowadays, the predominant therapies combining psychotherapy and biological treatments employ prescribed medicines. However, the administration of medicines is associated with considerable limitations, such as side effects, poor response or unwillingness to receive medication. It is documented that there is an increasing interest in the use of natural treatments as an alternative for medication (Ekor, 2013). Therefore, a model proposing a combination of psychotherapy and natural biological treatments could be a promising therapy of choice for patients with low tolerance or high resistance to prescribed medication. The present study is an attempt to explore the habits and attitudes towards the use of herbs as a treatment for health-related problems. The sample was selected among elderly Cypriots living in rural areas, a population assumed to have a rich experience in using natural remedies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to examine the typical procedures of herbal treatment (e.g. preferred herbs, purpose, method and duration of use) and the factors underlying a positive attitude towards it. Findings are discussed addressing several issues related to the formulation of a new model integrating psychotherapy and natural biological treatments. Further research is needed to develop such a model, while testing its effectiveness and exploring the related ethical aspects would be the priorities.
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Polipo, N., & et al. (2018). Is herbal therapy a challenge to integration? Insights from Cyprus’ folk medicine. 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration, New York. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/109754