Spiritual Possession and the Role of Traditional Healers in Nepal
Journal of Nepal Health Research Council March 9, 2022 DOI: 10.33314/jnhrc.v17i01.1785 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Traditional healers in Nepal, though not medically trained, may have a potential role in patient management, but their lack of training could lead to mismanagement of serious illnesses. |
Abstract
Spiritual possession is a relatively common phenomenon, and occurs in many cultures around the world. It is a frequent claim in Nepal that illness is caused by spiritual possession, and ill people often seek out traditional healers for treatment. Traditional healers are often not medically trained, and this could have an adverse effect on a person’s health as serious illnesses may not be managed appropriately. However, there is perhaps a role that traditional healers can play in the management of patients. Keywords: Culture; Nepal; spirit possession; traditional medicine.