Bridging Indigenous and Western Sciences

Abstract

Emergent research methodologies congruent with Indigenous knowledge and worldviews are providing access to insights from traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine, including Indigenous healing systems. Tension is evident for researchers balancing representation of Indigenous realities with expectation to conform to the conventionality and rationality of "acceptable" Western science-based research protocols. Where past research pursuits have been limited by polarized views of legitimacy and validity, Western science and Indigenous science are now converging as equally valid notions of science to guide emergent research practices such as Kaupapa Māori. This narrative synthesis explores complex relations between epistemology, methodology, and practice. It aims to contribute to the transfer of knowledge between Indigenous and Western scientific paradigms.

Can Avicenna Help Manage the Diabetes Epidemic in Central Asia?

“…Medicinal plants are multifaceted, adaptive, environmentally interactive systems exhibiting synergy and nonlinear healing causality [142]. Recently, Western science and indigenous science appear as equally valid notions to guide emergent research practices [110]. Many herbal medicines are now being supported by scientific evidence and have been shown to exert significant effects in the body, relieve symptoms, treat disease and improve everyday function.…”

“…This trend is especially visible in countries with populations with a limited income and well-established practice of traditional medicine such as Tajikistan, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China and others [104][105][106][107][108]. There are attempts to validate the traditional use of medicinal plants using contemporary scientific methods [109][110][111]. Multiple plant species used in traditional medicine in different parts of the world have been shown to have at least some antidiabetic activity [112].…”

Working with Indigenous science(s) frameworks and methods: Challenging the ontological hegemony of ‘western’ science and the axiological biases of its practitioners

“…In hegemonic science, commonly referred to as ‘western’ (e.g. Broadhead and Howard, 2021; Massey and Kirk, 2015), ‘western modern’ (e.g. Snively and Corsiglia, 2001) and, more recently, ‘Euro-Western’ (May and Viaene, 2022) science, the scientific basis is overlain with values including a human-centred focus, an impersonal and extractive approach that adopts a reductionist and compartmentalised perspective heavily reliant on elitist evidence (Weir, 2023), ‘universal’ principles (Graham, 2009), and often supported by an over-reliance on engineering while projecting a secular mindset (Watson, 2014).…”

Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Qualitative Study for Reconsidering Nursing Care in the United States

“…A central tenet of traditional medicine is that culture is fundamental to the concept of health and healing (Massey & Kirk, 2015), influencing health behaviors and decisions about which practices are employed (Li et al, 2016). In many communities around the world, traditional medicine is the most readily accessible system of health care and central to the way of living (Massey & Kirk, 2015), yet few health professionals have sufficient knowledge of such therapies (Balouchi et al, 2018;Little, 2013). Understanding cultural beliefs can help nurses provide culturally competent care (Conroy & Taggart, 2016;Li et al, 2016).…”

“…Traditional or indigenous medicine, also referred to as complementary and integrative health (CIH), has been used across the globe for centuries and for a variety of indications (National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health [NCCIH], 2016). There has been widespread use to maintain health, promote physiologic processes, and treat a host of health problems (Massey & Kirk, 2015). Nurses and other health care providers need fundamental knowledge of CIH concepts as traditional medicine paradigms and modalities are being increasingly introduced in Western medicine (WM) settings (Little, 2013).…”