INDONESIA

Burmese Continue Using Traditional Medicines

Traditional medicine is thriving Myanmar despite recent reforms in the country’s health care system.

This year the health ministry increased spending on public health – and this brings more affordable options for modern medicine which was previously prohibitively expensive for the majority of people.

But the reality is many areas do not have access to government hospitals.  And where they do many still opt for traditional methods out of fear of high costs and medical incompetence.

This monastery in Mon state is more than just a place of worship. 

Dozens of people come here every day, seeking to heal, not just their spirit, but also their body.

For the last 30 years, Kawt Kha Mae Monastery has been a well-established traditional healing centre.

“When I was meditating my teacher said to me to save the people I got the knowledge as a spirit,” says head monk of the monastery Baddanta U Ottama Sara.

He has no formal medical training. He says the knowledge of the tradition he uses was given to him with the aid of Buddha by another monk, in order to help save people

“It is to help people who couldn’t find a doctor.”

He has taken on apprentices to help deal with as many as 100 patients arriving for treatment each day.

Ma Win Pa Pa Kyaw trained as a nurse but when she graduated she decided to come to this traditional clinic.

“Here they need me more,” she smiles.

The majority of treatment is for fractured and dislocated limbs and back problems.

The monastery works without the aid of x-ray machines, plaster cast and surgery but Ma Win says they bring their own advantages.

“In both sides they have weaknesses. Nothing is perfect, in the hospital they have needs and here we also have needs. But it depends on the patient.  If they want to come here we do our best.  I can't say which side does better.”

And many patients do choose to traditional methods.

Ko Naing came here after badly breaking his legs almost 3 months ago

“I had a motorcycle crash. I couldn't move my legs. I went to hospital for one night. I came back from hospital and then stayed here.”

Despite having severe fractures in his thigh and hip bones Ko Naing did not want to be treated in hospital where he would have had to have an operation. 

“I was afraid I would lose my leg if they replaced it with steel and I don't have very much money. Here I feel the doctors are better, the hospital does not have enough doctors. My neighbours told me to come here.”

Many hospitals in Myanmar are understaffed, operations are expensive and many people are frightened by the idea of bone replacement.

“People from this area don't want to go to the hospital. If you break your leg and go to hospital you have to have it replaced with steel.  But here we don't do that.  The original bone will recover.”

The treatment they receive instead is based on massage and herbal remedies.

U Pan Myine runs a shop where they make traditional medicine out of natural ingredients he grows in his garden. His family have been making medicine this way since the 19th century. 

The tradition has been passed down from his great great grandfather, and he says they have been unaffected by advances in modern medicine.

“It hasn't got less. Sometimes people have a heart attack and they go to the hospital doctor... then after that they come here. Then when they get here we give them some traditional medicine and massage. Normally they go to the hospital first and then they come here.”

Although a modern hospital may be the first port of call for emergency cases, when it comes to long term treatment people are still opting for what they know and trust.

Although modern medicine has advanced greatly in the last century, those who believe in the traditional methods say it does work.

“Most of the people get well. Sometimes even people who have gone to the hospital and couldn't get well even the people who have broken their legs or become paralysed got better.”

Ko Naing is getting better now... “I can walk now and I feel happy.”

Traditional medicine still brings comfort to people but modern medicine is Myanmar also needs to improve and become more affordable... so people can feel confident in medical care and have proper options.

• Burma
• traditional medicine
• health care
• DVB