Dissertation

Yiatrosofia yia ton Anthropo: Indigenous Knowledge of Medicinal, Aromatic and Cosmetic (MAC) Plants in the Utilisation of the Plural Medical System in Pirgos and Praitoria for Community Health Development in Rural Crete, Greece

Promotor: Prof.dr. L.J. Slikkerveer

Author: J. Aiglsperger
Date: 18 November 2014
Links: Thesis in Leiden Repository

This dissertation focuses on the analysis of patterns of transcultural health care utilisation behaviour of the inhabitants of the communities Pirgos and Praitoria in Crete, Greece. In this way, this study pays specific attention to the people's indigenous knowledge of Medicinal, Aromatic and Cosmetic (MAC) plants in relation to their utilisation of the plural medical system available in the research area, particularly the traditional medical system. Apart from the traditional medical system available in this part of Crete, which comprises not only MAC plants but also other traditional home remedies as well as religious and spiritual forms of medicine, the community members seek medical treatment from the transitional medical system in the form of pharmaceutical medicines and from the modern medical system in the form of consultation with a modern health care provider. In order to present an appropriate overview on local behavioural patterns with respect to health care utilisation, the present study employs the concepts of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and Medical Pluralism. Furthermore, the study adopts a community-based research approach and promotes community health development in the research area.