What does Healing look like from a non-western perspective?

When identifying what healing looks like from a non-western perspective, the first question that comes to mind is: ‘What is the system doing to prevent us from healing in the way our ancestors have?’

When contemplating the impediments to healing in our current system, it becomes apparent that the dominant Western paradigm often hinders our ability to heal as our ancestors did. One significant barrier is the pervasive centralisation of white culture through the destruction, marginalisation and belittlement of other other cultural practices. Often taking the form of gaslighting through dismissal and invalidation of our knowledges and experiences, this violence creates power imbalance to blockade the journey of healing of many people of colour.

As someone who has centred most of my recent years towards healing practices, I see non-western practices of healing to encompass a holistic approach that acknowledges the intricate interconnections between and within beings. It recognises that healing extends beyond the physical realm and encompasses emotional, spiritual, and social dimensions as well. Non-western philosophies emphasise the significance of community, ritual, and a deep connection with nature. In doing so, we can recognise our positionality in relation to nature, but more importantly, as nature in action itself. By formulating momentum towards love and justice, we can regain control over our own dignity. 

Inevitably, we must ask ourselves, ‘So, how do we heal?’ This can be broken into two parts.

Part 1 - ‘How do we challenge the system?’ To initiate the process of healing, it is necessary to consider the tools with which we can deconstruct the system - ranging from legislation to localised capacity building of health workers. While engaging with the system is a necessity, it is essential to work outside of the system as well. Should we forget to do so, we may burn out - as individuals and as a movement ecology. 

Part 2 - ‘How do we heal in ways that does not centre the white supremacist, imperial system?’ Creating community spaces and grassroots systems of collective healing, such as community gardens, can foster a sense of belonging and enable individuals to share their thoughts, experiences, and inputs. In these spaces, people can collectively challenge oppressive structures, learn from one another, and cultivate alternative approaches to healing.

Reclaiming the knowledge and practices of our ancestors is another vital aspect of the healing process. This involves re-learning the methods and wisdom that our ancestors employed for healing, while acknowledging that they were not infallible.

Our ancestors laid the foundations upon which we can build, and it is our responsibility to continue their work for the betterment of future generations. Recognising that we have lost valuable knowledge due to cultural erasure, we must actively seek to recover, preserve, and adapt these ancestral healing practices for contemporary contexts.

When approaching this process we must centre ourselves in the realisation that we are not aiming for perfection. Moreso, we must recognise that the standard of perfection set my western medicine is a farce used to gaslight us once more.

This raises another key question we must ask ourselves when decolonising healing - ‘How have the west attempted to reduce the credibility of our healing knowledges?’ Importantly, this cannot be asked without immediately considering ‘What makes our forms of healing credible and legitimate?’

As a medical student practising in the west, a question I cannot overlook is: ‘Where do health workers fit into this methodology?’ Health workers play a pivotal role in this healing journey. We must be part of the community, instead of bystanding observers.

This includes actively engaging with and learning from the diverse knowledge systems and practices that exist within it. As health workers, we should share our own knowledge while simultaneously unlearning oppressive structures and biases, fostering a collective growth process.