Heritage Assessment: Indian, Chinese, and American Health Traditions

Introduction and Heritage Assessment Approach

Using the heritage assessment tool, three cultures were considered and compared: Indian (the author's own culture), Chinese, and American. The assessment examines how cultural background shapes individual and family health beliefs, practices, and traditions.

Indian Cultural Health Traditions

The author's cultural identity is heavily influenced by rural Indian culture, having been raised in India until the age of 25. Because American culture entered her life relatively late, her Indian cultural identity has remained dominant. This is reflected in a lifestyle that strictly adheres to the traditions and values held important within Indian society. Raised a Catholic, the author is actively involved in the Church and participates in activities such as Bible reading and celebrating religious holidays. Her strong Catholic Indian identity is also reflected in her social circle, which primarily consists of Indians who share the same cultural background and faith.

When it comes to health maintenance, the author blends the influence of Indian culture with the principles of Catholicism. While she believes one should consult a medical doctor when sick, she also draws on local Indian knowledge to address simple illnesses such as fever or joint and muscle pain. To treat these minor conditions, she uses herbs and plants from her native hometown that are known for their medicinal properties. However, she applies these remedies only to herself and does not extend them to her family. When a family member falls ill, she takes them directly to a medical doctor.

Chinese Cultural Health Traditions

The Chinese interviewee is also a practicing Catholic who was raised in the United States during her teenage years. Because she came of age during this critical transitional period, American culture has become her primary cultural framework, even more so than her Chinese heritage. As a Catholic, she is actively involved in religious activities such as prayer, Bible reading, and observing religious holidays and traditions.

At the same time, her mother taught her the Chinese approach to addressing medical concerns. She was introduced to various techniques for maintaining or restoring her own health and that of her family — including eating specific dishes and taking Chinese herbal medicines derived from indigenous plants. Her mother familiarized her with Chinese herbal pharmacies that offer these medicines for both general wellness and specific ailments. Like many Chinese in her community, she has adopted a dietary regimen that includes regular intake of tea and herbs intended to promote strength, vitality, and a youthful appearance. The traditional health practices her mother taught her have been extended to her husband, an American, and to their children. These health beliefs and practices have served her family well and have helped prevent minor ailments from escalating.