Investigates the prevalence of the use of traditional health practices among different ethnic groups of Southeast Asian refugees living in the United States. The study included 20 each of Cambodian, Lao (lowland Laotians), Mien (mountain-dwelling Laotians), and ethnic Chinese patients visiting the University of Washington Refugee Clinic. Patients not only were asked if they had used any of 21 traditional Southeast Asian healing practices, but also how and by whom the practice was performed, what problem the practice addressed, and if the remedy worked. Results indicated that: (1) women were more likely than men to report using traditional health practices; (2) coining was the most commonly used practice among the Cambodians, Chinese, and Lao, whereas moxibustion and healing ceremonies were used nearly exclusively by the Mien; and (3) patients indicated that a traditional health practice alleviated their problem in 78 percent of reported uses. Since many of the traditional healing remedies involve rubbing or burning the skin, clinicians can misread the resulting scars and lesions as signs of physical abuse. Good patient care may necessitate tolerance of the use of traditional practices, while encouraging the application of Western medicine if traditional remedies aggravate treatable conditions or contain harmful ingredients.
