HEALTH and ILLNESS in the Asian Populations ■ 257
• An extract from the resin of a tropical shrub (Commiphora mukul, or gug- gul) has been used for a variety of illnesses. In recent years, there has been research interest in its possible use to lower cholesterol.
Traditional HEALERS One example of a traditional Indian HEALER was Sai Baba, known as the God that descended to earth. Sri Sai Baba, who left his mortal body in 1918, is the living spiritual force that is drawing people from all walks of life, from all parts of the world, into his fold. It is believed that he came to serve humankind and to free them from the clutches of fear. He lived his message through the “Essence of His Being.” His life and relationship with the common people was his teach- ing. He lived with the common people as a penniless fakir, wearing a torn kafni, sleeping over a mat while resting his head on a brick, and begging for his food. He radiated a mysterious smile and a deep, inward look, of a peace that was all- understanding. One story about him was that he saved a child from drowning. One report has it that word had spread that the 3-year-old daughter of a poor man called Babu Kirwandikar had fallen into a well and had drowned. When the villagers rushed to the well, they saw the child suspended in midair, as if some invisible hand was holding her up! She was quickly pulled out. Sai Baba was fond of that child, who was often heard to say, “I am Baba’s sister!” After this incident, the villagers took her at her word. “It is all Baba’s Leela,” the people would say philosophically. It is from stories such as this that the people who believe in Sri Sai Baba gather strength.
Source: Sai Movement. (2002). Shri SaiBaba of Shirdi the Perfect Master of the Age. Shirdi, India: Shri SaiBaba Trust. Retrieved from http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/, June 29, 2011.
Hay, V. (1994). An Interview with Deepak Chopra. A Magazine of People and Possibilities online. Retrieved from http://www.intouchmag.com/chopra.html, June 28, 2011.
■ Current Health Problems In many instances, people who were born in the United States into families established here for generations are largely indistinguishable from the general population in their health care beliefs. Other groups, however, especially new immigrants, differ from the general population on many social and health- related issues. Table 10–3 compares selected health indicators in the Asian/ Pacific Islander population with people of all races. In most of the selected categories, the rates for the Asian/Pacific Islander population are lower than those for the general population. For example, Asians/Pacific Islanders have a lower rate of births to women receiving third trimester or no prenatal care; a lower rate of live births to teenagers, lower infant mortality, a lower inci- dence of cancer, and lower rates of homicide and suicide. Table 10–4 compares the causes of death in the Asian population with that of all persons in 2007.
Poor health, however, continues to be found among some Asians partly because of poor working and crowded living conditions. Many people work