The healing experience for melancholic patients after being treated with Taiwanese folk religious medicine

• Main Authors: Szu-hua Chen, 陳思樺
• Other Authors: Mei-rong Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/17267150902516709038

碩士 === 慈濟大學 === 宗教與文化研究所 === 95 === Leaving out the spiritual perspective that cannot be scientifically proven, Taiwanese Folk Religious Medicine represents not only the means to cure, but also the cultural value that Taiwanese people hold on to. It plays a crucial role in maintaining melancholic patients’ psychological state while being treated. Moreover, it also helps patients to bridge between them and the society they live in. This research focuses on the healing experiences of six participants with melancholia. In the study, researcher analyzes patient’s experience with related theories and finds out the possible factors of why these participants receive effective results that have lasted for more than six months after treated with Taiwanese Folk Religious Medicine. Researcher uses “Message Common Room” to explain those possible factors, and to enter the so-called Message Common Room. The sequences to enter the Message Common Room are as following： 1. Attain required background 2. Share similar perspectives with the healer. 3. Be accompanied by closed friends and/or relatives. 4. Transform after the ritual(s) Researcher uses the term “Message Common Room” to explain the mutual environment that the six participants entered with their healers. Situated in this Message Common Room, participants received desired healing results. Researcher believes that accompanied by closed friends and/or relatives is the significant factor here. During field study, researcher finds that patients with accompany of friends/relatives have higher chances to receive healing of Folk Religious Medicine than patients that go alone. After conducting this research, researcher understands the helplessness that melancholic patients suffer. In order to give them practical assistance, keeping them physiological healthy is the primary element. Without a healthy body, patients would not be able to face the emotional obstacle that they encounter. As to the prevention after cure, patients need to keep a healthy body, a positive mind, and a good temper. The number of melancholic patients is not expected to decline in the near future. Therefore, developing an integrated medicine that combines healings of a patient’s body, mental and spirit will be the key to overcome this disease.