Healing by Hand

Healing by Hand presents the first cross-cultural perspective on manual medicine studies--the practice of body therapists that is routinely overlooked by medical practitioners and social scientists. The authors describe how manual medicine is one of the primary providers of 'traditional' medicine. It takes numerous forms across the world's communities, and represents beliefs and practices about healing, physical and psychological states, and the relation between culture and health. This volume is a valuable resource for manual practitioners of western medicine, including massage therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths, as well as those with traditional training. It is especially recommended for courses such as medical anthropology, health and human culture, technology and the developing world, sociology of health, international health, and health care systems.