Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Ebrahim Ekhlasi ¹
• Amir Nemati ²

¹ Associate Professor of Sociology, Allameh Tabataba'i University

² Sociology , MA

Abstract

Alternative medicine treatment traditions, are favored by a range of social actors. The purpose of the research is to identify the areas of tendency towards alternative medicine traditions and to discover the lived experience of Tehrani citizens regarding procedures included in them. Data collection was done through semi-structured interviews with 30 people who referred to diagnostic-treatment centers active under alternative medicine traditions in Tehran, who were selected purposefully and based on inclusion criteria. Exploration of experiences was done based on the Claizian method. "Hegemony of social constructions discrediting biomedicine", "Demand of heterogeneity arising from the spread of Corona", "Hidden coexistence of biomedicine with economy and politics", "Prevention and treatment as a lifestyle", "Applied therapy in the context of the organic and natural, "pluralistic undesirability of bio-medicine ", and "effective identity creation based on self-realization" were the final themes answering the study questions. The informants are further informed about the opposition to some of the words and actions included in the traditions of alternative medicine. They put emphasis on refusing to stick to advertisements and avoiding the confiscation of religious beliefs and traditional ideas for the common good, and development of professionalism in regard to promotion of alternative medicine traditions.

Keywords

• Alternative medicine
• Biomedicine
• Medicinal plants
• Body management
• Lifestyle

Main Subjects

• Indigenous Knowledge