Pain and its pain relief traditions: An anthropological inquiry in indigenous and ethnic knowledge of pain in Mukrian, Kurdistan

Abstract

This article examines the concept of pain and its relief among Kurdish people living in Mukrian,, Kurdistan . The objective of this study is to examine indigenous and ethnic knowledge of pain and pain relief Kurdish people in Mukrian using the ethnographic research methods including narrative interviews, observation and Key Informant Interview. Multi-sources data obtained from prolonged engagement in the research filed (nine months) were analyzed using thematic narrative analysis and Miles and Huberman's flow model. The findings show that Despite the variety of local and traditional therapists in the Mukrian area, and the management of pain and disease using their own healing methods, pain as a difficult issue is unacceptable and personal to the Kurdish people, and they use the strategy of denial to express it, and this has been confirmed in most of the stories, narratives, and proverbs in the region. The environmental and geographical conditions of the Mukrian region provide a fertile ground for training strong and tireless people, and the culture that accompanies these conditions prevents any weakness and disability, so that people do not become weak in pain and disease as leaning against pain is not a symbol of masculinity.

Keywords

• pain
• anthropology of pain
• indigenous and ethno-knowledge
• traditional healing