News
Mayan Healer from Belize Presents Integrative Health Program to Beebe Employees
05/25/04
Beatrice Waight, traditional Mayan healer, midwife and herbalist from the Cayo District of Belize, Central America, visited Beebe Medical Center recently to share information about her native healing methods with Beebe employees. Miss Beatrice discussed beliefs and customs of the Mayan people from Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.
“Mayan medicine was well established long before the arrival of Europeans in the 1500's, and remains the most available and affordable kind of medicine in some parts of Mexico and Central America,” explains Cheyenne Luzader, Supervisor of Integrative Health at Beebe Medical Center. “Since many of the Spanish-speaking people in Delaware are of Mayan heritage, and Beebe Medical Center has been educating staff on cultural awareness issues, this program was one of many we plan to offer to address cultural diversity in healthcare.”
During her presentation to approximately 50 Beebe employees, Miss Beatrice addressed the basic philosophy of Mayan medicine with emphasis on emotional issues that affect health. She discussed many differences between Mayan healing practices and conventional medicine in childbirth and women's health. One workshop was entirely devoted to women's health and menopause.
Miss Beatrice maintains a healing practice in Belize with people coming daily for massage, herbal remedies and other forms of healing. Both her father and grandmother were respected Mayan healers, and the knowledge was handed down from them in the traditional Mayan way. Miss Beatrice is a member of the Traditional Mayan Healers Association of Belize. She has lectured extensively in the United States to college students, herbalists and health practitioners. Her knowledge and teaching have been a major source of material for the books on Mayan healing written by Dr. Rosita Arvigo, author of Rainforest Home Remedies: The Maya Way To Heal Your Body and Replenish Your Soul, Spiritual Bathing: Healing Rituals and Traditions from Around the World and Sastun: One Woman's Apprenticeship with a Maya Healer and Their Efforts to Save the Vani.
About Integrative Health at Beebe Medical Center
Beebe’s allied health staff boasts a naturopathic physician, three nationally certified massage therapists and two chiropractors. Integrative Health is Beebe Medical Center's department of complementary and alternative medicine. Complementary and alternative medical practices are those practices not traditionally taught in medical schools. Beebe Medical Center is the only hospital in the area to offer both inpatient and outpatient complementary and alternative medicine practices such as massage, guided imagery, aromatherapy, relaxation techniques, acupressure for post-surgical nausea, therapeutic touch, reiki, music and biofeedback.
The Integrative Health department also:
w Offers classes to educate both community and staff about a wide range of medical practices including Oriental, Native American, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy and herbalism.
w Speaks at the Beebe School of Nursing on complementary and alternative methods of stress and pain management.
w Provides self-help practices such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong, meditation, organic cooking, shoulder massage and much more are taught to guide people to help reduce pain and stress.
w Supports community projects such as the Holistic Health Fair held every March and the Families in Crisis Conference held every May and the Delmarva Community Wellnet website.
w Offers an herbal website, linked from Beebe’s website in the Integrative Health section, free of charge for the public to access the latest safety and research information on herbs and supplements.
w Sponsors a Fibromyalgia support group that meets monthly.
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