The author grew up in a military family, living in several countries overseas and being exposed to different cultures. Their cultural background incorporated many religious beliefs and focused on using natural remedies over medical treatment. Illness was not taken seriously unless it impacted daily functioning. Some family traditions included using religious symbols, herbal remedies for healing, and showing love through cooking large meals. As an adult, the author still follows some of these practices but has adopted a healthier lifestyle and is more willing to seek medical care when natural remedies are not enough.

1. I am an Air Force brat and grew up in several different
countries overseas eventually moving to Oklahoma where my
father was stationed when I was 15. Since I was raised traveling
overseas for a large part of my life it has led me to incorporate
several different cultures into my life. The other culture, from
my extended family, was incorporated into my life as my
parents were the only two constant adult influences that were
around to pass that heritage along. My parents also were the
influences and the reason that I was exposed to so many
cultures and religions. They created an environment where
examining and experiencing these different things was accepted
and encouraged me and my two sisters to figure out what works
for us. It has had a major influence on everything in my life
from my acceptance of all cultures to my lack of seeking
medical attention from a medical facility but rather from more
natural remedies as long as I can help it.
As far as disease and culture in my family, it is customary to
put off illness or signs of disease until it is unavoidable as the
focus is always more on a commitment to work and servant
leadership rather than on self. Health issues are very common in
my family as all of my father's side of the family, including my
father, have passed away from cancer before the age of 55. On
my mother’s side of the family, the majority of them suffer
from high cholesterol or heart disease and have had a heart
attack or stroke between the age of 30 and 50. So again there is
not a lot of focus on health and disease prevention.
Goldmeier (2018) defines health as the functional efficiency or
soundness of an organism as applied to the physical and mental
state of an organism but also in a social context involving the
environment and public health. Health is an organism’s state of
functioning within its environment. That state could be a good
state or a bad one with the environment having a great effect on
the organism’s ability to function. Health includes how the
body’s function supports the person in their environment. An

2. imbalance in the body’s function could be caused by sickness or
disease.
Some people believe that naturalistic components like weather
are deep causes for the disease. Others believe that personalistic
components like the choice to not take vaccinations that may
prevent disease are the deep cause for the disease. My concept
of health and illness is that naturalistic and personalistic
components are equal in the causes of illness and disease. My
cultural background and influence are that medication is
frowned upon and only utilized when absolutely necessary.
Otherwise natural and remedies are used. Natural remedies may
be useful when there is a chest cold but when that chest cold
turns into a virus, only a steroid or antibiotic would resolve this
illness as it then progresses from an illness to a viral infection.
My cultural background and influence focus on more of a social
balance and the ability to function efficiently within an
environment rather than eating healthy or even exercising. So,
illness or disease is not taken as a serious matter, physical or
mental, unless the ability to function within an environment is
affected.
“Just as culture and ethnicity are strong determinants in an
individual’s interpretation of the environment and the events
within the environment, so, too, is religion” (Spector, 2017, sec.
6.3, para. 1). One of the main practices, involving religion, that
was used across many cultures that I was introduced to was
more of a use of a sacred object or person that was worshiped.
In Japan and China, the Buddha was a person that was
acknowledged as being sacred. The Buddha was celebrated and
worshiped. My family was Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christians,
Baptists, and Muslim. The symbol and object that has been kept
by my family is the cross and the belief that there is one god
and one god only. The cross has been acknowledged as a symbol
of a reminder of the sacrifices that god made for his children in
the world. The cross and prayer have been used in my family as
a way to communicate to god about an array of things including
illness, thankfulness, fear, pain, forgiveness, direction, good

3. mental and physical health, and protection to name a few. My
family centers everything on believing that everything happens
for a reason and it is God who is in control. So, everything
happens how it is supposed to happen and when it is supposed
to happen. God has the power to heal what medicine and people
can’t heal. So, the cross is worn on necklaces and erring’s as a
form of protection and a reminder of his constant presence.
Most cultures that I was introduced to while living overseas was
that natural or herbal remedies or foods should be used first
instead of medicine. These remedies include but are not limited
to drinking teas, stretching to increase blood flow throughout
the day, earwax/onion/garlic for boils, aloe vera plant to
promote healthy skin/heal organs if put in drinks, steam and
mint for respiratory issues, drinking alcohol to disinfect, an
array of oils (vitamin e, coconut, carrot) for organ/skin/mental
health.
My cultural background and influence are that medication is
frowned upon and only utilized when absolutely necessary.
Otherwise natural and remedies are used. Natural remedies may
be useful when there is a chest cold but when that chest cold
turns into a virus, only a steroid or antibiotic would resolve this
illness as it then progresses from an illness to a viral infection.
My cultural background and influence focus on more of a social
balance and the ability to function efficiently within an
environment rather than eating healthy or even exercising. So,
illness or disease is not taken as a serious matter, physical or
mental, unless the ability to function within an environment is
affected. The belief is that natural resources should be utilized
first because they cause less harm/side effects and are less
intrusive. The belief also is that there are illnesses and diseases
that have progressed to a severity that man-made treatments are
necessary.
Another really important aspect of tradition in my family is to
show love through the preparing of food. So, cooking is done
regularly and not usually healthy food items. The creamier the
macaroni and cheese, the sweeter the peach cobbler, the

4. crunchier the fried chicken the more love that was put into these
dishes.
As an adult, I do continue to use these religious beliefs,
symbols/objects, herbal remedies, and traditions of cooking
food. However, as I have gotten older and am able to
completely comprehend the effect that these different practices
have had and have on my health, I have changed a little. I try to
prepare foods that are a little healthier or use healthier
ingredients. I also have realized that the world is ever-changing
so the health issues and diseases that were around twenty to
thirty years ago have changed or progressed making getting ill
even more dangerous on even daily life. Therefore, I use home
remedies when I feel ill but I also know what signs to look for
that let me know that I actually do need to go and see a
physician.
Examples of healing practices from my culture or tradition
include but is not limited to baptizing the babies shortly after
they are born. "The ceremony of baptism is also rooted in the
past. It, too, symbolically expels the evil spirits, removes the
taboo, and is redemptive" (Spector, 2017, sec. 6.5, para. 9).
This ritual is meant to ensure that as the child grows their spirit
is able to remain as pure and as close to godly as possible. It is
also meant to protect the child throughout their life as the water
is believed to be a source of pureness and has the ability to
symbolize god. Also using olive oil to place on items or even
people is a tradition and ritual. It depends on the situation.
Olive oil is prayed over for what the oil is supposed to be meant
for or used for. For example, if a person was ill, then olive oil
would be prayed over and then that oil would be placed either
on the forehead or on the particular area of the body where the
illness is and a prayer is said as the small amount of oil is being
placed. Oil could also be used to eliminate and evil spirit and
the same process of praying over the oil would occur but it
would be placed on either a person or maybe a room where the
evil spirit is thought to be. There is a range of herbs used in my
family for healing the body of illness or disease such as garlic

5. for high blood pressure, goldenseal or Echinacea flushes the
immune system of things such as a cold or bacterial infection,
and ginger for pain to name a few. These traditions include
traditions from the many different cultures that I have been
exposed to as an air force brat as well as the traditions that my
parents learned growing up with African healing influences.
I am working towards my Bachelor's in Health and Business
Administration degree and minoring in Psychology.
Reference
Spector, R. E. (2017). Cultural diversity in health and illness
(9th ed.). Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu
Goldmeier, H. E. (2018). Health. Salem Press Encyclopedia of
Health. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy-
library.ashford.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89143
745&site=eds-live&scope=site