Pleasure, transformation and treatment: use of alternative medicines to treat emotional illnesses in Mexico City

Résumé

The article analyzes the way alternative medicines are used to deal with emotional problems through a model proposed during a previous study. The information was obtained from 36 social research interviews from Mexico City, it was analyzed using the categorization of meanings, within the model proposed by Bishop (2008). The practices and resources were used as complementary treatment, alternative or conventional, also as pleasurable experiences and procedures involving personal transformation. The first three types were used to treat specific illnesses; like pleasurable experiences, psychological health was sought after and with the last modality, orientation was found to intervene appropriately in a problematic situation. Bishop's Categorization proved to be useful for integrating practices that even though they are widely used and have social acceptance, they are ignored in the health field. With these practices it is pretended to enlarge the repertoire of care resources and satisfy the needs that the formal services do not cover.