CROSS-CULTURAL BEDOUIN MEDICINE

This article deals with the cross-cultural Bedouin medicine at the tri bes of the Negev in Israel. The Bedouin in their current social and cu ltural situation are a society in transition. Some conduct their daily lives according to their tradition, others are closer to modern life styles. The Bedouin have internalized certain aspects of Western cultu re and introduced sicknesses that had been unknown among the Bedouin, such as heart attacks, diabetes, social stress, ulcer and high blood p ressure. In such a situation the Bedouin appeals both to traditional h ealers and to the Western medicine. In general, we may assume that the Bedouin will turn first to the traditional healers and if this treatm ent is unsuccessful will turn to Western medicine.