Shamanic Healing Practices and Mental Health Outcomes: An Anthropological Investigation of Indigenous Therapeutic Approaches

Abstract

This anthropological investigation examines the intersection of shamanic healing practices and mental health outcomes within indigenous therapeutic frameworks. Drawing upon cross-cultural ethnographic evidence and contemporary research in medical anthropology, this study explores how traditional shamanic interventions address psychological distress, trauma, and community wellness. The research synthesizes findings from indigenous communities across multiple continents, analyzing the therapeutic mechanisms embedded within shamanic practices and their relevance to contemporary mental health discourse. Through a comprehensive review of ethnographic data and emerging clinical studies, this paper demonstrates that shamanic healing operates through complex psychosocial, neurobiological, and cultural mechanisms that warrant serious consideration within pluralistic healthcare models. The findings suggest that indigenous therapeutic approaches offer valuable insights for addressing limitations in Western psychiatric paradigms, particularly regarding cultural competence, holistic treatment frameworks, and community-based healing modalities. This investigation contributes to the growing body of literature advocating for the integration of indigenous knowledge systems within global mental health initiatives while maintaining critical awareness of cultural appropriation concerns and the necessity of indigenous sovereignty in therapeutic contexts.