This course explores traditional medical and health practices from across the Asian region and their present day usefulness in the context of epidemic threats, antibiotic resistance, and novel forms of disease. The course takes an historical, cultural, and applied lens to examine the revival of interested in traditional healing practices as complementary health measures. Through cases from several Asian contexts, students will critically examine how different knowledge systems compete or collaborate in addressing contemporary health challenges in the region.
In the first part of the course, students will learn how different philosophical traditions and beliefs have intersected with biomedical knowledge, shaping the understanding of health and healing across different periods and regions. Students will critically examine the cultural significance of complementary and integrative medicine. The course engages with ancient healing systems, such as South Asian Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inner Asian Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhism, and North Asian shamanic healing practices. Attention will be given to changes in approach toward zoonotic diseases, examining how Asian medical systems and healing have been mobilized to respond to epidemics. Asia is a hub for virulent diseases, such as avian influenza, coronavirus or the plague, while being at the forefront of preventing and combating such outbreaks in the last few decades.
The second part of the course will examine how contemporary Asian societies respond to major health challenges through the interaction of biomedicine, public health, social systems, environmental knowledge, and community-based care. Focusing both on infectious diseases and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), students will explore how health is understood and managed across diverse social, cultural, political, and ecological contexts. Topics include pandemic preparedness, migration, NCDs, social and commercial determinants of health, and environmental health. Students will develop a nuanced understanding about health governance, cultural perceptions of illness, and the ways local contexts continue to shape healthcare outcomes in rapidly changing Asian societies.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Analyse cultural and historical contexts relating to the study of health, medicine and healing across Asia.
- Articulate how different knowledge frameworks and cultural underpinnings have shaped understandings of the body and health across Asia.
- Investigate social changes in medical and healing practices and how traditional practices have adapted to scientific approaches
- Compare pluralistic medical approaches to understand health problems, such as during pandemics, migration and climate-related risk.
- Communicate evidence-based arguments about health issues using appropriate academic sources.
Other Information
An interest in health, medicine and the body and a familiarity with Asia as a region.
Indicative Assessment
- Group presentations: evidence-informed strategies for pandemic preparedness (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Short comparative reflection: on two differing medical or healing approaches to the same health problem (1000-1500 words) (25) [LO 1,2,5]
- Digital map or atlas: map a pathway of transmission and explain its significance (25) [LO 1,2,3]
- Community engagement report: field observations in local community (2000-2500 words) (40) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The total workload is 130 hours for a 6 unit course, including time spent in scheduled activities and independent study. The scheduled activities will make up 2-3 hours per week.
Inherent Requirements
No specific inherent requirements have been identified for this course.
Prescribed Texts
There is no prescribed text, but there will be indicative readings each week during the course.
Preliminary Reading
Narangoa, L., Fijn, N. and Lindskog, B.V. eds., 2026. Mongolian Healing: Knowledge, Transmission and Practice Across Inner Asia. Routledge.
Kloos, S. and Blaikie, C. eds., 2022. Asian Medical Industries: contemporary perspectives on traditional pharmaceuticals. Routledge.
Craig, S.R., 2012. Healing Elements: efficacy and the social ecologies of Tibetan medicine. University of California Press.
Hsu, E. and Harris, S. eds., 2022. Plants, Health and Healing: On the interface of ethnobotany and medical anthropology. Berghahn Books.
Connor, L.H. and Samuel, G. eds., 2001. Healing Powers and Modernity: Traditional medicine, shamanism, and science in Asian societies. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10596 | 26 Jul 2027 | 02 Aug 2027 | 31 Aug 2027 | 29 Oct 2027 | In Person | N/A |
| 10597 | 26 Jul 2027 | 02 Aug 2027 | 31 Aug 2027 | 29 Oct 2027 | Online | N/A |