“The Mercy hospital shaman program was designed to strengthen the trust between doctors and the Hmong community — a form of healing in the broadest sense… A turning point in the skepticism of staff members occurred a decade ago, when a major Hmong clan leader was hospitalized here with a gangrenous bowel. Dr. Jim McDiarmid, a clinical psychologist and director of the residency program, said that in deference hundreds of well-wishers, a shaman was allowed to perform rituals, including placing a long sword at the door to ward off evil spirits. The man miraculously recovered. ‘That made a big impression, especially on the residents,’ Dr. McDiarmid said… Social support and beliefs affect a patient’s ability to rebound from illness, Dr. McDiarmid added.” – full story in The New York Times