Shamanism as a Clinical Intervention: A Scoping Review

Shamanic healing, a practice rooted in transcultural worldviews involving interaction with the spirit world, shows potential benefits and a low risk of harm when used as a clinical intervention. A review of medical literature found sixteen relevant publications, including one clinical trial, two case series, and ten case reports. The authors conclude that shamanic healing is feasible to investigate further, though more research is needed to clarify its benefits.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Shamanism is a transcultural, heterogeneous worldview that is primarily concerned with human interaction with the spirit world. Foremost among the many services provided by practitioners of shamanism is the healing of the mind, body, and spirit. Methods: While most literature on shamanism consists of ethnographies of cultures that practice shamanism, the present literature search was performed to review existing medical literature of shamanic healing as a clinical intervention. Results: Sixteen publications met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 1 clinical trial, 2 case series, and 10 case reports. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that shamanic healing as an intervention has potential benefits and a relatively low risk of harm, and is feasible to investigate as a clinical intervention. Further research is warranted to better elucidate its benefits.