ABSTRACT
With the rapid socio-economic development of South-East (SE) Asia, the gross national products show that there are three broad groups of countries. Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore belong to the high level of development; the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and China belong to the middle level, while Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma and others remain at a low level. In traditional Burmese medicines, although physical illness is attributed to both natural and supernatural causes, mental symptoms are blamed exclusively on the supernatural world ghosts and evil spirits. Health problems in SE Asia vary with the socio-economic status of the different countries. Someone who feels sick will rely on family or self-care, with traditional home remedies or cures purchased from stores or pharmacies. If there is no improvement, the next step is to decide whether to seek more expert help from a non-professional healer, a private physician, or from a hospital or government clinic.
