Whether wounds, snake bites, or fractures are treated, or surgeries are being performed, in eHRAF’s Advanced Search the “Add Subjects” can be used to pick “sickness” or other medical related subjects.  The subjects allow you to find specific paragraphs about the chosen topic.  If you use the “Add Cultures” function to select for a specific culture name (e.g. Tibetans) or ethnic group, you can further refine the search.

This image of an Advanced Search in eHRAF World Cultures shows the selected culture name and OCM subjects.

Searching for Tibetan medical treatments in eHRAF World Cultures. This Advanced Search uses the “Add” function for culture names and subjects.

Using Advanced Search in eHRAF World Cultures

Step 1. Find culture(s)
Click Add Cultures>A-Z>Tibetans

Step 2. Find subject(s) that are related to medicine.
Click Add Subjects –use tabs to find “matching” subjects for your topic:
>A-Z Index (type the word “medicine” in index box)
>Major Subjects>”Health, Illness, Medicine, and Death”
>OCM Code>700 range under “Sickness” (this is the quickest way to see the full list of OCM subjects)

Step 3. Boolean OR-Very, very important to set them right! OR to expand search (see red circle(s) in picture)

New York Times news article link related to Ancient Prescriptions From Tibet

Try your own eHRAF Advanced Search in  eHRAF World Cultures . Contact hraf@yale.edu for a current login.

More Search Methods Posts:

• Community Life in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan
• Traditional Rice Cultivation in the Philippines
• Hunting Whales with Weapons
• Shell Middens in Eastern Woodland Traditions in eHRAF Archaeology
• Traditional Cereal Agriculture in China
• Tibetan Medical Treatments
• Reindeer for Milk Production
• A Cross-Cultural Search for Shamanism
• A Cross-Cultural Search for Children’s Activities
• Searching Ethnographies for Information on Dwellings, House Structures, Tipis, Igloos, etc.

Related eHRAF User Guide Links