By Dr Anna Waldstein at the University of Kent
The first time I remember encountering the concept of ‘wellness’ in anthropology was when reading a paper published in the journal Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry by Mark Nichter and Jennifer Jo Thompson in 2006. The title of the paper ‘For my Wellness, not Just my Illness’ was quoted from an interview with a 34-year-old, HIV-positive informant and refers to his consumption of supplements to enhance his well-being, rather than to simply address his illness (i.e. HIV). The paper reports on ethnographic research conducted among American baby boomers in the early 2000s, by which time a movement toward wellness and holistic health that began in the 1960s had blossomed into a multibillion-dollar, global industry. The common thread that unites their diverse group of research participants is the consumption of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements.
In the United States, such dietary supplements are considered neither food, nor medicine. They can be bought and sold, as long as they don’t make claims to treat specific health conditions. According to Nichter and Thompson, this means that their effectiveness can be measured only through personal, mindful bodily experience. To do this, the supplement consumer must learn to read the body, without confounding factors such as alcohol, junk food and coffee. ‘Striving for “wellness” becomes a state of enhanced health’ (p.209). Nichter and Thompson conclude that supplements for reducing stress, supporting the immune system, promoting sleep, etc. are simultaneous projects of harm-reduction and self-enhancement.
The use of supplements and other products of the global wellness industry contrasts sharply with the more holistic perspectives on wellbeing that are shared by indigenous peoples of North America. Naomi Adelson’s book Being Alive Well: Health and the Politics of Cree Wellbeing describes how the language of the Whapmagoostui Cree doesn’t really have an equivalent to the English term health. The closest thing is their concept of ‘being alive well,’ which is an articulation of physical, moral, political, and social forces that comprise a sense of Cree health and identity. ‘Being alive well’ is a particular way of being Cree and involves attention to environmental, community and individual wellbeing. Healthy people require healthy land. While many American supplement consumers never think about where the herbs they purchase might come from, let alone whether or not they are harvested sustainably, Cree medicinal plants lose potency if they are not collected and prepared with knowledge and respect.
Somewhere in between wellness and wellbeing, my own work with Mexican migrants in the United States focuses on ‘living well.’ In Living Well in Los Duplex, I present an ethnographic case study of the ways in which undocumented migrants from Mexico stay healthy and maximise wellbeing. Like many Americans who consume supplements, migrants use traditional medicines from Mexico as a way to prevent the need for doctors. Their motivations for using traditional medicine are related to harm-reduction and self-enhancement. Yet the community I worked in was also quite close-knit and definitions of health were similar to ‘being alive well’ in Cree. They focused more on ability to work and enjoy social life, than on physiological status, and also included connections to the health of the environment.
So, what relevance does anthropological research from late 1990s/early 2000s America have for understanding wellness and wellbeing in 2020s Britain? Perhaps the most important insights that come from this research are also the most practical: bits of advice for living well, which are especially important in times of increased stress. As the exam term begins, we are entering one of those times of stress that students and staff share. Of course, studying for exams is critically important but so is looking after our health and wellness. The projects of harm-reduction and self-enhancement that Nichter and Thompson describe-stress reduction, immune system support, sleep improvement- are essential for optimum exam performance.
However, while it may be tempting to follow the lead of American supplement consumers and ingest these conveniently packaged quick fixes to counteract bad lifestyle habits, a more holistic approach will have greater rewards. The summer term is only six weeks long and most students have all their exams within a 2-3 week timespan. Think of this time as a liminal period, in which daily life is suspended. Start by learning to read your body, without confounding factors such as alcohol, junk food and coffee.
In addition to studying, prioritise cooking and healthy eating. Even if you consume meat, your diet should be mostly vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes and pulses. This type of diet will help keep your immune system in shape, your digestive system happy and your brain sharp. Prioritise sleep as well. Try to keep the place where you sleep free from study materials and electronic devices. Make sure you get 7-8 hours of sleep each night and go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday, even on weekends. Indulge in brief but regular social encounters but save the partying for the end of the term!
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