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Santos et al. Vessel Plus 2021;5:21 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1209.2020.69 Page 13 of 16

CONCLUSION
There is now overwhelming evidence that a biomedical model alone cannot make the changes necessary for
Indigenous Peoples. Many Indigenous peoples have a deep attachment to alternative paradigms of health
and wellbeing that do not align with Western medicine . Indigenous knowledge, beliefs and values should
[84]
be practised in parallel. For example, in Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations have
medicine and healing practices that have sustained physical and mental health for tens of thousands of years
- as have other Indigenous Peoples. These traditions have survived to the present day and are being
[84]
integrated into the contemporary Australian health care system to ensure their survival into the future .
The “hands on” and breath-based healing practices are combined with traditional plants and balms to heal
within a unique belief system that combines the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional levels of being, in
the context of a spiritual world, not recognised by Western medical programs . Embracing these cultural
[84]
considerations can only strengthen health, not dismantle it. We must move forward from viewing
Indigenous health and wellbeing from a Western biomedical lens only. Failure to embrace Indigenous-led
healthcare will perpetuate colonisation and its harmful legacy.

DECLARATIONS
Authors’ contributions
Lead author of the manuscript, writing the abstract, introduction, methods, risk factors, management and
discussion: Dos Santos A
Contributed to introduction and wrote on incidence: Balabanski AH
Made substantial contributions to the manuscript with oversight and guidance on structure and content:
Katzenellenbogen JM, Thrift AG, Parsons MW
Provided cultural guidance and oversight of the manuscript: Burchill L

Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.

Financial support and sponsorship
None.

Conflicts of interest
All authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.

Consent for publication
Not applicable.

Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021.

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