Personal Profile

 

For those who do not know me, my name is Maria Marcaigh and this is where I am completing undergraduate studies in Anthropology. The study programme has brought me full circle to a long-term interest in all things aqueous. My dissertation research project is based in the Malvern Hills area of Worcestershire. The area is known for its many springs and Water Cure heritage. I have been investigating human-water relations and water related meaning-making processes. This assignment continues with the watery theme. Having acquired some local knowledge regarding my field-site's geo-cultural topography, the therapeutic use of water for health-restoring purposes seemed a logical choice of topic. Furthermore, as someone who has used and practiced Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) for more than 30 years, hydrotherapeutic practices are of particular interest. Hydrotherapy, in its various forms, is one of the oldest traditional medical practices and fits the CAM model of holistic healthcare. I anticipate it being an interesting topic to explore from a Medical Anthropological perspective wherein health, sickness and the healing experience are not viewed as merely biological processes but are also contingent to their socio-cultural context.