Call the doctor – can we embrace both the plants and the pills that keep us healthy?

If you grew up in the Pacific Islands, you probably have some understanding of which plants are useful and which ones to avoid.Before we had western medicines we knew that plants save lives, and all across the Pacific we know exactly which ones were for burns, cuts and infections.Of course there are benefits to modern medicine, but should we totally disregard the traditional ways of treating ailments, or is there a world where we can embrace both?You'll hear about Samoan traditional medicine from Vira McCarthy and Papali'i Momoe Malietoa von Reiche, how the modern medical fraternity is bridging the divide with Dr Alipate Vakamocea and how the next generation is capturing this knowledge for the future with film-maker Josh Baker.Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.This edition of Culture Compass was a repeat of the program broadcast on 26th September 2023