Traditional spiritual causes of illness include evil spirits or because one s own spirit has left the body. Someone may be ill because an evil spirit or an ancestor is unhappy with the individual or that individual s family. Perhaps someone has done something to offend the family s spirits or ancestors. An illness also can arise because someone has cursed the family. Some Hmong accept the western view of the cause of illness along with their traditional view.
Good health comes from souls living within each person.
Illness or an invasive procedure can cause soul loss. Spiritual healing involves retrieving the lost soul from another plane of existence. Hmong will conduct healing ceremonies in the hospital or in the home. Health prevention was not available to them in Laos. Many Hmong focus on treating illness when it occurs.