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Based on two clinical cases of immigrants taken from their medical practice, the authors of this article show that the representations of illness and care management prevalent in their home country are still very vivid in the minds of patients following their emigration. The authors therefore propose that, in such situations, disease and suffering, whether somatic or psychological, should be explored taking into account the cultural realities of the patients concerned. The family will be an important element of the internal and external dynamics of suffering, and as such must be taken into account. The value of integrating an intercultural approach with other approaches in a complementary and integrative framework seems essential for successful treatment.