Analysis: The Native American Medicine Wheel

The medicine wheel acts as a reflection as to how one views the world. It takes a look at the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual aspects belonging to a person. (Mussel, 2005, p. 115) By reflecting on each aspect of the medicine wheel and going more in depth, I will be able to move towards self-awareness and will be better able to understand myself and the way I view and act on upon the world. Ultimately, this will benefit my intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intra-professional communication.

In Aboriginal teachings, the medicine wheel is sacred because it represents the various components of a healthy, well-rounded individual. Like wellness, the medicine wheel represents an “active state of health in which an individual progresses toward a higher level of functioning, thus achieving an optimum balance” (as cited in Fain & Lewis, 2002, p. 7). The medicine wheel is divided into four major sections, each representing a major part of a person (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual). In order to achieve balance in one’s life, one must analyze each of these components, and work to improve communications within one’s self. Intrapersonal communication is vital to the development of self-concept and self-esteem,

These religious and spiritual influences play a major role in the Hispanics health, illness and daily life. In much a similar manner, the Native American Indian family adopts the cultural beliefs to associate with illness and health. They believe that a person’s state of exists when he or she exists in harmony with nature and sickness occurs when an imbalance between the natural or supernatural forces and the sick individual exists (Askim-Lovseth & Aldana, 2010). Traditional health believes and practices involving healing ceremonies and rituals restore balance when illness happens. “These can be conducted by their traditional medicine men or women, who are thought to have compelling powers, the ability to read minds, and know-how in concocting medicine, drugs and poisons.” For the white young family, the cultural belief of invincibility and youth are the driving force behind health prevention (Askim-Lovseth & Aldana, 2010). “Focus on the temporary is regularised, while thinking about health is assigned to an adult person where family accountabilities pertain.” Protecting against illness or disease does not feature into their daily lives. Disease or illness is something that is insubstantial and distant, and unimaginable to their young, resilient bodies and thus irrelevant (Edelman & Mandle, 2010).

Ever since I have begun life at college, I have found going to bed on a decent time each night a very troublesome task. I wake up feeling very tired the next morning, and I always seem in a rush to get my day started. Because of staying up so late and then not waking up on time, I am sometimes late to work or class. In addition, I find myself very tired and stressed throughout the day. This in effect makes me often irritable toward other people. I am tired of living my life in a constant flurry every morning. Thus, the behavioral change that I would like to alter is my sleeping schedule. Being tired after a night of sleep just leads to anxiety and causes even

Blending old with new, traditional and modern Western medicine and treatment give the Navajo the best of both worlds culturally. Medicine from the Navajo perspective is about healing people by restoring balance and harmony to the spirit. Prayer as well as balance healing rituals like “Walking in Beauty” (O’Brien,

“Medicine was religion. Religion was society. Society was medicine” (Fadiman, 1997). To the Hmong’s, this is a way of life. Everything in their culture is interrelated and represents a holistic view. As Americans, we try to incorporate the holistic approach into our health care system, but heavily rely on medications and science to treat illness.

The Native American culture is the original culture of the United States. Members of Native American tribes live throughout the country. “There are an estimated 4.9 million persons, in 565 federally recognized tribes who are classified as American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AI), alone or in combination with one or more other designated racial classifications. This demographic group compromises 1.6% of the U.S. population” (Horowitz, 2012). Wisconsin is home to the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago), Ojibwa (Chippewa), and the Potawatomi tribes (“American”, 2014). It is important for nurses within this state, as well as any other state, to understand the Native American belief system in order to provide a quality healthcare experience. Nurses are the primary point of contact in the healthcare setting. Client advocacy is one of the nurse’s major roles. Therefore, the nurse should have the highest level of diversity understanding for the cultures within the local region.

erosion of the Aboriginal culture.(chp.2). Restrictions placed on the cultural practices of the Aboriginal people ultimately led to the abatement of the Aboriginal traditional medicines.(p88). Losing their freedom to practice traditional therapeutics, the Aboriginal people eventually had to adapt to the culturally inappropriate ways of western medicines. The purpose of this paper is to examine the advantages of Aboriginal healing methods for the Aboriginal people, as well as to explain why these traditional methods continued to persist long after western style medicines were introduced.

Different tribes examine the medicine wheel differently (Terpning, 2011). They continue to use the wheel as a first nation symbol. The wheel continues to be sacred to them for various reasons, including teachings, health and healing, many traditional ceremonies, dances and ritual vision quest (Sutherland, 2013). It is important to First Nations People to continue to use this Medicine wheel and it is important to remember that if the focus is on one area of the medicine

Native American traditional medicine and spiritual healing rituals go back for thousands of years, these traditions often focus on different variations of alternative medicine. This knowledge is passed on throughout generations, many of the tribes learn that by mixing natural plants such as herbs and roots they can make remedies with healing properties. It is believed that being healthy is when people reach a state of harmony not only spiritually, mentally but physically. To be able to overcome the forces that cause illness people must “operate in the context of relationship to four constructs —namely, spirituality (Creator, Mother Earth, Great Father); community (family, clan, tribe/nation); environment (daily life, nature, balance); and self (inner passions and peace, thoughts, and values)” (Portman & Garret, 2006, p.453). In this research paper I am going to show evidence of the tremendous influence that Native American medicine and spiritual healing have over modern medicine in the course of healing

I am performing my occupation on routine basis, but before occupational analysis activity assignment I never pay attention for my life cycle and how much time I am spending behind my daily routine tasks. This assignment helps me a lot to organize myself and learn about the time management. Poor time management skills can lead to anxiety, depression, procrastination, frustration, anger, and diminished interpersonal, and occupational interaction (Marcil,2007). From occupational analysis question one pie chart (figure1) about the activity differentiation, I found that education and performing ADLs was two of my major occupations, I am spent most of the time in these two occupations. Also, I found that work and IADLs were my next two priorities for occupations and I spent very less time for play, leisure and socialization. I believe, as a student I have to spend about fifty percent of my time for study and less time for ADL and work. Also, I found that my daily routine pattern was unbalance because of lack of sleep and less time for play, leisure. The insight I found form question two activity analysis pie chart(figure.2) that I performed most of routine occupations with energetically even though there was not balanced in real life. I believe that not all days are same for everybody, my mood changes based on environment, workload, and priorities. Some time when I come from school or work I feel lethargic and I don’t like to do anything, but my insight always encourages me to perform if I have any assignment due or exams on next day. The insight that I gains about the relationship between studies, ADLs, work, IADLs, play, leisure, and sleep/rest are not balance. I know that ADLs, IADLs, and work are important tasks of daily living; I need some personal time for play, leisure and sleep/rest time that keeps me away from burnout and becoming ill. The secret of

Native American use medicine wheels to keep themselves healthy. Each Native American tribe can read and interpret the medicine wheel differently. In North America, there are hundreds or even thousands of medicine wheels that are used by Native Americans. The medicine wheel has four directions. These four directions represent North, South, East, and West. The four directions can also represent the stages of life. It can also animals, plants, and the seasons. On the other hand, it can represent the aspect of life and the elements of nature. It is believed by the Native Americans that all of these things are connected to powers and that they could harness this power for medicine. The medicine wheel represents balance. This is why it is a circle

We reflecting the author’s own culture, she like many people in the United States are a blend of many different cultures and ethnicity. By not having one single ethnic culture her family views health traditions based on their religion of Christian Scientist. Being raised in this religion molded views of health promotion, prevention and treatment that influence her health behaviors today. There is a difference of opinion between Christian Science and traditional medical views. “Christian Scientist interpret disease from a spiritual view where medicine interprets disease from a material point of view” (Stoddard, 2010). As a child our family was raised with the belief that good nutrition, physical activity, and the role of positive thinking and mind over matter, would provide health and help us remain strong and healthy. Not having over the counter medications or turning to traditional medicine for simple medical issues was chosen as our families way of viewing illness. Growing up with the view of health and illness as spiritual using techniques such as meditation, prayer and positive thinking, has stayed as a health tradition among our families beliefs and practices to this day. Today modern medicine is looking at the mind as a valuable tool to prepare persons and bodys for wellness and rehabilitation. An example of this would be biofeedback. This is a technique where people are

The belief in kinship with creation is widely supported within most indigenous religions. In this way of thinking, there is more importance placed on the concept of “we” than there is on the concept of “I”. Here, the family or village is where strong emphasis lies. In many indigenous traditions, developing and maintaining a respectful relationship with spiritual energy is paramount. This concept doesn’t only apply to humans, but also, in many cases to the immediate natural environment as well. The oneness of the body and the land is vital. Many think of themselves as mere ‘caretakers’ of the earth, and nothing more, who has a duty to nurture and preserve it for future generations. Certain animals are seen as spiritual conduits, just as certain trees are seen to impart herbal healing secrets.

In the presentation on Lakota Medicine Wheel, I learned that diversity in the group or in the workplace is a key goal to work effectively. I agree that diverse group would accomplish more that a group with one or two skills and styles. All the characteristic of gifts should be balanced and joined together on the daily basis so the group on the project as well as the whole company will benefit and work on the highest level of productivity. And also heaving people in the group with all skills and styles is very important because this will help the group and the project to be accomplished at its best and on a higher level.