Social And Individual Factors Affecting The Level Of Local Knowledge

Many traditional Native medicines and healing practices were discouraged with the advent of Western medicine, but now there is a movement to return to traditional ways (Zubek, 1994, p. 1924). Modern Western medicine treats the symptoms to cure a diseased state when the body is out of homeostasis. Native American healing traditions do this as well with herbs and plants suited to the purpose. These Native healing traditions also include sacred rituals, chants, and purification rites to help bring the spirit and mind of the afflicted back into balance. In effect, treating the whole person, not only the disease. A blending of these two healing practices could bring about better prognoses for today's patients. The purpose of this paper is

Throughout its range in the Pacific Northwest, this fiercely spiked shrub is considered to be the most important medicinal plant amongst the First Nations people who live there. The devil’s club, Oplopanax horridus, is highly valued by the indigenous people wherever it is found and has innumerable uses. Traditionally, it has been used medicinally both topically and orally for a wide variety of maladies as well as a general tonic. Additionally, it is a very significant plant spiritually and plays an important role in ceremony and rituals. It is also highly valued for specific material purposes. While the young shoots are edible, it is not considered to be a food plant, instead it is recognized for its many therapeutic benefits.

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.

If you were in the desert or woods and bitten by a snake, where you go for help? A call to the local ambulance and a fast ride to the emergency room are not available to you. How would you know what potions to use and what would heal your wounds? This was the dilemma of the Native American People hundreds of years ago. How did they handle it? The medical traditions and customs have remained a mystery to us for hundreds of years. This paper will try to explore some of these customs and possibly uncover some of the mystery.

Not soon after the first Europeans set foot on American soil at the end of the fifteenth century, they began take note with varying degrees of fascination and revulsion of a strange indigenous custom psychedelic plant ritual. They were later to recognize this occurrence as an indispensable aspect of aboriginal religion and ritual in many parts of the New World. Intoxication by certain plants were ascribed supernatural powers by indigenous people.

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

The Native American woman interviewed has a strong holistic approach when viewing medicine compared to Western civilization. Before seeking any medical attention she states she will first try teas, herbs and other supplements in soothing common ailments. She often bakes

Traditional medicine is regarded as a viable alternative to Western medicine especially among the uninsured and undocumented. It is generally not seen as conflicting with Western medicine among patients and traditional healers. In terms of health awareness, pressures of work and lack of income and time.

Historians recently have been pushing towards accepting oral histories as valid historical sources and the video I examined of an elder identifying and explain the traditional medicinal uses of plants solidifies the need to continue this movement. The series of videos features Carolla Calf Robe, an elder from Kainai, as a guest speaker in a class identifying medicinal plants and land use of the Blackfoot people, knowledge that was passed down from her own mother. Calf Robe explains this is knowledge every Blackfoot person should know as common household information or as she states the “Indian First Aid Kit”, although whether it is common knowledge is debatable. I will argue how this primary source is an invaluable source with my hope to examine the preservation of traditional medicinal plant as another form of resilience from tireless efforts of assimilation.

Culture plays such a huge role in Indian tribe lives, and these traditions can live on throughout many generations from when they derived, and many more to come in the future. A piece of the culture that is interesting to learn about is the idea of the “Medicine Man.” He essentially sounds like a living, godly figure that watches over their specific tribe. They promote good living and healing to those in need as well by performing specific ceremonies to help tribe members that are injured or sick. There are also many things the medicine man must learn in order to be helpful to others. They spend many, many hours of their lives learning different prayers and songs that are required for these ceremonies. This is what they will dedicate their whole lives to, so not remembering every word, and which herb is used for healing is

Consuming natural remedies to recover from ailments appeared to be a very significant and common practice amongst enslaved African Americans and Native Americans. In the article Indians, Europeans and the New World Disease, Calloway thoroughly describes how the native American people were accustomed to plant life, therefore used nature and wildlife to their advantage to create healing remedies. African American slaves also used plants to make tea. These means were extremely excellent precautions for preventing illnesses or for fighting one.

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.

Since many Native Americans (American Indians; Indigenous peoples; First Nations) integrate traditional healing practices with Western biomedicine, it is important to gain the views of Indigenous men healers. This is particularly true because of the differences between Indigenous healing and Western

Herbal medicines are great alternative for commercially manufactured medicines available in the market. The major reason why herbal medicine differ from modern medicine is because they are produced with 100% natural content. Therefore the plant extract has all the medicinal values that are as effective as modern medicine. Commercially prepared drugs show results quickly but have numerous side effects. However herbal medicines don’t show any side

Plants have many benefits that we can get from it. One of these is as medicinal purposes. Since then it is been the source by the ancient people for their medicine. It is as old as civilization and throughout history it is been used as traditional folk remedy. Technology was not yet invented that is why plants were their source of medicine. But even now in our generation most of the people rely mainly in traditional remedy such as herbs.