According to the website, www.merriam-webster.com, medicine is seen today as “a substance that is used in treating disease or relieving pain and that is usually in the form of a pill or a liquid.” However, the Native Americans understood medicine to be greater than a medicinal tablet. Through the virtual exhibit, Native Voices: Native Concepts of Health and Illness Exhibit, and the text, Shamanism and the World of Spirits: The Oldest Religion, one can understand the Native American’s perspective of medicine through balance, ceremonies, different types of healers, what the healers used to heal, and healing plants.
Balance is a crucial aspect to understanding traditional medicine. The text states that “reflected in many tribal healing systems …show more content…
The includes the use of “stories, humor, music, tobacco, smudging, and ceremonies to bring healing energies into the healing space and focus their effects (Virtual Exhibit).” The text explains that healers “offer prayer, prayer sticks, and sprinkle corn meal to communicate to the sacred powers what we cannot say in words (99).” In order to heal, Native American’s reach the spirits through stories, ceremonies, and prayers.
Healing plants are widely used by traditional healers to cure illnesses. Native’s use “plants for a wide variety of medicinal purposes. Medicinal plants and their applications are as diverse as the tribes who use them (Virtual Exhibit.)” The text states that healing “remedies may be offered for both physical and psychological ills and often include traditional herbal medicines (139).” Plants are known as a basic medicinal drug used to heal individuals. Today, healing plants are widely used in hospitals and individual homes to aid in the healing process.
One must comprehend the Native Americans use of balance, healers, and healing techniques in order to understand Traditional Indigenous Medicine. There are numerous types of traditional healers that alleviate pain in countless ways, yet they all share the same belief in healing ceremonies and natural medicine. The Native Americans relied on the natural world and the spirits in order to remain in good
Balance is a crucial aspect to understanding traditional medicine. The text states that “reflected in many tribal healing systems …show more content…
The includes the use of “stories, humor, music, tobacco, smudging, and ceremonies to bring healing energies into the healing space and focus their effects (Virtual Exhibit).” The text explains that healers “offer prayer, prayer sticks, and sprinkle corn meal to communicate to the sacred powers what we cannot say in words (99).” In order to heal, Native American’s reach the spirits through stories, ceremonies, and prayers.
Healing plants are widely used by traditional healers to cure illnesses. Native’s use “plants for a wide variety of medicinal purposes. Medicinal plants and their applications are as diverse as the tribes who use them (Virtual Exhibit.)” The text states that healing “remedies may be offered for both physical and psychological ills and often include traditional herbal medicines (139).” Plants are known as a basic medicinal drug used to heal individuals. Today, healing plants are widely used in hospitals and individual homes to aid in the healing process.
One must comprehend the Native Americans use of balance, healers, and healing techniques in order to understand Traditional Indigenous Medicine. There are numerous types of traditional healers that alleviate pain in countless ways, yet they all share the same belief in healing ceremonies and natural medicine. The Native Americans relied on the natural world and the spirits in order to remain in good