Medicine in today's world is described as "the art or science of restoring or preserving health or due physical condition, as by means of drugs, surgical operations or appliances, or manipulations" (Dictionary.com). This is very different from the Indiginous people's perspective after viewing the assigned readings.
One thing that stood out to me was in the reading Powers Conferred on the Medicine Man. It stated "the standard practice in many tribes of the medicine man using a sucking device, such as a hollow bone, a feather, or a wand. Often, the medicine man himself would suck the bad spirits out of the patient's body. This practice was rather widespread among many tribes and exemplified the Indian belief that illness were cause by tiny entities invading the invalid's body" (Deloria 61). Referring to this quote, the idiginous people believed that medicine does not have to be a physical treatment with a substance. The Indiginous people believed that medicine can be a way of treating the mental illness of a …show more content…
It said "reflected in many tribal healing systems is the idea that everything is balanced in the world. An imbalance can cause an illness or disease. Basic to Pima and Navajo ways of life for example, is the idea that you 'live right,' live accordingly to certain 'do's' and 'don'ts' you will enjoy good health. Later when we examine the Eskimo healing seance the student will notice the same thing: the patient becomes ill who does not pay attention to certain rules and taboos" (Beck 106). This is the idea that medicine can cure a sickness based on how an individual behaves. If an individual is following the rules then there will be no illness brought upon them. Medicine is used in this context as healing the mental mind. Having a good mindset according to the Indidgious people leads to leading a healthy
One thing that stood out to me was in the reading Powers Conferred on the Medicine Man. It stated "the standard practice in many tribes of the medicine man using a sucking device, such as a hollow bone, a feather, or a wand. Often, the medicine man himself would suck the bad spirits out of the patient's body. This practice was rather widespread among many tribes and exemplified the Indian belief that illness were cause by tiny entities invading the invalid's body" (Deloria 61). Referring to this quote, the idiginous people believed that medicine does not have to be a physical treatment with a substance. The Indiginous people believed that medicine can be a way of treating the mental illness of a …show more content…
It said "reflected in many tribal healing systems is the idea that everything is balanced in the world. An imbalance can cause an illness or disease. Basic to Pima and Navajo ways of life for example, is the idea that you 'live right,' live accordingly to certain 'do's' and 'don'ts' you will enjoy good health. Later when we examine the Eskimo healing seance the student will notice the same thing: the patient becomes ill who does not pay attention to certain rules and taboos" (Beck 106). This is the idea that medicine can cure a sickness based on how an individual behaves. If an individual is following the rules then there will be no illness brought upon them. Medicine is used in this context as healing the mental mind. Having a good mindset according to the Indidgious people leads to leading a healthy