Essay On Native American Medicine

Words: 973
Pages: 4

Native American Medicine Men
Although Native American medicine men/women have been around for thousands of years their healing methods have remained constant by performing rituals, eating herbs, drinking teas and having ceremonies to stay healthy and spiritually.
Since the beginning, Native Americans have practiced medicine to keep members of their tribe healthy and safe from other tribes. With over 2,000 tribes in America, many believe health was an expression of the spirit and a continual process of staying strong spiritually, mentally, and physically (Weiser). Native Americans also believe in balance between your physical body and spiritual body. Medicine men/women are born into the practice of Native American medicine, but some individuals may have dreams or
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A medicine man must stay away from his patient to fully comprehend his visions or dreams about the patient. Then after everything is fully known the Medicine Man will then decide what needs to be done, this may include simple herbs and teas, then rituals, and if needed a ceremony which includes the patient’s family and friends to help get the individual back to the right balance.
After knowing the unbalancing with the patient is minor, the medicine man will more than likely use simple remedies like herbs and teas.The website Legends of America claims that herbs like Burdock Root, Goldenseal, Echinaced, Bear Root, and Sage were used to heal the patient with various things. The most common herb used by many tribes is Sage is used for many many different reasons even today such as a digestive aid, appetite stimulant, abdominal cramps, bloating, bleeding, spasms, cold and flus, tuberculosis, aide in childbirth and so on. Burdock Root used to cure internal and external abscesses but we not used on women pregnant or nursing. Goldenseal may