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This article summarizes common principles, practices, and ethics of Native American healing the traditional medicine of North America. Native American healing, spirituality, culture, and, in modern times, political, social, and economic concerns are closely intertwined. Intuition and spiritual awareness are a healer's most essential diagnostic tools. Therapeutic methods include prayer, music, ritual purification, herbalism, massage, ceremony, and personal innovations of individual healers. A community of friends, family, and helpers often participate in the healing intervention and help to alleviate the alienation caused by disease. A healthy patient has a healthy relationship with his or her community and, ultimately, with the greater community of nature known as All Relations." The goal of Native American healing is to find wholeness, balance, harmony, beauty, and meaning. "Healing, "making whole, is as important as curing disease; at times they are identical. (Altern Ther Health Med 1998,44().45-57)
Modified from Essentials of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Jonas WB, Levin JS, eds. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; in press). Used with permission.
Now! Long Person la river or stream], I have just come to pray to You
Wahya hi:nadul [Wolf thunder]
Now! You will remake"my soul.
It will become longer
I will rise again.
Wahya hi:nadu!
I will begreeting You with my soul!
-Cherokee healing chant'
Native American medicine is based on widely held beliefs about healthy living, the repercussions of disease-causing activity or behavior, and the spiritual principles that restore balance. These beliefs cross tribal boundaries. However, the particular methods of diagnosis and treatment are as diverse as the languages, landscapes, and customs of the approximately 500 Nations that constitute the indigenous people of Turtle Island, one of the original names of North America.
Therefore it is important to state, from the outset, that there are problems inherent in the term "Native American," because it implies a uniform culture and healing system. The indigenous people of North America identify themselves by Nation (commonly called tribe) (note 1), band or community, clan, and family. The term "Native American" (note 2) became a political necessity-a way for similarly oppressed people to identify their unity in a fight for common rights in the face of the encroachment of white military, religious, and educational imperialism. In precontact times (ie, prior to the arrival...