Native American Medicine

Native Americans have used plants for healing forever. But to them plants are not just medicine they are called “Medicine People”. It is no secret that Native Americans live in harmony with nature. They call this practice “Good Medicine”. “Good Medicine” and modern science run parallel to each other, but Native Americans don’t see it that way. They base their medicine on the direct perception that the medicine man accumulates.
There are two main sources of knowledge of plants and their healing uses. The first is cultural. This is all of the information handed down from generation to generation. The second is personal. This is knowledge acquired through vision quests. During vision quests the medicine man will take a hallucinogenic plant and receive answers from the spirit world. Sometimes it can take years to receive the answers he is looking for. This also includes personal exploration of new herbs because many tribes are nomadic.
The medicine man will classify herbs and medicines according to the four cardinal directions and the two powers that make up the mandala. Some tribes use totem symbolism as well. The four directions and two powers (called the grandfather and grandmother) represent a complete system for analyzing the physical and spiritual needs of individuals. For example if someone’s sickness represents a trait of the north, a plant or remedy associated with the south will be used as the cure. Balance is an important factor in Native American belief.
Plants and herbs are not just viewed as chemical combinations that heal the body, but as a part of the whole of creation. They have the same spirit, energy and life forces that run through the entire universe. It is believed that all living things can speak by scent, color or sound.
The spirit world plays a large part in Native American culture. In some tribes it is believed that when someone becomes ill it is due to an evil spirit. The shaman is called in and will communicate with the spirit as well as give herbal remedies. The shaman carries a sacred bundle. This is usually made out of animal skin and in it there is usually medicinal herbs, sacred stones, feathers and plants. Many times there are also tools and plants that the shaman will use to communicate with the spirit world.
Common herbs used by Native Americans include basswood, bearberry, beech, birch, blackberry, butternut, corn, Echinacea, garlic, ginseng, goldenseal, gravel root, mint, oak, onion, poplar and wild ginger. When the Europeans came they brought herbs with them as well. The Native Americans were introduced to these herbs and began using them. These included alfalfa, burdock, comfrey, mullein and plantain. These became very popular among the various tribes.

While I was doing my research I came upon a lot of information and two books dedicated to a Lakota healer named Black Elk. I found some of the things I read to be quite interesting so I am going to close by writing a short paragraph about him.
When he was nine years old Black Elk had a powerful vision. He believed his life’s work was to unravel its meaning. So by understanding the vision he could work for his people. Part of his vision included a flower with four petals which he believed to be the four cardinal directions coming to heal and strengthen. Black Elk believes that the pollution of the mind causes physical illness and that the sickness is referred to as “the enemy”. Black Elk says that spring water is a powerful medicine because it can cleanse the mind. He says the basis of knowledge is fire, rock, water and green. Green being the trees and plants. These form everything into existence. Black Elk classifies medicine as the mysterious power inherent in the universe. Some classifications include: Medicine Water (whiskey), Medicine People (healing plants), Bear Medicine (a ritual for specific plants and knowledge) and Elk Medicine (medicine for women).

_________________

Wicca Revealed Mentor
PM me anytime!

FOLLOW MY INSPERATIONAL BLOG!!!
http://lindsayrebel.tumblr.com/

Wow. That was absolutely awesome, Lindsay!

I am totally intrigued and inspired! Thank you very much for sharing your research.

Do you still have the titles to the two books you mention in your last paragraph? I'd love to put my nose in those! lol

_________________
Moderator of: Herbs.

I'm happy to help with any questions!

I became really interested the more I did my research. Black Elk has some amazing teachings and I think I am going to go back and check out those two books. I don't know why I didn't in the first place. I kinda skimmed through them, maybe that's why. Anyway, one of the books was called Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota. The other was called Black Elk Speaks. But I went on Amazon.com and there are a bunch of books he has written everything from bios to his teachings (which are incredible and make a ton of sense) to a book that says something about 7 rites in the title so I am assuming he wrote a book about native american rituals, which wouldn't surprise me because he talks about how rituals are a part of healing in his culture. Here is the link to the amazon page:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... =Black+Elk

_________________

Wicca Revealed Mentor
PM me anytime!

FOLLOW MY INSPERATIONAL BLOG!!!
http://lindsayrebel.tumblr.com/

Oh, wow. Thank you very much, Lindsay. I might take a look at the library for these too (lol) and add them to my wish list for certain!

I 'took a look inside' "Black Elk Speaks" and a couple of the books listed at amazon and they do look really interesting.

_________________
Moderator of: Herbs.

I'm happy to help with any questions!