Should I Trust Native American Healing Practice?
Native American healing is a broad term that includes healing beliefs and practices of hundreds of indigenous tribes of North America. It combines religion, spirituality, herbal medicine, and rituals that are used to treat people with medical and emotional conditions. Many healing practices and spiritual ceremonies that are being practiced today by healing practitioners and metaphysical groups have been adopted from traditions that originated from various Native American tribes. History indicates that each tribe would have one or more elders who were groomed in the healing arts. These individuals would serve as herbalists, healers, and spirit communicators. The duties and types of healing arts and spiritual ceremonies performed would naturally vary from tribe to tribe.
WHAT IS NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONAL HEALING?
- Most Native American tribes have traditions about health and illness. These traditions are not based on western science. Instead, they come from the tribe’s beliefs about how individuals fit in the web of life. This web includes the tribe, all humanity, the earth, and the universe. Many healing traditions focus on harmony. Healing occurs when someone is restored to harmony and connected to universal powers.
- Traditional healing is “holistic”. It does not focus on symptoms or diseases. Instead, it deals with the total individual. Different people with HIV disease may get different treatments. Healing focuses on the person, not the illness.
- Certain people in each tribe are recognized as healers. They receive special teachings. Healing traditions are passed from one generation to the next through visions, stories, and dreams.
- Healing does not follow written guidelines. Healers work differently with each person they help. They use their herbs, ceremony and power in the best way for each individual.
- Healing might involve sweat lodges, talking circles, ceremonial smoking of tobacco, shamans, herbalism, animal spirits, or “vision quests”. Each tribe uses its own techniques. The techniques by themselves are not “traditional healing.” They are only steps towards becoming whole, balanced and connected.
WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM TRADITIONAL HEALING?
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that Native American healing can cure cancer or any other disease. However, the communal support provided by this approach to health care can have some worthwhile physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits.
- Traditional healing can be very powerful for Native Americans dealing with HIV. It can restore a sense of connection to their tribe and culture. This promotes spiritual, psychological, emotional, and physical healing.
- Some traditional healers only work with members of their own tribe. Others will work with outsiders. Some people who are not Native American believe that working with a traditional healer has helped them.
- Most healers work in their local tribal communities. A few participate in public conferences. If you are not a tribal member, it is very difficult to know if someone is really a traditional healer.
- Many people use the techniques of traditional healing. However, there is a big difference between traditional healing and using traditional techniques. Participating in a sweat lodge might help almost anyone. However, the experience could be very different depending on who runs the sweat lodge. Were they raised in a tradition that used sweat lodges? Or did they simply learn about the technique? Also, a sweat lodge will mean more to someone who grew up in a tribe that traditionally uses them. Some techniques might have no meaning unless you grew up using them.
- Traditional ceremonies usually involve much more than outsiders are aware of. When you attend a ceremony, show respect by asking about guidelines for observing or participating.
What is the evidence?
One clinical trial examined 116 people with a variety of ailments (such as infertility, chest and back pain, asthma, depression, diabetes, and cancer) who were treated with traditional Native American healing. More than 80% showed some benefit after a 7 to 28 day intensive healing experience. Five years later, 50 of the original participants said they were cured of their diseases, while another 41 said they felt better. Another 9 reported no change, 5 were worse, and 2 had died. However, the comparison group who received different treatments also showed benefits, and the patients’ reports were not verified by doctors. Because of the limitations in this study, it is impossible to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of Native American healing. More clinical studies are needed to confirm the benefits of the specific healing methods.
Although Native American healing has not been proven to cure disease, individual reports suggest that it can reduce pain and stress and improve quality of life. The communal and spiritual support provided by this type of healing could have helpful effects. Prayers, introspection, and meditation can be calming and can help to reduce stress.
Because Native American healing is based on spirituality, there are very few scientific studies to support the validity of the practices. It is hard to study Native American healing in a scientific way because practices differ between various Nations, healers, and illnesses. Many Native Americans do not want their practices studied because they believe sharing such information exploits their culture and weakens their power to heal. Historically, outside society has sometimes misinterpreted Native American culture and beliefs, which may increase this reluctance.
Are there any possible problems or complications?
These substances may have not been thoroughly tested to find out how they interact with medicines, foods, or dietary supplements. Even though some reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions below should be considered incomplete.
Like other complementary therapies, Native American healing practices may be used in relieving certain symptoms of cancer and side effects of cancer treatment. People with cancer and other chronic conditions should talk to their doctors before using purification rituals or herbal remedies. Cleansing rituals may be particularly harmful to people who are already dehydrated or in a weakened state. Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.
HOW DOES TRADITIONAL HEALING INTERACT WITH WESTERN MEDICINE?
- Healers have different views about combining their methods with western medicine. Some do not see any value in medical science or treatments. Others believe that the systems deal with different aspects of an individual so there is no problem using both.
- Most western physicians do not understand the value or importance of traditional healing to their Native American patients. A few, especially in areas with large Native American populations, are more open to traditional healing.
- If you combine western medicine and traditional healing, let your physician know about any treatments you are using. There might be interactions. For example, a traditional healer might use an herbal preparation to help you sleep. In that case, your physician would probably not want you to take sleeping pills. Your healer might want you to use herbs to cleanse your system. These might interact with western medications that you are taking. Your physician might help you avoid negative interactions.
THE BOTTOM LINE
- Native American traditional healing is a holistic approach to health. Each tribe has its own healing traditions.
- Traditional healers do not follow a standard procedure. Instead, they apply their skills to each person individually.
- By themselves, techniques such as sweat lodges or vision quests are not “traditional healing.” They have the most meaning as part of an overall healing tradition.
- Traditional healers and western physicians are often skeptical of each other. However, it is best if your care providers all know about everything you are doing for your health. There may be interactions among different techniques that you want to avoid.
Reference:
Native American Healing in the 21st Century – Circle of Life Series [VHS]
Native American Healing in the 21st Century
