How Does Native American Medicine Work?
Native American healers place a premium on identifying the true source of the
problem, so they can treat the cause, not just the effect. They always look at the
total person, whether they are treating someone for physical illness or emotional
problems. They look at the overall picture, determine what is out of balance within
the whole, and then pinpoint the trouble spots. Some healers diagnose by going into
trance. While in trance, “hand tremblers” pass their shaking hands over the body of
the person; when the hands stop trembling, the locale of the illness is found and the
cause is usually identified. “Star gazers” also enter trance states to read cause in the
stars. “Listeners” do not go into trance but listen to the person’s story and on that
basis identify the cause of the illness.
When people fall ill, they often experience anxiety and fear that may incapacitate
them. The healer is not so burdened and is able to supply coherence, calmness, and
hope. Power flows through the healer to the patient. Healers use medicine objects
to assist them, and treatments consist of ceremony, touch, herbs, and sometimes
peyote.
Items used to help make medicine are called medicine objects. Medicine objects can
be anything that relates to the Great Spirit in a sacred way. The medicine bag con-
tains healing objects, which vary in size and number but typically contain such
things as feathers, claws, bird or animal bones, an assortment of herbs or roots,
smudges, or paints. The medicine bag may also contain personal items that repre-
sent one’s self and personal experiences and are sacred to the individual. Native
Americans believe that their medicine bags carry a part of themselves and are
among their most prized companions. The Medicine Wheel is a sacred circle usually
built from stones. It is entered for the purpose of healing, giving thanks, praying, or
meditating. The Pipe is one of the most sacred medicine objects and is an instrument
of prayer.
The Native American art of healing is ceremonial in nature. Different ceremonies
are conducted according to the type of illness or the severity of the person’s condi-
tion. Medicine people or holy people lead the healing ceremonies. The primary pur-
pose is to allow connection with the Great Healer, since physical health often fails
without the aid of spiritual means. A secondary benefit is a cleansing of the body,
mind, and spirit. A healing session is never a casual encounter. It is arranged
through a formalized procedure after discussion by the patient, family, advisors, and
healer. Acceptance by the healer is followed by instructions on preliminary actions
that may include fasting, abstinences, prayers, or the preparation of offerings or
feasts. Some more specific healing practices are described below.74 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TOALTERNATIVE MEDICINE