FIRST AMERICANS WERE THEIR OWN PHYSICIANS
Civilization has taught us to build empires for Life Insurance Companies, numerous research, welfare, old age organizations, etc. In comparison, the Indians’ protection came from Nature, the“ Mother Earth” being the most important. They learned to treat lives with plant life, the medicine from the earth.
After the white man, came they were suddenly introduced to a new way of life which brought them the white man diseases for which they had built no immunity, and thousands died. Self-sufficiency was destroyed as the Indians became dependent on civilized ways.
If we talk to the Indians the years have touched gradually they will remember a few of the family and tribal herbs that we think of as nothing but a troublesome, insignificant weed or shrub. To most of us trees are for beauty alone, but they bring out medical uses from experience we have yet to identify as the same.
The Indians were never at a loss to know which plant was best, or the time it should be gathered to heal them of diseases. They knew how to treat their complaints of physical, surgical and midwifery with a skill that surpasses the medical teachings. For internal and local treatments they used the sources of nature, experienced by a keen sense of knowledge. Local parts were treated by placing parts affected over the roasting pit after being packed in rye grass and earth and subject to almost unbearable heat for as long as possible. They used vapour baths for many ailments. Patients were put into sweat lodges of almost stifling amounts of moist heat to eliminate toxic conditions. Fractured bones were held in splints made of a number of rods tied together at the ends, and covered with leaves and bound with deer skins. Herb roots were pounded fine and used as a poultice for bad cuts and sprains. Sore eyes were treated with a wash consisting of an infusion of a certain root.
Our cocaine and novacaine come from ingredients found in the coca plant, the nature healer used to alleviate pain. In this way the original Americans were their own physicians. Sicknesses of civilization like the plague, tuberculosis, typhoid, cancer, ulcers, heart and mental diseases were uncommon among their earlier communities.
Do you know, we spend millions of dollars for weed controls with booklets describing the various plants and how to destroy them? If we were educated as how to use them medically, we could help ourself physically as well as tax wise. We can thoughtlessly ignore our heritage but we should not deny its life-giving truths.
INDIAN HEALER
The Indian art of healing was ceremonial in nature. To us their rituals seem strange and without meaning. They knew physical health often failed without the aid of spiritual means. Dancing, chanting, etc., was conducted, according to conditions, or severity of the patient. Today our get-well cards, entertainment troupes, flowers, prayers are less physical but given in the same manner— to support the spirit. Their health and spiritual source was so closely connected with natural surroundings, they of course were inspired by the significance of nature and to the Sun, Moon, Stars, Rain, Wind, etc., that encouraged it.
Despite all the hardship in their memory and legend, sickness and disaster as was associated with European history and of the status of the Bible did not exist. The Old World was entangled with feelings of inferiority, guilt and sin. The New World legend is not about punishment and sickness, but