The Mahdi Times The Mahdi Times, Issue #28, March 2015 | Page 14

only going to list a few. Rabbit
tobacco is used by Native Americans
to treat colds, flu, asthma, coughs
and pneumonia. To treat menstrual
bleeding, diarrhea, sores,
sprains, swelling and kidney
problems including Bright's disease,
Native Americans use oak. Bloodroot
has been used to heal uterine and
other cancers, sore throats and
chronic bronchitis. It has also been
used as a pain reliever (196).
To treat stomach cramps, sores and
wounds, tuberculosis and colds
and coughs, Native American
cultures use Wild Cherry. Cherry is a
common ingredient found in cough
drops - a synthetic pharmaceutical.
All pharmaceuticals
contain ingredients that are derived
from nature and many of the
ingredients were originated in
Native American cultures. The OAM
supported this viewpoint when they
commented that "Well into the 20th
century much of the pharmacopoeia
of scientific medicine was derived
from the herbal lore of the native
peoples" (18 3).
If so many ingredients in
pharmaceuticals contain herbs
originated in Native American
culture, then why does the medical
society denounce the
Native American healing methods?

Most Americans have forgotten or
have never learned that our medical
society originated from Native
American cultures. Our society has
neglected the fact that over the
counter drugs and prescription
drugs are derived from
Native American herbs. In the past
doctors used to rely on Native
American herbal resources such as
leaves, berries, trees, roots, twigs,
barks and flowers to treat many
illnesses (OAM 185). It was not until
medical technology was advancing
and becoming popular that people
began to lose touch with their
herbal heritage.

Before medical technology was
available, doctors relied on
Native American knowledge of
nature to heal illnesses. When
medical technology