unit 15 Flashcards
How is health seen by natives?
see health as the product of natural or supernatural forces
What type of symbols are used by natives to depict health?
They often use animal and plant symbols, such as the eagle, for courage and the sacred tree for life, cycles of time, the earth, and the universe
What does the medicine wheel symbolize? What does the medicine wheel accomplish?
the four elements (earth, air, fire, water), the four directions (east, south, west, north), four aspects to human nature (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual), the four kingdoms (mineral, plant, animal, human) and the four stages of life.
The medicine wheel is a symbolic tool that helps people realize that they are connected with the rest of creation and it can be used to help understand things that cannot be seen such as diseases or spiritual well-being
What does medicine mean in aboriginal terms?
refer to a broader meaning than drugs or the practice of healing. Rather, it is a kind of power in a spiritual sense. A healthy person has a sense of purpose and follows the guidance of the Great Spirit or Creator. Thus, it is difficult to separate Aboriginal “medicine” from “religion,” since many healers are also spiritual leaders
What does native healing mean?
Native healing is holistic in that health means restoring the body, mind, and spirit to balance and wholeness
Describe the nocebo (power of negative expectation) effect in aboriginal healing
Many Aboriginal traditional healing beliefs recognize that the power to heal also involves the power to inflict harm, illness, and misfortune on a bad person.
Includes negative thoughts from others, which can cause disease
How are illnesses treated in aboriginal medicine?
Minor illnesses, such as colds, headaches, and digestive disorders, are treated with herbal remedies, whereas serious illnesses are often viewed as a penalty for a transgression and require the assistance of a healer.
How is native medicine practiced?
Historically, Native cultures have placed emphasis on traditional healers. These healers may be referred to as shamans, herbalists, or medicine people. They gain their knowledge to heal over time, since medical knowledge only exists within the oral or story tradition. Most healers are relatively old and the oldest (Elders) are the most revered. Native healers are often humble about their abilities; they do not practise traditional medicine for profit. Healers are either chosen by Elders, inherit the position, or may have a calling
How do native healers approach healing?
Some Native healers believe they can best heal the conditions that they have experienced. In other words, healers must strive to heal themselves in order to heal their patients most effectively.
What is the purpose of native healers?
How is this accomplished?
The purpose of these healers is to restore balance in self, community, and nature—the integrated system.
This is accomplished through the delivery of ceremonies, rituals, and herbal preparations.
What are the ethics of healing in native medicine?
Native ethics throughout Canada can be generalized to include maintaining balance and harmony, inappropriateness of anger, and the “right time”. These ethics are the basis for cultural and individual behaviours.
What are some common methods of treatment for native healing?
Common methods of treatment include prayer, chanting, music, smudging, herbalism, counselling, and ceremony.
How does healing begin?
Healing always begins with prayer where the healer may pray with and for the patient. Some prayers are sung, accompanied by drumming, the rhythm “entrains the minds of both healer and patient and leads them to an expanded awareness of self and spirit”
Healing sessions also begin with smudging, using the smoke of sweetgrass to cleanse the place, the healer, patient, and ritual objects.
What are chanting ceremonies?
Chanting ceremonies aid healing by expressing harmony, rebirth, vitality, and a will to live.
How are herbs incorporated into native healing?
Herbs are another important part of Native healing. History includes accounts of diseases being treated with herbal remedies such as scurvy with pine needles [which are high in vitamin C], constipation with cascara sagrada
What type of therapies do native healers use for relieving tensions, pain, and to remove spiritual intrusions and bring in healing powers
Native healers also use massage, healing touch, and non-contact healing (similar to therapeutic touch)
How do patients see a native healer?
In order to obtain the services of a healer, the patient may have to travel to a Native community and obtain permission from the community. It should also be noted that a “non-Native cannot simply approach a healer and expect him or her to talk freely”
What are some of the healing used in hospitals today for aboriginals?
Healing methods that have seen a resurgence in practice are peace pipe and sweetgrass ceremonies. Many hospitals in Western Canada now have rooms or gathering places where Aboriginal patients, healers, and families can hold spiritual and healing ceremonies including burning sweetgrass. Healing circles are also becoming more common; the energy brought through the healing circle is the energy for all the people.
How did the government use to suppress native healing practices?
These included suppression of the potlatch (a ceremony where goods were given away by the sponsor, part of the Aboriginal traditions on the Northwest coast) and suppressing Spirit Dancing and the Sun Dance of the Plains Indians. As a result of the repression, Aboriginal healing and other spiritual activities became more secretive.
What are the most prevalent health problems to natives today?
cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and dental caries and their diet is too high in fat
What vitamins are being consumed in low quantities by natives?
vitamins A, D, and folate, and calcium and zinc
What needs to be done for eating for natives?
More work needs to be done on increasing awareness of healthy eating, and how healthy food choices can be made using both traditional and market foods
What other psychological issues affect natives? How are these being dealt with?
Another issue affecting the health of Native peoples is addictive behaviour, most notably alcoholism, drugs, and gambling. Programs have been developed to promote abstinence through counselling, peer support, information and opportunities for spiritual growth based on Native culture.
Due to the high frequency of many diseases and health issues
there is an urgent need to develop culturally appropriate community-based public health intervention programs.
What are we doing to increase the health of natives?
Recently, organizations have been developed to incorporate Native and conventional medicine together to address key health issues in Native populations. For example, the Aboriginal Health Program encourages health-care providers to be aware and responsive to Aboriginal culture, health, and life-care needs. Its Aboriginal Diabetes Wellness Program uses the services of an Aboriginal Elder, dietitian, nurse, and physician on staff.
Why is it difficult to evaluate outcomes of native healers?
Individualism and differences in the practice of traditional medicine make it difficult to evaluate outcomes. Users of traditional medicine are less concerned with questions of efficacy, because of their belief that traditional medicine works.
How has healing been demonstrated with a native healer in the treatment of psoriasis?
A study by David Young and colleagues from the University of Alberta documented the activities of a Cree healer who treated non-Aboriginal patients suffering from psoriasis in a medical clinic using both spiritual and herbal means. The researchers compared this treatment with conventional methods of treatment. The healer’s treatment was partially successful; the suggestion was made that more emphasis be placed on evaluating the cultural component of the healing rather than just the clinical evidence
Does native medicine detract from conventional medicine?
A study carried out in Saskatoon observed that use of Aboriginal medicine does not detract from the use of conventional medical services
How is Native health promoted in Canada? What more could be done?
There are many ways that Native health is promoted, including
increased involvement by Natives themselves in providing health care
health programs that take into account aspects of Native culture and healing traditions
inclusion of cross–cultural health–care courses in medical schools
restoration of Native heritage through museums and return of artifacts to be under Native control
There are many opportunities for further promotion of Native healing in areas such as:
disease prevention (diabetes, cardiovascular disease)
addiction behaviour treatment
Describe types of ceremonies used in traditional Native healing.
Healing ceremonies may include prayers and chants music using voice, drum, rattle smudge using sage, sweetgrass objects, inducing altered state of consciousness herbs
How does someone become a Native healer?
Someone becomes a Native healer by receiving a calling, or apprenticing with a healer. Specific techniques of healing—songs and rituals—are received directly from Elder healers.
Discuss the traditional Native approach to health.
The Native approach to health is holistic. Everything is interrelated; health and disease have both physical and spiritual components.
Discuss the benefits of Native healing for Native people.
Native healing offers Native patients cultural identity and incorporates a spiritual aspect, which may be helpful in promoting wellness.
